The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1897-06-04
HELEN'S TWO LOVERS.
BY ANNA SHIELDS

Will Spencer asked himseh these
questions over and over, wearying OF
the repetition, and yet never able TO
end it by saying heartily that he was
glad and triumphant, or bitterly that
he was sorry and ashamed. The plain
fact stared him ever in the face, that
Helen Raymond did not love him, and
that Mrs. Raymond had urged his SUIT
and exerted her maternal influence and
eloquence until Helen had consented to
be his wife, telling him very frankly
that her heart was in the grave OF her
lover, George Vanhorn, who had been
killed in railway collision nearly one
year before.
Mother was never willing l should
marry George" Helen said, sadly, be
cause he was poor, and we have suffered
all that poverty can inflict. He was on
his way to Colorado, where his brother
has been successful. when he was
killed."
VIII Spencer WINGED, for he was rich,
very rich, but then he put to the wound
that soothing salve, II will win her love
when she is my wife," that has wrecked
so many lives. 1t may come, this love
that will not be hidden, to man and
wife, after they are bound together for
life, but the risk is great, and Will
Spencer knew 1t.
Yet he cherished the delusion that
love in the end would win return,
and he knew his own love to be strong
AID enduring. He had stepped back
when George Vanhorn was met with
such smile, for he could never win,
had kept from pressing his suit when
the name of Helen's lover appeared on
the list of the killed in the account of
the railway collision, but after the lapse
of several months he had won Mrs.
Raymond to his side, and so, by proxy,
wooed Helen and won-what? a cold,
reluctant consent to be his wife.
Yet she was, not, cold, this girl of 20.
whose heart had been crushed ever
since the day when George Vanhorn's
name was recorded as dead. He could
have told how her eyes could soften
with loves tenderness, her cheeks burn
with loves bushes, her low, sweet,
voice tremble with loves whispered
words. He had won what all the Spen,
Ger gold, the riches of long generations
could not buy.
Before that fatal railway collision she
was bright, beautiful girl, with large
expressive brown eyes, a voice OF
music, the step of fairy, singing as
bird sings, from sheer joyousness OF
heart, bringing jest to all the house
hold worries, laughing merrily over hel
own blunders in the culinary depart
ment, turning old dresses, renovating
old bonnets without complaint, living
on love and hope.
After that day she moved about slow.
ly, her eyes were dull and weary, hel
duties met with a rigid mechanical pre-
cision, her lips compressed, her cheeks
pale, shadow of her joyous self.
Mrs. Raymond was often afraid tina,
she would yet miss the golden prize she
had partly won, and heartily seconded
Will in his preparations for a speedy
wedding. 1t was Mrs. Raymond who
went with him to open the house thai
he had bought to adorn for his bride
who aided him in the selection Of car
pets, curtains, furniture, and gave hin
instructions regarding the kitchen de
partment, of whose needs he was as ig
norant as most young bachelors. L
was Mrs. Raymond who received al
anonymous letter containing liberia
sum, which she quietly appropriated
for trousseau and a suitable dress TO,
the BRIDES mother.
She was a woman of rare tact, Hav
ing won Helen's consent to be vii
Spencer's wife, she never bothered hel
by complaints about her listless indif
ference to her lover or her future pros
poets. She simply made all the ar
engagements for her, without once ad
hitting possibility of change. TIL
betrothal was spoken Of on all occa
sions, the preparation of the house, TIL
selection of the trousseau referred to, II
matter-of-fact words that made Hele,
feel, as 1t was intended she should, tina
she had walked into net from which
there was no escape.
And Will Spencer knew 1t all, ant
writhed under the knowledge, being
frank, loyal man, whose impulses wer
| generous and honorable, and who lovet
Helen with all the strength of his heart
Often he asked himself how he could en-
dure life, if he found his wife faithful
slave, instead of the happy companion
he hoped to make her.
If she never loves mel" he thought
bitterly. IF all my love fails to viii
hers, what will my life be?"
He did her justice. He knew that /
his love failed to win her heart, his gol,
was powerless to make her happy. H
knew that If her mother died or coul
not be benefited by her marriage, sh
would rather beg her bread hersel
than be his wife.
While matters stood in this unsat
isfactory state, Mrs. Raymond made
suggestion: II want you to go ava
for q month";" she said to him, "and lie
Helen miss the constant devotion tina
she has had ever since your betrotha
| Leu ucT lCCA tudL NOlu las COilC liz
her life, and how dull and chcerless
would be If she lost you. The wedtin
day is set for June 10, and this Is April
Stay away until the 5th or 9Th of June.
It seemed to him good advice, and b
Ind business In the west that would fl
his time profltably. 1t gave him tn
first really happy moment of his er
gagement, when Helen said gently, We
with shudder:
II cannot bear to think of you on raj
way trains, Will. Write often, that
may know you are cafe"
Her lips met his In a tender pressure
such as a loving sister might bestov
but with far more affection than sh
had ever before given him. Was b
winning her? The hope made this ur
eeeeeeeees~ssesSSe~eO
S POusse Pate. S
Z And why not pie-pusher q