The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1902-08-22

And yet she could not suppress the
Consciousness OF pleasure IN his pres
ence. lie quit his gin giving and die
tatcd more letters. which proved that
his wife was suspicious and had per-
haps accused him Of infdelity of some
/ kind. lie never discussed the con-
tents Of these letters with Helen, but
ratified away as d she were q mere ma
chine. and then changed the subject
to any Of a hundred delightful themes
Of which DE seemed 90 be anxious to
hear her talk. When az last he seemed
TO drift into a more serious frame of
mind and habit. Miss Barr found heF
self unrcasouabiy gratiied. Her heart
gave joyful bound one day when
she heard him tell a friend one day
that he was con the water wagon"
but an access OF virtuous anger seized
her that same evening. when, for the
first time. be came 90 her and asked
quite calmly and espectfully, If she
would 60 20 the iheater with him. She
made a pitiiul effort TO "freele him
with her answer. but her eyes were
brimming before she could turn away.
and She said nothing lie walked away,
and from the corner Of her downcast
eye che could see that he went into
the buffet.
The unhappy girl spent sleepless
night, for she had neither parent nor
relative % share her troubles. 4
dozen times she resolved to beg of
Capt. Baldwin to quit the hotel and 60
home to- his wife. She thought of
writing 90 him. or refusing TO take his
letters, of ignoring him. and finally
resolved 10 do his work ifhe persisted,
but remain deaf and blind to his per-
sonal attentions as she had done with
every other man at the hotel. But her
tired heart was ia a flutter again the
moment she got behind the railing of
her little office. for She saw the cap |
tain strolling neryously about the ro- |
tunda. She kept her eyes on her work, |
but she knew hc was watching her /
Her work was cleared away and she I
was ready TO leave for luncheon when .
lie came suddenly 10 the desk and I
said:
Take a couple Of letters, please, .
miss?' She did not lool, mp. but She
was aware of strange. hard note in
his voice. Tie began with letter TO
Dear Catherine" as usual. and Miss
Barr was wondering what new sub
terfuge he would palm off on his wife,
when he began: "You have been
good sister-in-law TO me, and / hope
you will succeed in satisfying my
brother. that"
Miss Barr's cheeks were alame with
excitement. Catherine was not his
wife, then! She could hear her heart
beat the music of those words. But
when he came 10 the end Of that letter
and said: "The fact is. I've made up
my mind 10 get married and settle
down if the girl will have me-" Miss
Barr got pale again and trembled.
But the worst was TO come. She could
have struck him when he leaned
across the rail and said: "Now, want
you to write out proposal for me-"
She didn't hear exactly what followed.
Her trained fingers flew mechanically
'ver the keys as he dictated stilted
md very formal proposal. beginning
Dear Miss and ending "Nour anxious
md devoted Hugh Baldwin"
whats the address," she asked,
oddly.
Heres the envelope" he said in
rigid tones.
She picked it mp with quivering
ingcrs, said: Fifty cents, please"
md read the address" Miss Helen
Barr, Hotel Packingham. City"
And they stood there smiling into y
ach others eycs.-Chicago Record F,
lerald.