The Starkville news., 1904-02-12

girl with WnOm IL would mean long
years of happiness to share life. And
Helen? AS she contrasted Bobby with
the tired, blaSe sons of rich men who
formed the majority of her acquaint-
ances felt that he was man Of Diff
| ferent type, one whose love and re-
spect was worthy, that any girl might
| be proud to win Often she reproached
herself for the false colors under
which she was sailing Of course, she,
| the daughter of a multimillionaire,
member of the smart set, the girl
whose wealth and beauty were said
limited at as the reasons for the duke
of Acton's visit to America, could not
marry Bobby Peyton. But Bobby's
sincere attention had grown so pleas
ant to her that she stilled her conscience
by saying to herself that he would not
really care. In her heart of hearts
she knew better.
The end came one evening when
Helen and Bobby were returning from
moonlight sail AS they drew near
the hotel Bobby told her how dear she
had become to him, what it meant II
she would share his life. For sec
ond Helen hesitated They had almost
reached the hotel piazza. Suddenly
man who had just dismounted from
the newly arrived stage, started to-
wards Helen with an exclamation or
surprise And Helen saw that it was
her cousin. Howard Langdon.
well, Helen Endicott," exclaimed
Langdon. who would have expected
to see you here? / thought you were
at Newport Just stopped off here my
self on my way north on a hunting
trip. The duke is at Newport, you
know" tc added in lower tones.
But Bobby .Peyton had heard Lang
dons words as a man in the full OF
health hears a death sentence. His
grip on the world and on all that made
life worth living seemed to be slipping
away Helen Endicott. Too we'll he rec
ognized the name as that of the head of
Wall streets leading and wealthiest
| firm of bankers. RumOr said that
| Helen Endicott, if not formally en-
gagged to the duke of Acton, was GER
| tain to make a great international
match. There was no hope for him.
| IN an instant all his hopes OF happy
| future, a home with the girl whom he
! loved with all his heart and soul van
| ished A deeper pang was added by
the thought that the girl whom he had
loved with all his heart, whom in his
day dreams he had called his Helen"
had only been playing with him. And
Bobby slipped silently away
At Langdon's greeting Helen felt
sudden thrill of longing for the fash
| ionable life with it's glitter and Cis-
play, which she had been accustomed
| to from birth. To be duchess of Acton.
What more could a girl desire? She
| could not give it up. Then she thought
of Bobby. Yes, she had treated him
shamefully, but it could not be helped.
All that remained was to ask his for
giveness and say good-by-
Helen found Bobby seated in the
| darkness at the end of the hotel piazza,
picture of despairing' unhappiness.
| But as Helen with faltering words be-
gan to acknowledge how she had de-
ceived him. Bobby stopped her. He
had lost all that his heart longed for,
but he would allow no one, not even
herself, to reproach 'his Helen
Dearest, you were not to blame"
he said softly For a time you made
me the happiest man on the earth and
| will always thank you in my heart
for that glimpse of happiness. You
cannot help yourself, for your father
would not consent to our marriage
Won must return to your Iif" and l to
mine. but you must never blame your
self for this You are and always will
be my queen, and the queen can do no
wrong"
Helen had fully intended to say
good-by, but as Bobby turned away she
felt a sudden pang at the thought or
losing him. To be duchess of Acton,
the admired and envied OF fashions
followers, what was that compared to
a lifetime of Bobby and his love? Her
father might object at first, but Helen
was certain she could win his consent
in the end She stepped nearer to
Bobby. a light in her deep brown eyes
which he had never before seen.
Papa will be surprised and may OBJ
iect at first" she murmured, almost
timidly, "but all my life, when | have
really wanted anything he has always
let me have it in the end And | want
YOU. my Bobby, want you more than
| ever wanted anything else in my
whole life.
Coal as q TaIisman.
Recently a burglar in an English po-
lice court was found to carry a piece
of coal in his pocket 'for luck" Many
;nly orr}od