The San Francisco call., 1905-01-20
TIE man strode toward her with
undisguted pleasure in his eyes.
Helena, this is, indeed, an


undisgutsed pleasure in his eyes.
Helena. this is. indeed, an
unexpected"
Surprise ?" broke in the girl. un-
mindful of the ambiguity her interup-
ton lent to his remark.
Pleasure" corrected Norton firm
ly. He did not fail to detect an un-
dertone of sarcasm in Helena's tone.
She shrugged her shoulders. "Oh,"
she said simply, but that one word
conveyed depths of incredulity.
Going away?" asked Norton, look
ing about for some travelling impedi-
menta. And yet-if Helena had been
going away surely he would have
known 1t.
The girl flung him a scornful
glance.
No." she said, tapping her foot
nervously on the tiled floor of the
station. And your" looking point
edly at the bunch of violets he car
ried.
I've come to meet a train"
Helena glanced at the big clock on
the wall. Its six minutes yet" she
informed him knowingly. Since his
arrival her chin had been elevated
perceptibly.
Nortons glance followed hers to
the clock. "Jove! It's in now-my
train." he said, and with a hasty adieu
he rushed through the great doors.
leaving her staring after him dazed.
Again her eyes sought the clock.
No. she was not mistaken. Florence
had wired that she would arrive at
$40 and it was now only 1904. Never
mind meeting me-" she had added in
her telegram, but Helena had only
laughed away her friends instruc-
tions. Florence had always been over
thoughtful.
Now she sat down on the depot
bench. Norton must have been mis-
Informed as to the time of arrival
he--why, of course, Florence had sent
him word, too. 1t seemed quite un-
necessary to Helena and yet-she sud-
denly recalled that he had stopped off
at Poughkeepsie once or twice. She
saw 1t all now; Norton had only been
coming to see her, taking her out,
keeping in touch with her on account
of Florence. He wished to be well
come at the Bradford home when the
girls visited them. Never mind meet
ing me"-the words In Florence's
message rang in Helena's mind. Why
were they so secretive about 1t all?
The girl brushed her hand over her
eyes. Was she dreaming or-oh. she
longed to be at home where she could
bury her head in her pillows and
She started. Coming toward her,
attentively guiding an elderly woman,
was Norton. He held her arm and
looked down into her wrinkled face
with a tenderness Helena had never
before seen in his eyes. Then-he did
not come to meet Florence? This was
perhaps his grandmother; she was too
old for his mother.
Norton raised his hat and smiled as
he passed her, but Helena stared at
him stupidity, barely nodding her head.
but as he followed her into the car
riage Helena saw him hand the old
lady the violets. The girls brain
cleared.
How she had misjudged him. Her
heart beat wildly and she longed now
to rush after him and apologize for
the way in which she had greeted him.
But even when she saw him how
could she explain her behavior?
In her excitement and in the rush
of conflicting emotions which surged
through her Helena almost forgot the
train she was to meet. But, girl-like,
her guest was looking everywhere for
some one from the Bradford family.
in spite of her suggestion that none
of them should be there.
IT knew you'd come" she said, after
an effusive greeting.
"Of course, goosie." retorted Helena,
hugging her friends arm enthusiastic