The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1907-09-21

last spring. when he suddenly took il
into his head to marry again Hts
second wife was a widow. and it
seems 10 be the general opinion that
she married him for his money OF
course it was bitter blow TO Helen.
who had always felt that her father
belonged to her alone Mr. Warren
and his wife went abroad shortly after
their marriage, and have not yet re-
turned Helen is living with her aunt,
Mrs Gordon and believe has beer
with her ali the summer She is
sweet girl-but do not lei US talk any
more tonight. or rather this morning
Goodby Jack. and thanks for your
valuable assistance.
said good-by" and went home 20
my bachelor quarters to dream OF
Hartvile and a slender figure dressed
IN pink cotton
called at Mrs. Gordon's in a few
days when | had the pleasure Of see
ing both the lady and her niece, and a.
week later / was asked to dine with
them. I accepted the invitation and
called afterward not once, but many
time and so the months went by and
one bright spring day found myset
wondering whether il were possible
for a man TO be IN love with two wo-
men al once. | began to app, >clate
that | was possessed by feelirN o.
restlessness when away from He.rs
Warren. and yet found it imposs;-:s
to Danish from my heart the tende,-
ness which | felt for Miss Lee
One evening. early in June, | called
at Mrs. Gordons and found Helen sit
ting alone in the twilight
Uncle and aunt are dining out
she explained when we had exchanged
the usual greetings.
did not say that ! was sorry
was particularly glad and before half
an hour had gone by had mustered
up courage and asked the woman ]
loved TO marry me.
She gave me a hesitating little
yes and then | kissed her TO pre-
vent her taking 1t back again.
Jack, said Helen, suddenly when
we had talked over the future that
we We're to spend together, were YOU
ever In love with anyone else?"
had made up my mind that there
should be no secrets between us. so
holding her hand in mine and looking
into her laughing eyes l confessed
the little episode Of the previous sum
mer
Are you quite sure that there was
never anybody else?" she asked When
my story had come to an end.
Quite. ] answered honestly
4 think we might have xghts now
she said rising and going toward the
door through which she disappeared
A servant came in presently and
lighted the gas. and then fell 70
dreaming and wondering why Helen
did not come back
The sound Of step on the carpet
caused me to look up and there ad
vancing toward me ! saw-not Helen
but Miss Lee in her sailor hat. her
gray veil and pink cotton gown
| felt for moment that | must be
dreaming. but a merry laugh which
sounded very real fell upon my ear.
and the next moment the veil was
lifted and Helens blue eyes were look
ms into mine and she was saying
Y am so glad that there is no one
but Miss Lee for me to be jealous or
You see | have horribly jealous
disposition. she began In answer to
my request for an explanation, and
after papa married again was
wretchedly unhappy and hated my
stepmother with a hatred that was
only equaIed by her detestation OF
me When she and my father returned
home after their marriage | tried
very hard to be agreeable to her. but
she asserted her authority over me in
such dlsagreeable way that one day
! lost control Of my temper and we
had dreadful scene. Papa heard all
about 1t when he came home that
evening, and the end of ii was that I
was told the following day 10 have
my things packed, as was going
away for the summer ] had expected
to 20 abroad with my father, as we
had done so many summers before.
and was therefore little surprised
when he told me that was going to
pass the summer at a farmhouse il
Vermont
My stepmother's maid travelled
with me to Hartville, and saw me set
tied with the Bennets, a misery old
farmer and his wife, The latter J
soon discovered. was a sort Of connec-
ton of my stepmother's
THE day upon which first saw
you had put on this thick veil as
protection against the mosquitoes.
which always swarmed about a GER
tain marshy place where I sometimes
went for wild flowers Almost as soon
as you got up and came toward me !
recognized your face Although we
had never met had often seen you in
town during the previous winter, and