The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-07-31
$500.

Helen had two fellows on the string.
1t was pretty hard to come 200
miles to find that out-especially
when, a month before, I had bid
Helen good-by at the station in
town, and there was a look in her
eyes-well, that seemed to be for
me alone. 1t had given me a COM
Portable feeling all along, and especi-
ally as Helen's letters seemed to ex-
hale a certain atmosphere of dis
1consolateness-just as if she really
missed me.
We came into the inn from the
station on the blackboard. 1t was a
two-mile drive. The road was the
kind called corduroy-and we got
some heavy jolts. Still, I managed
to take Helen's hand, and she didn't
seem to mind. After all, at that mo-
ment it seemed quite worth while to
have come all that distance. There
was the first embarrassment that
always comes to lovers long sepa-
rated-but our eyes told volumes.
I was glad also that we were sur
rounded by forests. There would be
chances for me to have Helen all to
myself in such a wilderness.
I had scarcely registered, however,
before, as I turned around, I over
heard a buzz of conversation. The
two had come up. Helen introduced
them rapidly.
"Mr. Pollard. Mr.. Castleton, Mr..
Bertrand, Mr.. Castleton."
They nodded cheerfully. I could
feel myself growing uneasy.
Say, Miss Helen," said Mr.. Pol
lard, "can I have the first dance to-
uight?"
And" broke IN Mr.. Bertrand, 81
claim the second"
These two chaps were immacu-
lately dressed in white flannel suits.
They were apparently cast in the
same mould.
l didn't dance myself hated it.
Her answer made me desperate.
Il suppose So" said Helen. She
looked at me as if to get my sane
ton, or as if she had really done
something of which she expected me
to approve. At any rate. I didn't
approve. 1 could feel myself grow
ing warm with rage. To think that
I had come two hundred miles only
ITO find that the girl I counted on was
as tickle as that.
II must see about my room,' I
said, and broke away and went up
stairs.
When I came back they were all
three sitting together. 1t was in
the front hall. Helen got up.
Shall we go for a row." she
said. 1 want to show you the sur
roundings."
Let's" said Mr.. Pollard.
Lets" said Mr.. Bertrand.
"How jolly" exclaimed the voice
of MI. Pollard.
"Delightful!" cried Mr.. Bertrand.
Lets make up a party" said
Helen. Come Jack; take us all.
You row so s~plendidly.'
They piled in, and. there being no
help for it; 1 went along.
Next day the affair progressed in
about the same fashion. We all went
on a tiresome picnic and 1 cooked the
dinner.
That night we were all tired and
went to bed early. But I woke up
at midnight, and, thinking it all over,
and Helen's cruelty, 1 made up my
mind to give the affair up. The
next morning I made my arrange
ments to leave on the first train.
1 took an early breakfast; then I
started down to the lake for a last
look. On the way back 1 came face
to face with Helen. She betrayed
anxiety.
I've been looking for you every
where" she cried. Surely this is
not true-you are not going? The
clerk told me-" :
Eyes, I am"
There was a rustic seat in a by
oath, and we both sat down.
you've been horrid to me-" said
Helea, lever since you came. You
haven't"
81 haven't been any worse to you
than you have been to me-" I re-
piled.
Helen began to cry softly.
"You told me once" she said,
"that-that you loved me-
81 do ] replied. I was beginning
to feel rather queer myself. ..."Of