Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1908-01-23

ossseses aess sseee seeeesee 90
''At o'clock he is coming said
Helena, "and then-the last of these
business matters! He has proved a
good and trusty friend, and poor
papas high opinion of him has been
verified"
It was now quarter before s,
and while she awaited his coming her
thoughts went back to the first time
she had seen him, on that eventful
Cay eighteen months before. She had
been returning home from visit and
he had sat opposite to her for half
a day in the drawing room car. She
had noticed with some amusement
his complete absorption in a volume
of Coleridge and his apparent oDliv-
iousnass to all outward surround
ings.
But when the awful crash CT the
collision ca1ne-just as the train vas
about reaching its destinaticl-it
was he whose quickness had saved
her from certain death, whose strong
arms had held her up and at last
had borne her from that scene OF
horror into safety. And it was be
who had led the little band OF res
ecuers again and again into the wreck
in a noble effort to save the injured,
until he himself had been carried out
from burning car, bleeding and in
sensible, with great cash over his
eyes.
She had not allowed this brave
man to whom she owed her life to be
carried away to hospital, but had
taken him directly to her own homo,
where the best medical care and
skilled attendance was Immediately
obtained for him.
She remembered her fathers look
OF amazement and perplexity when
she had arrived with the insensible
man in the carriage beside her, and
she remembered, too, his hearty ap-
proVal as soon as he had heard the
story, and his keen satisfaction af-
terWard when he discovered that his
involuntary guest was Harry Stevens,
Who-though unknown in the world
OF society-was q man of standing
high in the business world and not
able for his rectitude, cleverness and
sagacity.
While the injured man was slowly
conyalescing Helena's father had cul-
tlFated MS society, and in spite Of the
difference in their years a deep and
lasting friendship had sprung up be-
tween them. But although he and
she had been housemates at the time
1or several weeks, Helena had not
seen their guest until the day of his
departure, and then his extreme re-
serve had somewhat puzzled her.
And after this, in spite of her
Iathsr's continual endeavors, it had
proved impossible to prevail upon
their late guest to be present at any
OF their larger social functions, al
though on few notable occasions
he had been persuaded to accept their
invitations to small and informal din
ners
On those occasions she had OBJ
served him curiously. He was keen
"eii read, good though not brilliant
talker, and with men he was entirely
at bis ease and his words evidently
"SASAts ouL tOW6Iu NOlu0u
he was silent and reserved. He sell
uom addressed even her-his host
@Ss-although she noticed that he
PAID her the rare compliment of lis
senlng when she spoke, no matter
nc" much that was better hearins
might be going on about him. Blu
Ae never voluntary approached her
ana at last his avoidance piqued her
Her father talked much about him
a hne fellow, my dear. not onl,
axe, | honor him. l suppose som.
would call him a self-made man, bu
say that God never made a finer
"-er gentleman. He apparently di
'1ues his time between his bushes
ana his books, and I never knew
more hnely cultivated mind or a maj
win higher ideals. His friendshi
- indeed treasure, and I am happ
~ haV-ng won it. You think he doe
not llke you? You are mistaken, m
uSaf' ne is no ladies' man, he is to
1SseFyed and difident, but he admire