The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-09-14
TIE EVENING STORY
Wrapped In Pink Paper.
(Rv Marion Gordon.)

!
Helena Brooke flew to the telephone.
% she asked expectantly.
Dear" said her lovers voice, I'm
sorry that 1 cannot come tonight May
I come tomorrow evening instead %
why not this EVENING"" pouted
Helena.
HOh, becausel'' he cried gayly. I'll
tell you another time. It's a secret
just now"
Jack! Very welcome tomorrow
evening if you have nothing better to
do" and decidedly out of temper Hell
ena hung up the receiver, cutting OIL
Jack Henshaw's words with clicking
abruptness.
Up in her own pretty room Helena
| locked the door and sank into big
chair beside the window. It was bad
enough that Jack should have set
aside her special invitation for that
evening-it was her birthday and he
did not know it. Her mother had
asked Bridget to make a birthday
cake, and it was to be brought in dur
ing the evening decorated with spun
sugar and candles.
Helena's married sister. Dorcas
Wade, and Frank Wade her husband.
were coming over and Frank had
promised to bring his cello. Jack
IHenshaw's violin occupied perman-
ent place now on Helena's piano and
she had planned an impromptu con-
cert. This was all to be a surprise to
Jack.
Now Jack had spoiled it all by beg
ging off from the invitation Helena
felt positive that he was going of
somewhere with that horrid Ned
Speedle who had a little place down
on Long Island where he maintained
kennels of which he might well be
proud, for they bore a national repu-
tation. Ned Speedle also owned low
notwithstanding gray racing automo-
bile in which he was wont to tear
around the countryside.
Helena Brooke was positive that
Jack was going off on some mad ride
with Ned Speedle. Why he should do
this she could not understand, because
SpeedIe was not at all to Jacks taste;
but he had spoken of the wild motor
list several times lately and had ex-
pressed a desire to visit the kennels at
Dogwood.
The birthday evening was not en-
tirely a successful occasion, although
Helena herself was bright and gay.
Dorcas and Frank came and played
and sang, but Helena sat mutely
thoughtful while the music drifted
through the rooms.
Bridget's entrance with the cake
was welcome intrusion, and after
they had eaten of the cake, the Wades
went home, and Helena was free to
seek her chamber and weep into her
pillow.
It was not so much his not being
there, she told herself, it was the fact
he had deliberately put another pleas
ure before the delight of being with
her.
The next day she nourished bitter
resentment toward Jack Henshaw
until she believed that his indifferences
had killed her love.
Late in the afternoon she rummaged
through her writing desk and gathered
all of Jack Henshaw's precious letters
into a pocket. One letter she kept out
that in spite of her jealous anger,
she decided to keep; she could burn it
after one more perusal- Its tender
words would then reveal anew to her
the perfidy of man-and emphasize
the fortunate escape she had had from
man who preferred the dubious COM
pany of Ned Speedle to that Of the girl
he was engaged to!
So Helena tied the letters in a fresh
sheet of pink tissue paper, tied the
square package with a bit of ping rib |
bon, and tucked the letters away in a
drawer in her desk ready to give to
Jack Henshaw when he should come
that night. She had already written
brief note to him telling Jim to bring |
her letters with him when he came.
Jack Henshaw obeyed her behest to !
come at o'clock, and his frank, hand
some face was puzzled when his eyes
met the GOODNESS in hers.
What is the matter, Nell?" he
asked bluntly.
Helena tried to be calm, but her |
voice shook when she spoke. 81 asked |
you to come last night-you preferred |
to enjoy the company of Ned Speedle."
How did you know that?" demand |
ed Jack.
more assurance. 81 wanted you to |
come last night because it was my |
birthday and I wanted you she |
was obliged to stop or betray her
weakness.
~
stammered. WHY thought it was
today-and L
Helena was not listening to him.
She was bracing herself to meet a
tragic moment. "Jack-Mr. Henshaw
II am sure we have made a great |
sure that I shall never be happy with |
you-I-I-am sorry, but Hele-
mas voice faltered and was still.
A great silence fell upon the room.
Helena stared at the mass of glowing |
Goals in the CRATE. Jack Henshaw
stared blankly into space.
Very well. Helena" Jack said
quietly. almost CURLY 1T is my pleas
ure to make you happy; il 1 can best
do it by giving you back your freedom
viii do tat whatever cost to my
SELF
without a word Helena drew his
ring from her finger and laid it in the
palm he outstretched to receive it at
her gesture. Then, her eyes still seek
ing the fire, she spoke again.
81 have some letters I wish to re-
turn to you" She rang the bell and
when a servant appeared she said;
mora, bring me a package wrapped in
pink paper from my desk; you will
find it in the second left hand drawer"
The maid departed and Jack drew
from his coat pocket a small box of
white ivory. From the box he took a
small alabaster urn, delicateIy carved
with flowers in relief, while on the lid