The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-02-09
Ghe Square
Envelope
A Valentine That Game on
the Wings Of the Wind
By HOWARD FIELDING

~
The eve of st. Valentines came early
an hour or more. At 4 o'clock the
reefs were dim with shadows flying
bng under the scurrying clouds that
azed the tops of the houses, and all
e windows were alight. 1t was
cture OF a rainstorm without rain.
bt drop had fallen.
Among the tall buildings the wind
bted in gusts with breathless Gains
tween. Hats were skipping merrily
every direction, but the worst place
rs the edge OF the new triangular
yscraper, the Anderson building.
From the leeward side OF this struc-
re came forth Mr.. Reginald ForreS-
b.. very carefully dressed, as usual,
t in a quiet style befitting the eX
PINE modesty of his disposition He
rried some legal documents rather
Dscly in his hand with n rubber band
ound them, and he might have borne
lighted candle without it's being eN-
lauished, for there was no more wind
here he walked than in a closed room.
c passed the edge OF the building,
d in an instant his hat was snatch
from his head and the papers from
5 hand. The hat struck an urchin,
no recled at the blow; the documents
ERE pasted upon the broad back of Il
liCeman.
At the same moment a young woman
rs propelled against ForreSter'S
oulder with considerable violence
d caromed fortunately into the lee
the building, where she stood pant
l.. Forester turned to beg the young
ly'S pardon, but she was winking the
st from her eyes and did not see
NJ.
The policeman reached a fat hand
ok as if they had been a plaster.
ID the urchin recovered Forrester'S
t and also large square envelope
F'This isn't mine" said Forester.
th the envelope in his hand.
'Tain't mine, that's sure" said the
~, accepting a coin and promptly
nishing upon the wings Of the gale.
Forrester stepped back into shelter
ID glanced at the envelope, which
rs addressed to Mr. William L. Lang
IN in a script distinctly feminine,
g writing Of a cultivated woman.
lie inference was easy that the inclO-
re was a valentine.
The human mind under proper con
ions is a marvelously rapid machine
ithin a few seconds there passed
rough Forresters field of conscious
Fss series Of memories covering Il
nsidcrable period, number of scpa-
te differences, including judgment
character. and upon the top of this
argument as to a very delicate ques-
IN Of conduct. He knew William L.
lngdon. The address upon the en-
lope fixed the identification beyond
|ubt. As a lawyer he had had GER
in dealings with Langdon and had
Fclined to have any more. Upon this
sue he had broken off a partnership,
) former associate persisting in con-
hung as Langdons legal adviser.
JrreSter knew the man to be not only
promoter OF dishonest corporations,
trickster and a swindler, but one
hose fate was sure, his exposure only
matter Of time, his punishment not to
evaded except by successful fight.
oreoVer. Lapgdon was q creature of
W moral standard all the way
rough, college bred crook, the gen
amanly" villain OF the stage.
1t seemed probable that this envelope
d been dropped by the young woman
ho still stood in the lee of the build
<. If any one else had let It fall that
dividual would have been visibly en-
ged in searching for it. but the girl
d something in her eye and was Civ
& all her attention to that.
She was very pretty, and the charm
youth and innocence was declared
every line OF her. The indehnable
auty OF maidenhood, the despair Of
the poets. glOrified and made her
cred, and the thought of her sending
token OF affection or even Of remem-
auce to such u man as Billy Langdon
S proper subject for the tears of
tels. There was nothing Obtrusively
gcliC about young Mr.. Forester, but
will ask you to believe that he was
honest man and respecter Of wo-
4n and one that held himself TO very
l'lct account.
But what could he do? The girl
Us stranger to him. He had never
ZEN her before and it was highly
lobable that the scheme OF destiny
q not include another meeting be
'een them in this world. There was
reck leSSneSS OF fate in the way they
d been hurled together, a seeming
llouS Indifference Whatever chance
ay be, it is certainly not a gentle
an and has no chance Of disclosing
kelf in the opposite character. Yet
Sc many rude folk in the world, II is
ten the instrument Of good. How
|ud il be made so in the present in
lnce?
Forester could not scrape acquaint-
g with the girl for the purpose Of
ling her that LangdOn was Il rascal,
t there must be some proper way Of
Fcomplishlng the same end. He must
d il, and time pressed.