The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-02-29
WRAPPED in
PINK PAPER
bv MARION GORDON

phone.
"Yes?" she asked expectantly.
Dear" said her lovers voice, I'm
sorry that l cannot come tonight
May l come tomorrow evening In
stead?"
"Why not this EVENING"" pouted
Helena.
ooh, because!" he cried gayly. "TH
tell you another time. It's secret
just now"
Jack! Very WELCOME tomor-
row evening If you have nothing bet
ter to do" and decidedly out OF tenn
per Helena hung up the receiver, cut
ting off Jack Henshaw's words with
clicking abruptness.
Up in her own pretty room Helena
locked the door and sank into a big
chair beside the window. 1t 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 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
Henshaw's violin occupied per
manent place now on Helena's piano
and she had planned an impromptu
concert. This was all to be a sur
prise to Jack.
Now Jack had spoiled it all by
begging of from the invitation.
Helena felt positive that he was 60
ing off somewhere with that horr1d
Ned Speedle, who had little place
down on Long Island where he main
tanned kennels of which he might
we'll be proud, for they bore a ma
tional reputation. Ned Speedle also
owned a low, vicious-looking gray
racing automobile in which he was
won't to tear around the countryside.
Helena Brooke was positive that
Jack was going of on some mad ride
with Ned Speedle. Why he should
do this she could not understand, be-
cause Speedle was not at all to Jacks
taste; but he had spoken of the wild
motorist several times lately and had
expressed a desire to visit the ken
nels 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 a welcome intrusion, and after
they had eaten of the cake, the
Wades went home, and Helena was
free to seek hek chamber and weep
into her pillow.
1t was not so much his not being
there, she told herself, it was the fact
he had deliberately put another
pleasure before the delight Of being
with her.
The next day she nourished bitter
resentment toward Jack Henshaw
until she believed that his indiffer-
ences had killed her love.
Late in the afternoon she rum
mayed through her writing desk and
gathered all of Jack Henshaw's pre-
cious letters into a pocket. One let
ter she kept out-that, in spite of her
Jealous anger, she decided to keep;
she could burn it after one more
perusal. It's tender words would
then reveal anew to her the perfidy
Of man-and emphasize the fortunate
escape she had had from a man who
preferred the dubious company 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 bit Of
pink ribbon, 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 al
ready written brief note to him
telling him to bring her letters with
him when he came.
Jack Henshaw obeyed her behest
to come at eight o'clock, and his frank,
handsome 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. Il
asked you to come last night-you
preferred to enjoy the company Of"
How did you know that?" de-
manded Jack.
Il knew" returned Helena with
more assurance Il wanted you to
come last night because it was my
birthday and wanted you" she
was obliged to stop or betray her
weakness.
Your birthday was yesterdays
he stammered. "Why-1 thought II
was today-and l." ..t,
Helena was not listening to him
She was bracing herself to meet a
tragic moment. "Jack-Mr. Hen
shawl am sure we have made a
great mistake l know I have, and
I am sure that shall never be happy
with vou-I-l-am sorry, but