El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-01-16

w phone message and his niece's
abrupt reply had subsidized. Helen re-
marked with assumed gravity:
Poor old uncleI I'm afraid have
made him very angry
Il suppose" Opined Beatrice, YEARLY,
that I should have let him come, but
1 couldn't bear to see anyone Just now,
While 1 feel so far from we'll"
"Of course you can't" answered Hell
en-, affectiOnately. You are just in
stinctively nice to everybody. But un-
Gle Henry can't understand that and
thinks that your niceness to him is be-
cause of your liking for him, especially
It's not your fault it's just masculine
egotism-thats all"
If Beatrice's conscience smOte her
at her friends remark she did not be-
tray this fact in her speech Instead,
when Helen suggested that she try
diently and was soon sleeping calmly
and innOcently as a baby.
Alone With Her Thoughts.
When she aWOke it was the early
afternoon and she was alone. Her
nourishment disposed of, the invalid
settled herself to read, but soon grew
weary, and, closing her book, lay
throuEh the long hours, letting her
thoughts rove where they would The
twilight darkened into dusk and her
gloomy thoughts kept pace with it
there was sound OF footsteps on the
yeranda, and Helen Robbins came in
leading Jack and Jean.
These chicks have been fed" she an
nounced, smiling down at the children,
and now they are gong 70 rOost"
Then, noting ber friends moist eyes,
she laid a cool hand on the widows
forehead. Are you feeling badly,
dear?" she asked soHcitOusly.
No" replied Beatrice, trying to
smile. I'm just blue 1 was feeling
awfully forlorn before you came.
BIanchard's Letter.
n
tr1ce, with a sudden change Of mood 7
thought that Mr.. Maynard was to be
gone some days"
so did 1" said her friend, but he
seems 10 have changed his mind"
Mr.. Blanchard said he was afraid
you must be very i'll if none Of your
friends could see you" said little
Jack And he made me scared about
you He gave me this letter to give
to you, mother, but he said for me not
to let Mrs. Robbins give it to you He
gave me a quarter, too" ne added con-
Where did you see Mr.. Blanchard?''
demanded his mother, dismayed at the
revelation.
Jack and Jean down there" explained
Helen Robbins angriIy. I do think he
is the most impertinent busybody I
ever saw in the guise Of a man."
The widow laid the note on the ia
bic by her bed.
ri read this after awhile" she said
with an effort to appear Indifferent.
I'm too tired to do it now. Please
don't say anything to him about it,
Helen" pleaded Beatrice gently. Son,
dear" turning to Jack, I want you to
give me that quarter and I will give
you another in its place And now
velOpe from the desk"
Returns the Quarter.
The child did her bidding silently,
and watched her as, sitting up in bed,
she scrubbed a few lines with a trem-
bling hand Then she folded the paper,
slipped that and the money into the
envelope, and handed it to Mrs. Rob
please give that to Mr.. Blanchard
when you see him." she directed, but
read 1T first yourself"
Helen read the few words written in
pencil on the sheet of paper intrusted
to her care. They ran:
My Dear Mr.. Blanchard-My son
has given me this quarter, which he
says you paid him for carrying your
letter. I cannot alloy my children to
act as go-betWeens Or to accept pay
ment for doing favors.
as that all right?" the writer asked
her friend, anxiously.
Exactly right" was the prompt re-
ply. I'll hand this to him as soon as
L get back home"
When Helen Robbins had taken her
departure, and Mary had conveyed the
children off to their room, Beatrice
Minor opened henry 6lduCnarQS letter
and read it
Dear, dear child" he had written.
How sorry I am to learn of your ILL
ness! I could have wished, however,
that you had sent me some kinder
message than that which Helen de-
Hvered to me by telephone. Since even
those who have a right to be counted
among your true friends are forbidden
your presence, I can only resign NY
self to await your recovery. May 1t be
rapid In the meanwhile, if I can be
of any service to you in any way, do
not hesitate to call upon yours ever
faithfully.
Henry Blanchard"
HE is a silly old wOman" declared
Beatrice bitterly, as she tore the let
ter into bits and flung these into the
waste basket Why can't he go away
and leave me alOne2 Just as soon as
am well enough to Sc anybody he
viii be sure to come and worry me
with his CHASTITY talk of marriage.
believe he is actually making me al
most hate himi"