The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-18
WRAPPED in
PINK PAPER
By MARION GORDON

stead?"
why not this EVENING"" pouted
Helena.
"Oh. because!" he cried gayly. 'Tll
tell you another time. It's q secret |
Just now"
Jack! Very Welcome tomor.
row evening II you have nothing bet
ter to do" and decidedly out Of tenn
per Helena hung up the receiver, cut !
ting OF 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 1t. 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 sur
prise to Jack.
Now Jack had spoiled 1t all by
begging of from the invitation.
Helena felt positive that he was 60
ing of somewhere with that horrid
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 q desire to visit the ken
nels at Dogwood.
The birthday evening was not en-
tirely q 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 q welcome intrusion, and after
they had eaten Of the cake. the
Wades went homo, and Helena was
free to seek her chamber and weep
into her pillow.
It was not 30 much his not being
there, she told herself, 1t 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 hel
Jealous anger. she decided to keep;
she could burn 1t after one more
perusal. Its tender words woult
then reveal anew to her the perfld!
Of man-and emphasize the fortunate
escape she had had from man whit
preferred the dubious company o
! Ned Speedle to that Of the girl b,
was engaged to!
/ So Helena tied the letters In
! fresh sheet of pink tissue paper, tie'
the square package with a bit o
] pink ribbon, and tucked the letter
] away in q drawer in her desk read.
! to give to Jack Henshaw when h
] should come that night. She had a
! ready written brief note to hin
l telling him to bring her letters wit
4 him when he came.
Jack Henshaw obeyed her behes
n to come at eight o'clock, and his franl
handsome face was puzzled when hi
Il eyes met the GOODNESS in hers.
u what Is the matter, Nell?" b
asked bluntly.
II Helena tried to be calm. but he
Il voice shook when she spoke.
q asked you to come last night-yo
u preferred to enjoy the company Of
81 How did you know that?" d
Il manded Jack.
q Il knew" returned Helena wit
81 more assurance. 81 wanted you
Il come last night because 1t was m
II birthday and l wanted you" sh
81 wes obliged to stop or betray HI
weakness.
Your birthday was yesterday
he stammered. WHY thought
was today-and +"
Helena was not listening to hir
st She was bracing herself to meet
tragic moment. "Jack-Mr. He
re shawl am sure we have made
n great mistake. ! know ! have, al
re- am sure that shall never be hapI
tn with you-I-l-am sorry. but
. Helena's voice faltered and was still
ed A great silence fell upon the rool
It Helena stared at the mass Of glo
d. ing Goals In the CRATE. Jack He
shaw stared blankly into space.
ns VERY well. Helena" Jack %
w quietly, almost CURLY. ut 10 y
oe pleasure to make you happy; II I Ct
~ best do 1t by giving you back 20
=, freedom / will do tat whatev
4. cost to myself"
"A without a word Helena drew
w. ring from her finger and laid II
he the palm he outstretched to recel
I'M II at her gesture. Then, her eyes 81
., seeking the fire, she spoke again.