Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-02-20
The Two Paths
By ELMORE DRURY


good grade city boarding house, turn
Ing over and over in her hand a flash
Ing gem-studded pin, the velvet case
that had contained It and a brief note
lying on the stand at her side The
pretty trinket fascinated her yet Helen
knew that she had no right to accept
It.
She was an ambitious girl, had re-
ceived a thorough commercial college
education and had come to the busy.
busting metropolis six months pre-
vious to find her fondest dreams real
lied.
You are the luckiest girl | ever
knew" a friend had said to her, and
Helen had quite flushed with satisfac-
ton and triumph rs she realized the
fact as true. She had obtained work
at the start in the employ of an agrees
sive, up-to-date mail-order concern OPP
Grated by a Mr.. Andre Lesion, man
who was liberal, almost extravagant
where the investment OF dollar
brought two. He was of expensive
tastes and surrounded himself with
persons who shared his free lance
business ideas. He had been married
and divorced twice. but was in no
sense bad man at la, art. He took
the world as IT came, and when his
wives tired of him gave them gen
erous stipend and did not break his
heart over their departure.
There were frequent 5anquets, thea
ter parties and outings given to his
employees. Always there was a chap
eron for the young ladies and every
thing was circumSpect In the office,
boxes of chocolates and flowers were
common. Lesion counted upon it that
this profusion would influence those
he employed to give their best work
In return. Helen was paid good wages
but earning all size was paid for,
She had too pure and sensible IA
mind, however. not to see that the at
mosphero was unhealthy, evanescent,
deteriorating. The acceptance OF the
friendship of Divorce the general
impulse of enjoyment reckless of Its
purposeless results, the flare, the gilt
ter, a price to pay in world WEAKNESS
at the end-all this assailed a finer
strain Of mentality with Helen Mr..
Lesion had paid her marked atten-
ton.
HE wants to marry you," the head
stenographcr told Helen. "Why not?
He has money He may in time be
negleCtful, but never unkind. Feather
your nest--it is the way of the
world"
And now upon her birthday a deli
cate note had accompanied the expen-
sive gift, which Helen knew she must
not retain. She sighed as she fitted
the pin back in its case and indited
note thanking Mr.. Lesion, but declin-
ing the present. Then she thought of
home and mother-of quiet and peace
full Waltham, of the humble, but hap
py friends she had left there, and,
most of all, of staunch, honest-hearted
Ned Barclay, who loved her as she
knew, although he had never told
her so.
The landlady came up with tele-
gram that put Helen In transport
of delight II was from her cousin at
the home town thirty miles distant.
81 am coming TO do some shopping"
II read Get a day off and chaperone
me"
What day they had together, she
and Lucia Davenant They arrived
home, gayly chatting; about eight
O'clock The landlady, quivering with
excitement, met Helen at the door.
Some one TO see you. Miss Ros-
sitter" she said, and pushed open the
door leading into the two long parlors
of the suite A wild babel assailed the
bewildered Helen. There were over
a dozen of her home town friends.
The room was trimmed with pretty
leaves, upon q table were apples, nuts,
popcorn, a promising plenty Of real
home products, mince and pumpkin
pies, real pound cakes-a birthday
Surprise" Offering and Helen actually
broke down and cried.
she WAS Eldu " NNlAOiiN wv ''tAa
clay among her guests. There were
old-fashloned games and at midnight
the gay visitors left for their train,
leaving Helen flushed and happy, half
yearning to go along with them. Ned
Barclay had fingered.
"Helen," he said, and he drew a lit
tie package from his pocket" back
home ! always brought to you sam
ple of the first maple sugar run and
as she opened the tissue paper there
was he sample, made In a heart
shoned mold and tied with a pretty
ribbon. Her eyes were humid rs She
placed b on he mantel and thanked
him. Then the light Of strange re-
solve came into her eyes.
"Did YOU come by traiuY she In
quircd.
"Not while old Tim is fit for haf-
ness /" laughed Ned.
"Cau could you find room for me
going back2"
could 1? Oh, Helen You don't
mean Ia Waltham I"
Eyes. I do-home and mother Wait
tust moment" and she took letter
.a-, ,po14 Hnuyy1 n the land