Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1921-04-28
The Greater Love
By T. B. ANDERSON
t@, iSse. western Newspaper Union.

20. 1879. western Newspaper union.)
Helen Mowbray sat before the CRATE
and gaxed long and seriously at its
few dying embers. After pressing her
lips sadly across written sheet In
her hand she slowly but deliberately
tore It into strips and let 1t fall into
the fire. Her lips frightened, a tremor
Of emotion swept her face. Then she
seemed to determine on some definite
action In regard to the theme occupy
ing and distressing her mind, and she
allowed the fragments Of paper to
consume without vince or culver,
although they had held words that had
for time aroused all the eager long
ing Of yenrning love.
Whit now became ashes had been
letter from Hector Duane. He, Helen
and her younger, sister Lois had been
friends at Woodville for some time.
Helen had come to the city with Lois
to visit an aunt. Lois had returned
home d few days previous, but Helen
had remained. That morning the let
ter had come from Hector Duane. q
manly. Ingenious appeal for her love.
Would she decide to become his wife
when she returned to Woodville?
A month since this mtssive would
have made Helen the happiest girl
In the world. Just now 1t rendered
her first undecided and wavering and
then wretched. A strange thing had
hapvs,ed. She loved Lois as the
very apple Of her eye. She had guard
ed, cheered, treasured her since she
was a child, ready to sacrifice every
thing for her sake. This devotion
had been sacred solemn promise to
her mother when the latter died, and
Helen had not been negiectful or un-
faithful In a single respect.
And an hour after Lois had gone
Helen had found that her sister had
unwittingly left behind her private
diary in which for years she had
chronicled all the events Of her life,
and there on a recently written page
was record that fairly crushed Helen
for the time being. It read:
VI dare not yet tell Helen rs vet
Of my happiness complete. but oh!
how she will love Hector as I do when
she knows that he has shown every
indication of selecting me above oil
others rs the empress of his heart"
Lois was in love with Hector Du-
ane. never dreaming that his thoughts
were fixed upon another! What
should she do! The happiness Of Lois
was everything to Helen. Perhaps
Hector had wavered to choice be-
tween the two sisters. An impulse
might have led to his fixing his Sc
lection upon Lois. 1t would break the
tender heart of Lois to lose the first
object Of her girlish affection. Helen
Mowbray decided to make the supreme
sacrifice of her life. She must do all
she could to secure the happiness OF
the sister she so cherished, be the
heart pain and disappointment what
It might to herself.
So the very next day through Elise
Duvan, her closest friend. a letter went
to Woodville. the contents Of which
as she realized and planned would soon
he spread broadcast and would reach
Hector. 1t indicated that Helen had
received the attentions Of wealthy
young man we'll. known In the city
plainly limited that an engagement was
pending and in brief. hut courteous
note Helen declined the honor Hector
Duane had proffered.
" will do what seems to he my
duty" she murmured. hut brokenly
II hope Lois will win him and insure
her happiness. She would not have
written the way she has In her diary
II there was not some evidence Of hi
having shown her encouraging atten
lions at some time or other.
Thus Helen planned and believed
She did not hear from Hector DUANE
again. There were, however. letter.
from Lois and one finally that read
II have been keeping deep secre
from you, sister dear I am engaged
10 whom! You shall know in my mex
letter"
And two days later there arrive,
another letter from Lois that faiFl,
stunned Helen, for 1t read: II am ca
gagged to Hector Wadhams. You neve
knew him, but he Is a young man go
will truly admire and esteem.
stranger In Woodvi,le, but he Is OF, q
excellent family and oh! he loves n
10 dearly"
" Helen was sick at heart at the, con
plication, her sacrificlal sister,y .,
tion had brought about. She decide
to 20 back home. hrs hopeless OF eve
regaininE the happiness she had los
Fate favored her. however. Sh
had left. the train NJ 4 connectin
Paint ,ast g dust ., q little way g