Several letters were handed in. On one she recognized the writing of her cousin Chester. She broke the seal with eager impatience, and as she read on smiles began to dimple her scarlet lips.
Helen, who was reading her own letters, was startled at a gay exclamation from her friend.
"Oh, Helen! good news! Chester and Daisy are—engaged!"
"But I thought it was you he loved, my dear."
"Oh, a mere fancy! It is that dear, darling Daisy Lynn he loves. And she—there's a little note from her, too—she has forgotten or outlived that old love—gives her whole tender heart to Chester. Listen, Helen, how he writes me—apologetically, you know, fearing I may think him fickle."
She read aloud, with a mischievous smile playing round her lips:
"'Both born of beauty at one birth,
She held o'er hearts a kindred sway,
And wore the only form on earth
That could have lured my heart away.'"
Helen smiled in sympathy.
"Poor boy! I'm glad he's to be made happy," she said. Then she nervously fingered a letter she held.
"Mine is from Loyal," she said, bashfully.