  We present spectroscopic observations of two halo M subdwarfs which have H
alpha emission lines. We show that in both cases close companions are the most
likely cause of the chromospheric activity in these old, metal-poor stars. We
argue that Gl 781 A's unseen companion is most likely a cool helium white
dwarf. Gl 455 is a near-equal-mass M subdwarf (sdM) system. Gl 781 A is rapidly
rotating with v sin i = 30 km/s. The properties of the chromospheres and X-ray
coronae of these systems are compared to M dwarfs with emission (dMe). The
X-ray hardness ratios and optical chromospheric lines emission ratios are
consistent with those seen in dMe stars. Comparison to active near-solar
metallicity stars indicates that despite their low metallicity ([m/H] = -1/2),
the sdMe stars are roughly as active in both X-rays and chromospheric emission.
Measured by L_X/L_bol, the activity level of Gl 781 A is no more than a factor
of 2.5 subluminous with respect to near-solar metallicity stars.
