El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-12
Married Life the Second Year
on the
By Mabel Herbert Urner sss. distance Telephone

TT ELEM gazed sleeplessly out of her
moonlit window. From below
came the faint striking Of the
dining room clock. She counted the
slow regular strokes-twelve-it was
midnight.
Fer three long hours she had lain,
there tossing feverishly. Her head
ached. her eyes burned. and the throb-
bing pain in her heart seemed un-
bearable-
To the telegram she had sent War
ren yesterday-there had been no re-
ply All last night and all today she
had waited quiveringly for an answer
but none had come. What could it
mean? Surely he must be ill-very Ill,
or he would have answered
How much longer could she bear
this suspense?
Throgh the open window came the
sounds of the crickets and tree frogs,
and the night air was softly fragrant
She drew a kimona about her and
went over and knelt by the window.
The moonlight was almost as bright
as day.
There was a sudden rustic among the
lilac bushes under her window and Ro-
yer sprang out and ran across the
yord
Here Rover-Roverr' Helen called
softly, so softly that it was hardly
more than a whisper. But Rover heard
and came running back under the win
dow. He looked up at her with elo-
quent eyes and waving tail And
then as though he felt the witchery OF
the night and the moonlight, he lay
down and rolled over and over on the
soft grass.
The Night Walk In the Garden.
Yielding to sudden impulse Helen
threw a heavier wrap about her, ST
Iently stole down stairs. unlocked the
front door, paused for moment on
the Tine-covered porch and then went
out into the yard
Rover came bounding toward her
''Hush-hush, No. no, you mustn't
bark" and Rover. seeming to under
stand, contented himself with low
whine of delight as he leaped about
her
Unheeding the dew-wet grass which
soon drenched her bedroom slippers,
Helen walked slowly about the yard,
blindlv seeking relief in motion from
I7er tortured thoughts.
What could it mean? Why had ne
not answered her telegram Oh, why
had she come on this trip? Surely 1t
would have been better to have stayed
and endured his coldness than TO have
come
iety Should she throw her pride to
the winds and go back tomorrow
And then came a thought so fearful
that she hid her face in her hands
What if he should NOT WANT HER
TO COME BACK. Was THAT what he
was trying to show by his silence? Oh,
no-no; she knew it could not be.
And yet just the thought had so an
nerved her that she sank down on
h.
bed convulsively Rover, with his paws
in her lap, gazed up at her with eyes
full of distress. She put her arms
about him and rested her cheek against
his head
@oh. RoTer-RoFers what shall do?
What shall / do2"
And Rover could only whine In au-
swer
At length she turned slowly hack to
the house AS she stole through the
dark hall, feeling her way along tic
wall with her hand, she accidentally
touched the telephone. causing faint
stir Of the bell
The Long Distance Telephone.
The telephone. The telephone. The
same telephone that was in their
apartment in New York. whore Warren
was now sleeping In a few moments
she could be talking with him!
She was leaning heavily against the
wall Why had she not Thought Of that
In this way she could end her suspense
at once
The cost? But what differ cnce would
that make if she could only hear from !
himl If she could only KNOW what |
had happened!
without stopping TO consider just |
following the wild impulse that led her /
on, she felt for the receiver and took |
1T down
~Hellor gazing in the darkness be-
fore her.
rs this long distance telephone? i
Can speak to New York from here2'
ITO New York;" the operators voice /
answered sleepily. Yes. all the phones I
are long distance"
How much viii it be?'
Something like Sc, I think Hold /
the wire. III look it up" pause. !
yes. $3.50 for three minutes and 50 /
for each additional minute or fraction /
thereof" evidently reading from lie !
rate book
''But if I shouldn't get the party?r
asked Helen
Then 1t doesn't cost YOU anything"
We'll, want to try" desperately /!
Put don't charge this to my father,
DR.. Alien. III come down in the alorn- /
ing and Jay you. Now viii you try TO !,