El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-11-16
MARRIED LIFE THE SECOND YEAR
BY MABEL
HERBERT URNER

It was only the last few days she had
been like this.
Then Helen began to wonder il she
had been a little unreasonable In IN
sisting on the ice chest being cleaned
just then But it was not only the Ice
chsst-she had put up with so much
neglected work and sullen defiance this
week.
Yet more and more she shrank from
the thought OF breaking IN a strange
girl. And Warren would be furiOusl
There was nothing he hated more than
a change OF servants- And tom morrow
the Stevenses were coming for dinner
What could she do2 She heartily
wished she had never mentioned the
ice chest Oh, why had she persisted
in il so? Yet how could she make any
overtures MOVE
She went through the han. passing
Delia's ROOM But the door was closed
and there was sO1al Of trunk be-
ing dragged over the floor. Helen went
on into the sitting room and gazed out
the window. The thought Of losing
Della overwhelmed her more and more
Just then the bell rang
Only one letter. Miss DsHa O'Don-
Oghue,' read the address-oalnstakiu
ly- penciled in the big, awkward hand.
Helen went back and raped on
Delia's door.
"A letter for YOU" handing II in.
The Letter Arrives.
Della took it without a word and
again closed the door. But in that
momentary glimpse into the room
Helen had seen the open trunk and the
clothes on the noor beside it ready to
be packed.
Wen, she was Eoiug-uhere was no
help for ii now Helen took down the
telephone book to look up the address
Of an employment agency What was
that place Mrs. Lewis had told her
abCut2 She had better can her up and
find out Then she remembered Mrs.
Lewis was never home Thursday after
Moons. and besides it was too late 10
, get dinner herself
And then 1t occurred to her about
Della.s pay-she would want her mon
ey But this " as Cnly the Sth; 81 would
10 pay that.
There was a sound OF DeHa's door
I opening and her steps down the hall to-
I ward the kitchen. She had left an
apron or something Of hers out there,
thought Helen. But the steps did not
return Then came the sound of water
running in the sink, and a noise OF
pans and dishes. Had she decided to
strai ghten up before she left2
Helen waited a few moments, and
then went through the dining room to
the open door Of the kitchen Della
was on her knees before the ice chest
I with a big pan Of sUds beside her. So
Z she was going to clean the ice chest
| before she WENT
Della did not see her. and. not know
Ing what to say, Helen once more went
back into the sitting room to her
3 mending- She finished the tablecloth,
seWed some buttons on Warren's un-
I derwear, and mended the lace on Wini-
[ tred< little skirt. StiIl Della was in
Z the kitchen Once more Helen went
to she door The ice chest was cleaned
and left open 20 dry. while Della was
] rapidly finishing the ironing
DO YOU want that pineapple for
/ dessert, ma'am-or shall 7 make a cup
I OF custarde"
Il think the custard would be very
nice stamm cred Helen.
"Al right, ma'am, and I'll beat up
I a. sponge cake 10 go with IT,"
And that was all There was no
I explanation and no apology. But it
was plain that Della had decided to
stay. And Helen was too content 20
ask questions.
The letter had been from DeIia's
/ young man." UnquestiOnably 1t had
Z been a conciliatory one. And it had
I come just In time TO restore peace. not
: only to Delia's troubled heart, but TO
/ the domestic machinery Of the Curtis
household