Omaha daily bee., 1912-02-14


with cheeks hotly flushed Helen stared
at this letter long after she had read II.
That Warren should have written her
thisi That after all her efforts TO econo-
mlze he should think II necessary to SEND
her this letter.
And the reference to her and Winifredl
The inference that they were burden
upon hiul--that II II were not for them he
would be free TO undertake other business
ventures.
Oh. II she only had some money OF her
own! II there was only something she
could do-some work by which she could
make enough TO pay at least her share OF
the expenses. Anything but the Calling
humiliation Of being dependent upon him,
when that Independence had ceased to be
ito him pleasure.
The thought that she was burden TO
him, that IL It were not for her and
Winifred he would not be so handicapped,
ranked fiercely within her.
But what could she do? She had no
ibread-winning talents or training. And
vet there were many women. no more
capable than she. who supported them
selves and their children.
Here the check, which had fallen from
the letter to her lap. now fluttered to
the floor. She picked it up. Pay to-
the order Of Mrs. Warren e. Curtis,
fifty dollars" The reluctance with which
he had sent II seemed written all over
the check. The color burned more hotly
in her cheeks. There was but one thing
she could do with the check-return IT,.
The check she would return now-wlth
"a special delivery stamp. She could not
get it back to him soon enough. As
she started over to the desk to write the
letter. bitter resentful phrases were trip
ping over themselves in her mind. With
a certain fierce haste she wrote;
Dear warren-Am returning the check
Possibly you need & n,ore out there
than | do here. At any rate I cannot ac-
eept money that comes with a letter like
that. You ought 10 know how economical
J am and how / make every effort to
save-but II seems you do not. Don't
worry about the expenses here. l snail
manage TO pay them Ia some way.
Your whole letter is In inference that
winlfred and ] are crag on you. I'm
ldertake any venture that you wish 10
without considering US. 1 would rather
lake AlmTred ana go out west 10 nlolner
than to feel that YOU had come 10 con-
slider US an uuwelcoTle burden.
Warren | have taken so much from
you without resentment. that you
thought Ilwould take this letter too.
But there Is one thing ! am fiercely sen
sitive Rbout-money. You ought to know
that. You ought to know too, that
have repeatedly done without even the
most necessary things, that | have put
ND with any personal digComfort-rather
than ask you for money
And l have thought that By staying
at home and taking care of Winifred
and making things comfortable for
you-tha; that was NV part Of the
work Evidently you do not think 50,
for your whole attitude in this letter
is one Of giving me money as my
right, but giving Il to me reluctantly and
Trudgfngly. And not only in this letter
but before you went away ! felt this
attitude growing upon you
Warren, l wish I could earn money
enough 10 take from ne this CALLING
sense Of dependency which your letter
and your attitude before you went away
have made me feel I don't know what
/ can debut I do know that ] shall
do something TO make lighter the burden
Of winifreds and my support, YcEr
wife HELEN.
without. waiting 20 read this over
Helen put It with the check in the en-
veIope, addressed it hurriedly. put on
six two-cent stamps. marked ii Special
Delivery" and took il herself 70 the
mail box on the corner
For Helen the next few days were