El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-12-17
Married Life the Third Year
Helen Has a Glimpse OF the Unfafth-
fuIness of Another WOm-
ans Husband.
BY Mabel Herbert UrneE.
BY mnOel herbert I

twice. The door was locked, but I'm
not 50 blamed sure he wasn't there. "
Why would he lock the door,
asked Helen. wouldn't his stenogra-
pher be there?"
"Oh, he hasn't kept a stenOgrapher
for months I've known he's been
| down and out but I didn't know he
was getting ready to leave town. I've
straight, but I guess he's hoodwinked
! me and a good many others. If he
| doesn't pay that three hundred before
he gets out-well, I'll make it pretty
warm for him.
But dear, if he hasn't got it?"
| Hes got that much. Now I tell you
| what Wen do-get on your things
and Wen go W to his home tonight"
Oh you done want me to go, do
yes. I do. OF course, he may not
! be trying to get away, and I want a
! chance to see him without letting him
know I'm suspicious. You can talk
/ TO MS wife and can get him alone"
But won't it look strange for me
| TO go when I don't even know her?"
I oh, that's all right Wen say we
were up In that neighborhOOd and I
/ wanted to see Winthrop. And we'd
better start pretty soon, glancing at
| the Heights"
An Awkward Situation.
| Warren still fingered at the dinner
/ table frowning thOughtfully over his
4 coffee and cigar, while Helen went in
! to get ready.
It seemed a long trip. Warren was
I froWningly silent and Helen was won
| dering what the place would be like
and how the Winthrops would receive
J them.
There was q three-block walk after
they left the car.
Here it is, Winthrop fourth floor"
! as he pressed the button.
A moments wait, then the click,
click which announced that the door
was unlocked.
Inside Warren led the way up the
four flights of stairs. Helen could
see the lights streaming out from an
open door, and when they reached the
landing she saw that a little girl was
Then a woman appeared, slender,
frail looking woman of about 80, in
a loose, cheap house gown.
oh, it's Mr.. Curtis" flushing with
very evident embarrassment
His Wife at Home.
Mrs. WinthrOp-tbis is Mrs Cur
tbs We were up in this neighborhOOd
and thought I'd stop a few min
utes to see your husband"
'Oh. I'm so sorry, he isn't here" as
she opened the door and invited them
IN But if you don't mind waiting.
he'll not be long"
She led them into the front room
with a mormured apology about her
appearance.
1T was small room with cheap
golden oak furniture. stiff Nottingham
lace curtains, and garish red and
green lowered rug.
Helen, who knew that Winthrop had
been at college with Warren and that
ne had married a girl of a very good
philadelphia family, could not help but
be surprised.
You have a very good view here
remarked Warren.
Yes, we get plenty of light and all. |
and that's good for the children |
Then. as thought divining Helen's |
sublet this flat furnished over a year
ago-expecting to stay only few
months. but Mr.. Winthrop's business /
has been so unsettled that we've |
stayed on But I've missed our own
things So with an apolegetic glance !
about the room I've never felt quite /
at home here"
Here the little girl who had opened !
the door come in shyly-
The Winthrop Children.
This is Florence" said her mother.
proudly drawing her forward and i
pushing back rebellious curly lock !
-. Haven't you another little girl. Mrs /
winthrop" asked Helen.
oh, yes, we have two others. Here's /
Alice now. Come in dear"
child of about four, with beautiful |
reddish-gold hair stood hesitatingly at |
the door. In her arms was Rugged I
close a tiny gray kitten She walked 1
sraight to Helen and put the kitten !
in her lap.
ooh. how dear of your as Helen
stopped over TO pet them both. i
have a little girl and she has a kitten.
Pussy"
The child made a motion as II to
climb into Helen's lap.
No. no, Alicew protested her moth
er- Mrs. Curtis can't hold you and
the kitten both"
Yes, can hold Alice and Alice can
hold the kitten" laughed Helen. lift
ing the child up on her lap.
They waited until almost 10, but !
still Mr.. Winthrop did not come
oh, I feel so sorry for herI" ex-
claimed Helen; when at length they
came out on the street again. She's
really very nice-and think of her liv-
ing IN that place with that hideous |
furniture for over a yearlr
Yes, she's a fine little woman"
agreed Warren, and I don't under ]
stand it Winthrop hasn't made much,
but he's made enough for them to live |
better than that. There's a screw loose
somewhere"
As they approached the car a couple
were standing on the corner
BY Jove, that's Winthrop now"
Warren, as he drew Helen
back in the shadow They stood there
only an instant, but it was long
enough to hear the man say:
hate to see you go home alone.
but I've been out so many nights that
she's begun to complain"
"Oh, I'm not afraid" laughed the
girl, who was young and rather pretty
IN a cheap. obvious way. But don't
forget you're to take me to dinner to-
morrow night And see if you can't.
But Warren had led Helen past.
"Oh, that couldn't-that couldn't
nave been him. stammered Helen.
That's Winthrop, all right If YOU
hadn't been along. I'd liked to have !
punched his head. That's where his
money goes That snip of a girl. when I
he's got that fine little woman homel'
'Oh. Warren, can't you do some
-hing2 Can't you talk to him? Can't
you make him realize''-
What's the use talking to a man
ike that? He ought to be horse
whipped"
The pity and horror of it all swept /
over her. How many wives in this !
great city, she wondered. were at that
rery moment waiting for husbands !
Who were with other women
As they left the car she chung close |
% Warren with the feeling Of secur- /
ty that the thought of the unfaith- |
ILLNESS of other men always brought. |
1owever irritable and indifferent-at
q wa 70 har I