El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-02-13
BY MABEL
HERBERT URNER

tered TO the floor She picked IT UP
Pay to the order OF Mrs Warren F
Curtis. fifty dollars The reluctance
with which he had sent IT seemed
written all over the check. The colo
burned more hOtly in her cheeks Their
was but one thing she could do witt
the check-RETURN it,
TIE check she would return now
with a special delivery stamp. Sht
could not get il back to him soOT
enough. As she started over TO the
desk to write the letter. bitter resent
ful phrases were tripping over them
selves in her mind. With a certain
fierce haste she wrote:
Dear Warren-Am returning the
check Possibly you need il more
out there than I do here. At any
rate. I cannot accept money that
comes with a letter like that You
ought TO know how economical /
am and how I make every effort
to save-but 70 seems you do not
Don't worry about the expenses
here. I shall manage 10 pay them
in some way.
Your whole letter is an inference
that Winifred and I are a drag on
you Undertake any venture that
you wish 70 without considering
US I would rather take Winifred
and go out west to mother than
to feel that you had come to con-
slider US an unwelcome burden.
Warren, / have taken so much
from you without resentment that
you thought I would take this let
ter. too. But there is one thing I
am fiercely sensitive about
money. You ought to know that
You ought 10 know. too, that I
have repeatedly done without even
the most necessary things, that 1
have put up with any personal dis
cOmfOrt-rather than ask you for
money
And 1 have thought that by stay
ing at home and taking care OF
Winifred and making things COM
fOrta bic for yOu-thst that was
my part OF the work. Evidently
you do not think so. for your
whole attitude in this letter is one
Of GIVING me money as
nv right. but giving ii TO me re-
luctsntly and grudgingly And
not only I'm this letter. but before
YOU went away felt this attitude
growing upon you.
Warren. I wish I could earn
money-enOugh to take from me
this railing sense OF dependency
which your letter and your atti-
tude before YOU went awaV have
made me feel. I don't know what
, I can debut I DO know that I
shall do something to make lighter
he burden Of Winifred's and my
support. Your wife, HELEN.
without waiting to read this over
Helen put IL with the check in the en-
velope. addressed II hurriedly, put OF
six two-cent stamps, marked IL "Spe-
clal Delivery" and took il herself Il
the mail box on the corner.
For Helen the next few days were
filled with many varied and tumultu-
GUS emotions. And underneath then
all was an under-current OF FEAR
What crisis might not the letter pre-
cipitate2 She did not regret senoing
she told herself that AND
yet in her heart she was AFRAID.
There is nothing that a dehcaIe Wo-
man. who has always been sheltereo
shrinks from with more horror Jnah
the thought Of having to make neI
own living. She may have unWaFerlne
pride and determination, out neF near
Will be sick with fear Ana so ~ was
now with Helen. as she turng sq,, Oyer IN ~
her mind every vague possibility oy
which she could earn at least part OF
her share Of the expenses.
Homemade biscuits and cake 70 be
sold through some exchange LOT Wo-
mems work This idea appealed "a
her most She knew the address OF
one place and telephOned down at once
But they answered CURLY that they
already had more than they could sell
Then she turned to the magazines
looked back over her year ne or
ssTba Home Circle in which every
page was devoted to How
Won Women ,t can Earn Money at Home. -
ant the methods given were mostly
raising vegetables, flowers or poultry.
Anv one Of which. IN five-room city
spartment. would be somewhat diff
cult.
Three days had passed-and now
warren was just about receiving her
Iefter THAT night she could not sleep.
r-ntu far after midnight she lay gaz-
ne before her at the darkness. her
mind full Of doubts, fears. uncertain
ties
sudden startling ring Of the door
heUl For q moment Helen Law too
and frightened to move.
who could 1T be at this hour OF the
night Another ring. louder than be-
fore. Now she sprang out OF bed and
ran TO the door, opening IL cautiously
not more than an inch.
who is itg TREMENDOUSLY
Telegram" came the curt answer.
and yellow envelope was thrust in
he door.
Just the sight OF telegram en-
relOpe had always struck terror to
Helms heart. And now her fingers
.rembied so she could hardly open tt
Don't be a little fool Sending
another check No time for hero
les WARREN