The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-09-13
Married Life
the Second Year
BY MABEL HERBERT URNER.

u
all the alluring surroundings OF
fashionable hotel tea room.
Helen leaned back in her chair and
c&Zed al the handsome, well-groomed
man opposite her with a f cling as
Though she were living in a novel
She felt quite sure that the heroine OF
modern best seller" must have
some Of the same sensations.
For the first time, since she mar
ried, she was sitting at the table alone
with man who was not her husband
And the fact she was not quite sure
as to the propricties OF the situation
gave to it an added glamor
An hour ago as she came out of
Fifth Avenue shop, she had almost
run into a big, storm-cOated hurrying
man.
II beg your pardon" he murmured
hastily and was about 10 dash on,
when he stopped short:
Why ii can't be-"
Her startled gaze changed to a hap
by recognition as she held out her
hand with a laughing, Il guess it is"
When the first surprise of the meet
ing was over, and Will Farrell had eX
planned how he was there from Col
orado, where he had been living for
the last few ears. he insisted that
and-"talk
"WAY SHOULDN'T SHE?"
After = moments hesitation, Helen
consented. Why shouldn't she have
tea with Will Farrell? The fact t | t
they had once been engaged should
not matter now.
lie studied her through the crowded
hotel corridor and into a secluded cor
ntr Of the palm room"
AS he gaze his coat, hat and stick
IT the waiter, and ran his hand
through his hair, in the old familiar
way, Helen VAS filled with a rush of
me mCri"s
Here, lets set through with this or
der-so we can talk. viii you have
anything bCaitc8 tea-a glass of sher-
y frst?"
oh. n 'lt8t tea and mullins"
lie laughed, so you still love toast
d muffius as much as ever?"
She nodded, her color deepening.
And now suppose YOU want a foot
stool and un8alted butter?"
She laughed. Yes. my wants haven't
materially changed"
mo. but everything else has" he
answered gravely.
There was a moments pause in
which Helen carefully rearranged the
her eyes it was to find his fixed on her
Are you happy" he demanded
She started. why, how can you?"
"Oh, there's no occasion for Sir or
How dare you'-I am asking you a
perfectly simple question. Are you
happy"
"As happy as you thought you would
be-"
Why, you haven't any right
Yes, think l have. You put me
aside for a man you thought would
make you happier That should give
me the right to ask you if he has"
"Of course, he has! Oh, why do you
talk like this? You will make me sor-
ry came"
Very we'll" gently. I'VE will talk
of something else"
And then he kept carefully away
from personalities as he told of his
ranch in Colorado and some mining
interests that had proven most protita-
bic.
There was about him the uncon.
scious force, the power. the ndesCrba-
BILE air of man of large affairs.
And Helen felt vague sense of
peace and restfulness in his presence.
Her life had so long been made of a
strained nervous attempt to keep War
I'll III Sood nulnOuT, ana 10 AVOID dis
pleasure, that to lean back now and
be entertained, to feel that she was
not in All atmosphere of irrita blity
and criticism, but of approval and adj
miration. was for her a new and en-
jCyable sensation
Without analysing all this. she only
knew that the moment was very
pleasant one It was not until she no
ttced the big clock at the end of the
room that she realized how long they
had been there.
oh | must go. | had no idea it
was SO late" as she began to draw on
her gloves.
Outside he motioned for a taxicab
and they were wrirled up the avenue