The San Francisco call and post., 1913-12-24
THEIR MARRIED
~ LIFE W.
For the First Time Since Their Marriage Warren Gives
Helen Real Christmas Gift

1t was Mrs. Stevens" coming back |
to the table. Mr. Stevens gave her |
another diamond ring-a carat and a |
half stone"
Helen did not add that Mrs. Stevens |
had asked what Warren had given |
her and that. not having the courage |
to admit he had given her nothing, |
she had deliberately lied and said "A |
check"
Helen knew Warren's attitude al |
ways was that, if he wanted to give |
her present, why wait until Christ |
mas? If he gave her what she needed |
when she needed it, how foolish to |
rush around and get something she |
didn't need al the one time of year |
when shopping was so difficult!
And yet Helen had never ceased to !
expect or rather long for something" |
from Warren. She would rather have
had one little unexpected gift from |
him than all her other presents. In
spite of herself there was a lump in
her throat as she went on opening the
packages.
No. that isn't for you to play
with" GROSSLY. as Pussy Purr-Mew
reached a playful paw for a narrow
red ribbon that hung over the table
The next second the kitten had
clutched the ribbon. pulling down the
whole mass of letters, cards and
boxes.
fai cha 4
while Helen patiently gathered up the
things.
A MESSAGE
Let's go Unto the library. dear, so
Nora can clear off the Dishes" and
Helen took the mass of Christmas
mail in to the Hilary table.
Just then the door bell rang. 1t
was a messenger boy with a box, ad-
dressed to Mrs. Warren E Curtis"
Helen signed the receipt and |
opened the box, her heart beating
fast. 1t might be from Warren.
1t was a large silvered thermos
bottle. but the card tied to it read, |
With the seasons best wishes from
Carrie and Fred
''Oh. how dear of Them" trying to |
hide her disappointment And it's |
something I've always wantedr'
Instead of starting off for his usual |
Sunday and holiday morning walk, |
to Helen's surprise. Warren now set
tied himself with the newspapers by |
the library table
They were to dine at his mothers
at 8. An awful hour, thought Helen.
who loathed dinner in the middle of
the day. 1t was after 10 now and she
went into her room to look over the
dress she was going to wear, for her
clothes must be in perfect condition
when she dined with his people,
Aren't you going to straighten up
this table?" called Warren. This
stuff looks like the devil if anybody /
comes in"
Yes, dear, in just a minute"
Helen came back and folded up the
tissue paper. stacked up the cards
and letters and put the presents in
the boxes.
Why. Warren, what's this? Where |
did this come from?' holding up a |
small, unaddressed package.
Wonderingly she opened it, then she
caught her breath as she saw the
velvet jewelers. case. She touched a |
spring and the lid flew back, disclos /
ing a glittering pearl and diamond
lavalliere.
ant b1
speechless amazement, then turned to
Warren with breathless:
Look. Look, How did this get
here? It's some mistake! Nobody
intended sending me this,
A SURPRISE
Warren was looking at it with an
expressionless face.
How did it get here?" persisted
'Ielen. excitedly Was it wrapped
in some of those boxes by mistake?
How shall I find who it belongs to?"
To these excited questions Warren
maintained stolid silence Then
Helen caught glimmer of something
in his face Could it be-
The next moment she rushed into
his reluctant arms.
"Oh, why didn't you tell newly
didn't you tell me?" sobbingly. ooh.
didn't dream"
Huh, you were pretty dense And
had to hang around hereean morn
ing so it wouldn't be pitched out
with that paper and stuff"
"Oh, dear. / love you-I LOVE you
sol IT means so much-so much more
than the thing itself-however won
derful it is Oh, my dear-my
DEAR"
Now, it don't call for any maudlin
heroics," intolerant as ever of an
emotional scene. You wanted one
of those gewgaws-now you't got it,
See here" pushing her away. you're
willing down perfectly good collar.
I've spent enough on your Christmas
without increasing the laundry bill"