The San Francisco call., 1913-11-14
By MABEL HERBERT URNER

By MABEL HERBERT URNER
~ HE rain was coming down in
I sheets, and the wind almost tore
the umbrella from Helen's grasp
"Oh, this is dreadful!- as she
stepped in swirling puddle, splashing
the water up over her shoes. "I sup
pose we should have taken a taxi.
IF only it doesn't spot this SUIT,
complained Louise. holding her cling
ing skirt above her ankles
They had reached the corner now.
but there was no. car In sight
Lets stand under here running
to a sheltered doorway .Oh, hope
1T won't hurt your suit" apologeti-
cally, as Louise resentfuIIy shook her
wet skirt
1t seemed fully 10 minutes before .
car appeared-an embarrassing, awk-
ward 10 minutes for Helen. who felt
responsible for this drenching. for she
had stopped by to ask Louise for din
nor, as Warren had phoned he could
not get home and she hated to dine
alone
Louise Carson who lived in a
"woman's hotel,"' always welcomed a
dinner invitation-even one that came
at the last moment
But as they left the hotel together,
the rain that had threatened all day
began in earnest Perfunctorily Helen
| suggested a taxi, but with such evil
dent reluctance that Louise murmured
a polite, oh. we can just as well take
car"
Before they reached the car line the
rain was coming down in torrents
I'm afraid it's crowded" exclaimed
Helen. as they now ran out to signal
the approaching car.
The motorman. ignoring their sig
nails. drove by without stopping. the
car wheels splashing them with water
from the rain filled tracks.
"Oh. that makes me furious
well, there's no use standing out
here" and Louise started back to the
doorway.
IN THE CAR
The next car was just as crowded,
but the motorman condescended to
stop. and they squeezed their way
through the wet, Ill smelling crowd
We shouldn't have taken this" !"
complained Louise GROSSLY, for to be
crushed against wet overcoats and
dripping umbrellas was even more
damaging to ones clothes and temper
than standing in the rain
When they left the car they had to
step out into a pool of water and al
most wade across the street
"Oh, this is awful" walled Helen
why didn't get a taxi?"
Yes, a taxi would be cheaper than
running our clothes" admitted Louise
ungraciously. now plainly out of
humor.
Their was sudden laundering
crash, streak of 1ightning-then a
binding sheet of rain.
Helen's thin silk umbrella was not
proof against this downpour. and she
felt the water trickling through it..
She felt, too, the steady stream which
poured from point OF Louise's UNI
brella over her shoulder, but by this
time she was too wet and too desper-
ate to care.
silently. resentfully, miserably.
they splashed through this torrent
The streets were deserted. Every one
except themselves had sought shell
ter
Getting little damp. girls?"
called a solitary man, who ran by with
lowered umbrella
But Helen was too wretched even
to feel indignant. At length the two
globe lights before the apartment
shone In yellowish blur through
the rain The elevator boy looked
mildly astonished as they entered.
drenched and dripping.
..oh. don't let's look at ourselves"
pleaded Helen, as she caught q
glimpse of her bedraggled hat and
stringing hair in the elevator mirror.
The feather on Louise's hat was
reduced to a detected wisp, and her
blue cloth suit was soaking to the
knees.
HOME AT LAST
Nora opened the door for them with
cry OF dfsmay.
Put these umbrellas in the bath
tub, Nora And don't serve dinner
until a. quarter after. We've got to
get out of these things
Helen led the way to her. dressing
room and switched on the lights
Now let us have your coat" TAX
ing a hanger from her wardrobs:
"and take your skirt or I'll have
Nora hang that In the kitchen"
But Louise's blue serge coat had
faded through the lining on to her
silk waist. There were blue smudges
on the shoulder and sleeve.