The San Francisco call., 1913-10-06
Their Married Life
Eelen's Return to the Dusty, MustY Apart
ment With No Maid Is Most Distressing
By MABEL HERBERT URNER
kkwN EAR. / don't see him" Helen
was leaning over the railing

father in the waving crowd on the
pier below.
Right there-just back of that
woman in the white dress"
~oh. yes. now do" waving her
handkerchief
And by Jove, there's Carrie, TOO!
see her? Just back of fatheri"
Helen had hoped that Carrie would
not come to meet them. for she
dreaded the awkwardness of trying
to entertain her, while they stood
around waiting for their baggage.
Carrie was always so difficult to
talk TO.
The great ocean liner with the aid
of four tugs was row being slowly
swung into her dock. With shud-
dering jar they struck. the floating
end of the pier, the ropes We're
thrown off and the sgangplanks
hoisted. The air was tense with the
eagerness. and excitement of landing.
Here they are-over this way as
Warren pushed through the excited
crowd to where his father and sister
We're waiting
There We're the usual greetings, the
questions about the voyage, the folks
at home and the mutual You're look
ing mighty well"
After the first enthusiasm. Warren
and his father went of to see about
the baggage. while Helen was left
with Carrie
~Oh, yes, we had very pleasant
trip. Yes. we liked Paris very much, .
were Helen's stereotyped answers to
Carries stereotyped questions.
Why, oh. WHY is the honeeomer
always greeted with the inane, And
did you have a pleasant trip?e Who
would admit that their trip had not
been pleasant
Yes. it was quite warm in Paris.
suppose you had some warm
weather here.
@Oh. yes its been quite warm an
swered Carrie, and this brilliant con-
versation came to an awkward pause
Helen was uncomfortably conscious
that Carrie was scrutinizing her
clothes When you arrive from Paris
your friends expect you to look like
a Partisan fashion plate. and Helen
knew there was nothing Partisan" or
chic" about her simple travelling
suit
I'D no idea so many people would
be down to meet the boat so early in
the morning, was Carries next pro-
found observation.
Yes, there are great many But
I suppose there's always a crowd to
meet these big steamers.
When Warren and his father re-
turned, to escape from these strained
comments Helen suddenly remem-
bered that she wanted to phone to
the apartment to tell Maggie to have
the ice box filed So she excused
herself and hurried to a booth far
NAACA 1ONn 0A TIC B4Gt
They had written Maggie from
Paris that they would arrive on the
29th, and for her to have the apart
ment opened and aired. In order to
keep her they were to pay her half
her regular wages for the time they
were away. and she was to stay at
her cousins, in the country
The hail boy who answered Helen
said that the Curtises were abroad
and that no one was in their apart
ment
NO. this is Mrs Curtis talking.
We've just landed; TN phoning from
the dock. Connect me with my apart
ment. I'm sure our maid is there.
'I'n connect you, ma am, but there
amt no one there"
Then Helen insisted on speaking to
the superintendent, who told her their
apartment was still closed and that
he had not seen their maid
What could have happened2 Could
Maggie have failed TO receive the let
ter2 Helen hurried back to Warren,
worried and anxious
She may not have got the letter.
Better send her telegram right
away he suggested. ITS just out
in Jersey-she can get. in today"
Carrie murmured some sympathetic
platitude about never sbeing able to
depend on any servant. and that Mag
gle may have taken another place.
But Helen insisted stoutly that Mag
gle was very loyal and that she had
really wanted to come back.
A SUGGESTION
See here Warren turned to Helen
suddenly. There's no need of us both
waiting. III have to stay to pass the
baggage. but why can't you go on
get that wire off to Maggie and open
up the placer
Helen eagerly accepted this excuse
20 escape from the long wait and
strained conversation with his people.
Aud TO Carries suggestion that she
90 with her, Helen insisted that she
did not ar all mind going alone
Ten minutes later Helen left the
pier. Disregarding warren's advice
to take taxi. she took the first cross
town car to the subway How strange
the streets looked After a few months
abroad ones own city looks curious "
foreign.
Even their own apartment house