South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-09-23
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: MARRIED LIFE THE
FIRST YEAR AFTER
THE HONEYMOON
BY Mabel Herbert Urner.

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For several days Helen had cherish
ed a wonderful secret. Ii seemed too
previous. too Intimate. too wholly her
own to share even with Warren. For
a while at least she wanted il all her
self.
1t was as though she was living in
she almost feared the putting Of il in
TO words might mean a rude awaken
ing.
Her eyes shone with a new light,
a rapt wistfullness that even Anna
saw and wondered at One evening
Warren came home and found her
gazing out Of the window. When she
turned to greet him he was almost
startled-her face seemed trans
figured.
Why, you look like you've seen
vision"
- have" she kissed him gently.
He glanced out Of the window 'I
see a taxicab, an old woman with
bundle, and a ewsbOy-anything
particularly inspiratiOnal about that"
She smiled. "Oh, see much more
than that"
But he supposed it was only some
whimsical fancy; she was always i'm
aginative and fanciful, and he gave it
no Iurtner thOugnt.
A few niIhts later in the dark,
with her face pressed close against
his arm. she told him
Her Greatest Happiness.
And then in the days that followed
came 10 her the greatest happiness
she had ever known. His selfishnesS
and irritability seemed TO have fallen
from him. and in their place came a
wonderful gentleness and considera-
ton. She felt as never before that
she was standing within his sheltering
reverential love.
Instead of going out almost every
evening as she had done lately. he
now stayed with her, reading aloud
while she sewed CT lay on the couch
near by.
He was very careful of her health
and strength. in that tender protect
ing way that women yearn for all
their lives. and which at most, they
receive for only a short time-and
many of them never at all.
He was anxious that she be not too
closely confined. and arranged for
frequent little outings and diversions.
often he came home early from the
office To take her out for a walk or
ride, usually through the park.
Helen's love for all living things.
particularly all small and helpless
things, had grown very tender of
late. And she liked 10 feed the squir-
rels that came up TO her in the park,
and even to visit the zoo and pet
the young deer. and watch the soft
white baby rabbits.
one afternoon just at dusk when
they were sitting on the park bench
Helen was startled by a sudden light
touch on her ARMAND there on the
back of the bench. looking at her
with its bright. eager eyes. was 4
squirrel begging for the peanuts she
always brought
"Oh. you dear little thing, Look
Warren, how tame-it isn't at al
afraid"
He smiled. 1T knows it need not
with YOU
She gave it a peanut, which il ate,
still sitting beside her on the bench.
"Oh, do you think it would let me
hold it? 1t looks so soft and warm.
Id love to hold ii just for a moment.
I'm afraid not. They're not used
to being handled.
"Oh, but I want TO so-maybe if
I'm very gentle
The squirrel was still beside her
nibbling it's nut. its tail arched plume
like over it's back. its little nose a
CULVER, and it's bright alert eyes
Very tently she put out her hand
as though to stroke it-but in a sec
ond it was Off-wisking up the side
of a tree.
"Oh. I'm so sorry 1 think il might
have let me hold it-just a second"
He drew her toward him with that
protecting. reverential touch she had
come TO know and love.
Never mind, dear, you will soon
have something much more sweet and
wonderful to hold"