The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-11-12
Married Life
the Second Year
BY MABEL HERBERT URNER.

BY MABEL HERBERT OHNEH'
We'll, that's a rotten book" War
rem flung down the volume contempt
uously. where did you get hold of
it,"
"Why, Mrs. Stevens loaned it to
me-"
"How you women can spend your
time reading such twaddle-"
But, dear it isn't so bad. It's only
a light summer novel. It's not sup
posed"
"A summer novel" he shifted. why
on earth people have this insane idea
that their brains must be nursed
through the summer on light litera-
ture. Any one who can read that sort
OF truck oughn't be afraid of overtax-
ing their brains-they haven't any"
He took up the book again and open
ed it at the colored frontpiece. And
look at these illustrations! BY CAD,
they're enough to queer any book.
That inane languishing girl-and the
man looks like he's advertising
clothing house. The coat and hat and
stock are fine but his face has about
as much expression as"
He paused for lack of sufficiently
strong comparison. THAT artist ought
to be doing street car advertising
And the book itself-you mean to say
you could read that thing through"
why, yes dear, | thought it was
rather interesting" Helen murmured
alphabetically, wondering at all this
TRADE against an inoffensive novel.
Interesting? You call that silly, ar
tificial view of things Interestingly"
But dear you haven't read it. You
just picked it up moment ago.
HE READS SOME OF IT.
Don't have to read it to tell what
sort of rot that is. Here, lsten," turn
ing through the book at random and
reading from a page near the end:
"'YOu will never know how you
have filled my life-how every moment
has been vitalized because of you. All
these months I have lived only to be
near you. Just to be in the same room,
to hear your voice, to touch a fold of
your dress as you passed'-Suffering
cats!" throwing down the book in dis
gust. do you think any sane man
would ever talk like that?"
But dear, that may not be SO maud
lin as it sounds-it would depend on
the conditions under which it is said
/ think there are men, who, if they
felt very deeply, might say that"
mot off the stage or outside of sill
ly novels"
Here Mrs. Stevens came out on the
veranda. In few moments they all
went to dinner, and nothing more was
said about the book until just before
they went to bed that night.
1t was about 10 o'clock, while Helen
was standing before the bureau brush
ing and plating her hair for the night,
that Somathinp flew flutt ring into the
room.
With a cry she dropped the brush
and ran toward Warren, who was
smoking by the open window
"Oh, oh! What is it,"
Don't you know a bat when you
see ONE" He put down his cigar and
looked about the room. Got anything
TO hit it WITH
The bat was now flying about the
ceiling.
OH" drawing her loose hair over
her shoulder. I've heard they got in
ones hair. Oh, I'm afraid of it,
We'll. it's much more afraid of you
Here" taking up a heavy bath towel,
"I'li give it a swat with this"
on. Warren, don't! Don't kill it,
as WIFI Il sweep of the towel he knock
ed It f. the top of the door moulding
and 4 ell fluttering at his feet-a IT,
ny brown. furry thing with bright,
he y eyes.
raised the towel to hit it again,
b. Helen caught his arm.
"No,--no. You mustn't can't bear
to see you kill it,"
We'll, what do you want? Want it
here all night?"
"Of cours not--but cant you get it
out without killing ito"
Turn off the light, then and it'll fly
out"
"Ot, yes. let's do that" as she hur-
riedly pinned back the muslin cur.
tains. drew his chair away from the
window and then put out the light.
Warren took his cigar from the
edge 0. the bureau and sat down to
wat 'evelopments. In a few mo-
mCl' ~ hat fluttered up from the
floo' al Logan circling the ceiling
again
Helen who was leaning over the
back of WarrCns chair. now drew
aside the hand that held the cigar and
crept into his lap.
"Oh, let me stay, dear" as he made
protesting motion. I'm not afraid OF
1t when I'm here. Uug!" burying her
face on hil shoulder as the bat circled
over them.
We'll take that hair out of nv