The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-10-29
Married Life
the Second Year
BY MABEL HERBERT URNER.


Helen, mother and father are COM
ing down Saturday afternoon to stay
over Sunday. Pve spoken to the clerk
for the room across the hall from
ours. They'll enjoy it down here for
a day or So"
why, yes-that will be very nice"
Helen's voice was not enthusiastic.
Il asked Frank, too, but he wasn't
certain about it. However, he'll look
after himself if he comes
"Oh, then your father and mother
are coming as-as our guests?"
"Of course, What did you think?
They are always entertaining us. Why
shouldn't | invite them down here for
weekend? You've no objection to
that-have you?"
why no, dear; was just asking"
You mean you're thinking Of the
expense. That's it--isn't it,"
why, Warren, | merely wanted to
know if they were to be our guests.
Is there anything wrong in asking
that"
NO, but your voice implied a great
deal more
But, dear, if you put meaning into
my words that aren't there can't
help that. Surely you know I've never
objected in any way, when you chose
to entertain your people"
Pm not SO sure of that. Anyway,
they're coming down here Saturday to
stay until Monday. And | want things
to be mighty pleasant for them, I'M
derstand?"
why, you know, Warren, I'll do
everything | can"
THEN THAT'S SETTLED"
Then that's settled. They'll be
down with me Saturday afternoon.
This is Thursday" Nothing more was
said of their visit until Saturday
morning, when, as Warren left for
town, he said again that they'd be all
out on the $3.50 train,
Helen was not miserly and she
would have been glad to entertain his
people, in this or any other way, re-
CARELESS of expense, had she felt they
could afford 1t. But she knew bow
often Warren did things they could
not afford, for which he had to pay
afterward with the most rigid econo-
mics about the house.
Their two weeks stay at this sea-
side hotel would be most expensive.
And now he had invited his mother
and father to stay with them over
thing.
Had his people been poor and una
BILE to pay it would have been differ
ent. But his father was close,
thrifty man. And while he was willing
to entertain his married children in
his own home he always avoided any
trip where hotel or restaurant charg-
es would be involved.
Only once since Helen's marriage
had her father-in-law invited them to
dine at any public place, and that was
the evening of Edith's graduation. The
whole family was there, and after the
exercises he had asked them over to
q cafe.
And Helen had never forgotten his
careful scrutiny of the menu, the
and the dispute he had afterward
with the waiter because of what he
claimed was an overcharge.
Although Warren had said they
were constantly being entertained by
his people, Helen knew that for every
time Warren and she had dined there,
they had in turn dined with her. And
now that he had invited them here for
a weekend it seemed to her most
uncalled for extravaganza.
HELEN GOES TO THE TRAIN.
But she was determined ito make
their visit as pleasant as possible and
to enter into the spirit of any outings
which Warren might plan. She knew
that any effort on her part to curb his
expenditures would only have the eff
feet Of increasing them.
By 3 O'Clock she was dressed in a
fresh white gown and started to the
train to meet them. While Warren had
At rfy "a he, k~ 81 81
she felt that It would be a courteous
little attention which would please
him.
She had left Winifred with the
young nurse girl they had been for
tunate enough to secure out here.
The train was late and Helen anus
ed herself by looking over the news
stand. gay with the mid summer maya
zine covers.
A magazine which contained a Sc
rial she had been following was just
out and was conspicuously displayed.
She opened her purse-then stopped:
II Warren was to spend so much mon
ey this weekend she would have to
economic in every way. So she reso-
1utely closed the purse and decided to
do without the periodical
shrill whistle and changing bell
announced the inrushing train. 1t
drew up with loud escape of steam.
The passengers poured out on the
platfrom from every car. Yes, there
was Warren and with him Mr. and
Mrs. Curtis. Helen made her way
through the crowd to meet them.
When the greetings were over, War
rem took his mother by the arm.
Here, let's get out of this crowd.
Ia h11S 10 ~ lob
Bot when they reached the other
side of the station, before which was
line Of cabs, they found the hotel