El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-03
Married Life the Third Year
Helen, BeErimed With Paint and
Putty, DefiantIy shocks
Hes Callers.
By Mabel Herbert Urner


66TM afraid you'll have to go back.
declared Helen, as she unwrapped
the glue and sandpaper Maggie
had just brought I find I'll need
some putty too"
''PuttyT sullenly repeated Maggie,
who always resented being sent out for
things
Yes, you see these places" Helen
stopped over the desk from which she
mad Just torn the worn. ink stained
putty once" digging the kitchen knife
into what were evidently some old
screw holes. III have to fill them
aSaln and make an even surface be-
fore 1 can put the new felt on"
When Maggie had gone, Helen be-
gan vigorous sandpapering Of the
patches OF old glue and green fuzz
which she had not been able to scrape
off with a knife.
The desk had belonged TO Warren's
grandmOther-a fine old bureau"
desk, in which the large top drawer
pulls out and lets down, disclosing
tiny drawers and pigeon holes and
the green felt covered writing space
Sveral times lately Warren had re-
marked that the felt was getting
shabby and should be renewed, and last
nlSnt ne had told her peremptOrily TO
have it done.
DOinE the W Ork Herself.
But the cabinetmaker informed Hell
en- he would have to take the desk to
MS shop, and he could not tell Just
how much il would be-
Helen who always wanted to know
exactly what a thing would cost be-
Iore she had it done, resented this. and
ended by buying some new felt which
she was now trying to put on herself.
When Maggie came back with the
putty Helen unWrapped the newspaper,
through which the oil had already
soaked, and with eager interest felt the
soft, clay-like mass. She was soon fill
ing the screw holes and smoothing
them over with an almost childish
pleasure.
The green felt she had already cut
the exact size, and now she spread the
scraped desk surface with glue and
carefully fitted fl on
When at length she stood back to
view 1t there was not a wrinkle in the
telt nor lump underneath TO mar its
smOOthness.
Elated with the success of that lob.
Helen went around to see what else
could be fixed up with putty and glue.
II ones tastes run to antique furniture
there is always something that needs
attention. piece Of yeneering was
off the library table and another off
the bookcase. both Of which Helen had /
saved, and which she now glued back Z
with the can of mahogany stain. I
rev places on the desk, she went I
around staining over the scars and I
scratches of the other furniture.
The chiffoner drawer that Warren /
had complained about needed only a 1
little sandpaperinE to make it run
ImOOthly. Helen was in her element. !
or she loved to potter around" and !
fix things up"
General Repairing.
But as yet she had found no other !
Use for her putty lie seemed a shame
o have all that putty and her hands
Ilready grimed up and not be able
o use any more of it.
Then in the dining room, Helen !
.ouced some fine white plaster dust |
nat had sifted down the panelled wall,
Maggie!' called Helen. bring me
nat Kitchen chair. I'll stop this plas- !
ar from sitting down right now"
In a moment Helen. with a lump of /
utty in one hand and knife in the I
Their, was filling up the crevices at
he fine dust sifted
That's going TO show. ma am
armed Maggie. viewing II critically.
or the putty was lighter than Jhc
ark wood.
Yes. ] know: Just hand me that can l
T stain there" The brush had fallen I
ut Of the window and Maggie went
pr IT,.
When i'm a few moments the bell [
inE Helen climbed down the step
.dder provoked that Maggie should (
? so careless as to lock herself out
Her hands were covered with putty
nd paint. and she took up her apron
turn the knob. To her horror it
as not MagGie-but Mrs and Miss
.emens in their best calling costumes.
She Lets Her Callers In.
AS the hall was dark, they did not
rs Airs. Curtis ing" asked Mrs.