The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-11-06
Married Life
the Second Year
By MABEL HERBERT URNER.

1t was Just eleven by the Dig CLOCK
in the waiting room when Helen left
the ferry, hurried through the thirty
fourth street station and out to a
crosstown car. She would have time
for an hours shopping before going
down to Warren's office.
He did not know she was coming in
today She had not known it herself
until this morning after he had left,
when she suddenly decided to come in
for a few things they needed.
It was the first time she had been
into town since they had gone to the
sea-shore, and now the heat and noise
of the streets seemed almost unbear-
able.
Inside the big shop it was even more
sitting. Her heart ached in sympathy
for the pale-faced girls behind the
counters How had they stood it
through all this dreadful summer?
She glanced over the little shopping
list in her hand:
Shoes for Winfred, veil, crochet
silk for Warren's tie, safety pins, shoe
laces for Warren, needles No. Z, Cas-
tile soap, tooth paste, nail brush, cold
cream, tan shoe polish, leave pin to
be fixed.
To save time she bought thearticles
on a shopping card and had them
wrapped in one package. At half past
II she took the Broadway car to War
ren's office.
How surprised he would be. She
would get there just in tim to go to
luncheon with him.
SHE is DELAYED.
great truck piled high with boxes
suddenly blocked the car. Anxiously
Helen watched the efforts to clear the
track. TIE driver and conductor were
in Il hea ted dispute. A crowd was
gathered rapidly. They might be stall
ed there some time. Taking up her
bundle and parasol she left the car
and hurried over the subway.
1t had been Sitting enough in the
streets and shops but down here it
was almost unendura Bile. And yet War
rem had to ride in the subway every
day No wonder he was tired and cross
when he came out in the evening.
A lump rose in her throat and her
heart melted with tenderness, as it
always aid with the thought of his I'M
dergOing any hardship.
How quickly a woman is affected by
the slightest suffering of the man she
loves And how gladly she would en-
dure it in his place if she could
Helen gazed with relief as she came
up into the street once more. She
crossed the heat-Wilted square with its
ever-hurrying crowd.
1t was a few minutes after one
when she reached the entrance of the
great building in which Warren had
his office. But she still hoped to be in
time, as he rarely went to luncheon
or1y- oil
smooth, siclzenne swiftness.
"TweIfth floor"
To the right and down the long cor
rider. So rarely did she come here that
Warren's name on the ground glass
door still thrilled her with a sense of
pride and possession.
Timidly she opened the door. The
stenographer, Helen knew, was on
her vacation, and now the outer office
was empty except for the office boy,
copying something on the typewriter
with slow awkward fingers, plainly
unused to the keys.
WARREN is OUT.
"Mr Curtis" Helen asked breath
1essly. "He hasn't gone to lunch YETI"
"Yes'm.' indifferently.
"Oh where--how long has be been
gone"
Bout ten minutes"
But I'll find him at ks? Isn't
that where he usually lunches?"
Dunno" unhelpfully. He never
said"
1t was not until Helen reached the
elevator again that Helen realized she
had not even stopped to leave her
packages and parasol, Her only
thought was to reach ks in time
to have lunch with him.
The mirror in the elevator showed
her flushed face and slightly dishevel-
led hair. but she would not stop to
"fiX" it now.
Two short crowded blocks and she
entered the restaurant. 1t was in the
basement of another huge office build
ing. The head waiter came toward
her as she stood inquiringly at the
door.
Isis Mr.. Curtis here"
He looked surprised.
''He lunches here almost every day"
she explained hurriedly, "and l
thought you might know"
Many hundreds lunch here every
day, madam" smiled the waiter.
But If you care to glance around"
II think he usually takes a ia
BILE on the other side. Oh, there he is
now"
She started forward eagerly, only
stop when she saw three men at the
table with Warren. For a moment she
stood in uncertain confusion and then
Warren saw her He rose quickly and