South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-11-12
MARRIED LIFE THE
SECOND YEAR
BY Mabel HERBERT URNER.

struggled into the overcoat he had
been vigorously brushing.
u was Tuesday morning and this
was the first reference that had beea
made 70 the Tuesday night dinner
since Helen had declared last week
she would not go
But 1 thought you said Mrs. Dali
toms cousin-'that gOod-looking girl
would take my place."
he laughed carelessly. "As though
anyone could do that"
IL was not so often now that War
rer made so gallant a remark
But 1 don't like t..ose Bohemian
places. and 1 don't ike the DaltOns,
she protested, though plainly weaken
ing.
Well. 90 to many places and with
many people / don't like when it's
matter OF pOlicy-as IL is now. Dalton
is keen on our going. They're COM
ing By for Us in their car about $50.
SO be all ready. I'll be home at g."
She DisapprOves of Dalton.
And without waiting for further
protests he hurried off.
OF course, she reasoned, as she
bathed and dressed the baby. IL
Warren really insisted on going with
20 with him. But more and more she
felt that VIII Dalton was bad for
Warren. And the thought that War
rem should feel under Civilizations 10
him for tips on the stock market
ranked within her constantly.
But when, at $3.50. the Daltons
dashed Up for him with their big tour
ing car, and they were whirled down
the cleaning avenue, Helen nestled
back among the fur rugs with a sense
OF pleasure IL the swift motion and
the luxurious ease Of the car
Their destination was an Italian
Table d'hote" just of Sixth av. The
place was crowded. The air was close
and heavy with cigarette smoke. And
above the clatter of dishes and noise
OF the diners came the sound OF
tortured piano and strident violin.
A perspiring waiter led them TO
table that Mr.. Dalton had telephoned
TO have reserved. 1t was the only one
vacant In the place.
Here. wait a moment" called Dial
ton, imperiously, as the waiter rusne s,l
off Bring us four Madrid cocktails
right away! Yes, dry, L guess
that's right-isn't il? % looking around
the table inquiringly. 1T takes so
everiastingly long to get anything
here-I wanted TO give that order
before the waiter got away. But per-
haps Mrs. Curtis doesn't care for cock
tails?" remembering the other even
ing, and turning to Helen APOLOGIZE
cally.
ooh, yes: that's all right" smiled
Helen. graciously. For she had re-
solved 20 accept whatever the others
did She need not drink it, but she
could not be constantly protesting
at every order.
The food was not bad. although
Helen was suspicious as 10 just how
an1 IN -
lively wiped their silver with their
napkins. And MT. Dalton, who served
the soup from a big steaming bowl
placed before him, calmly wiped out
each soup plate before filling II.
Take those away" he demanded as
the waiter placed n pint bottle OF the
traditional "red ink" beside each
plate, land bring US some good Chi
anti--the best you have. And. here
hold on a minutel Bring US some OF
those bread sticks. tool" with the air
of a man determined 10 be well
served.
rem.
that's the drawing card here. Best
in town. I think-that is if you like
garlic You do-don't you. Mrs. Cur
tbs turning anxiOusly to Helen.
She assured him that she did. al
though there was nothing she disik-
ed SO much.
Here a young woman in a black
spangled gown and with a bit OF court
plaster placed effectively on her paint
ed cheek, mounted the platform be-
side the piano and with grimaces.
sang q popular song. me chleI
it wrapped hopefully with the CHATTER
of dishes and the general din.
A song She Loved
Then a shallow. pimple-faced. dissi-
pated-loOking youth in rumpled dress
suit sang The Rosary. Helen shud-
dered. She loved that song. but to
hear IL sung by that man in that way
gave her a sense OF revulsion.
suddenly she realized that he was
looking directly at her and singing
with an admiring leer. She dropped
her eyes. furiously indignant and with
"A feeling OF physical repulsion. And
rigidly She held her gaze 10 her plate
until the song was over.
lust then there was a lull in the
music. and from the next table this
oft OF conversation came 10 them vary
Il can't see why anybody wants to
drink that red ink" 1t was a girls
voice.
"Oh. that's a disinfectant they serve
with the dinner TO kill the germs, an
swered the man with her. say old
man. that's not had" said Dalton,
turning around and addressing the
man who made the comment.
"Oh, it's not original" he laughed
back Eve heard that before
Helen was constantly being sur
prised at the lack of convention the
easy formality OF il all. People COM
mented back and forth from table TO
table with the greatest uncOcern.
She tried TO enjoy II, to enter into
The spirit Of things as Warren had
told her she must-but she found il
very hard. Where was the charm OF
il all2 What did people ind in il To
call Bohemian and 10 SO eagerly
seek? Eating a poorly served dinner
in a badly ventilated room while they
listsned 10 atrocious music, And Yet
the place was packed and they said il
was this wav every night
But az last il was over. and they
we're whiring back in the Dalton's big
easy car. with the fur rugs tucked
about them.
Helen shifted the fresh. cold air