The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-11-05
Married Life
the Second Year
Bv MABEL HERBERT URNER.

Mrs. Prentice, with a magazine, a
tiny workbag and parasol, paused
uncertainty in the doorway.
"Won't you join u.s." asked Helen
cordially, from the depths of a big
wicker chair at the end OF the Veran-
da
Mrs, Prentice smiled. Not just now
I've such headache, ! won lnlilct
myself on anyone at present.
And she passed on to d shady cor
ner and settled herself in hammock,
She made no effort to sew or read, but
gazed out at the sea through wistful
halfclOsed eyes.
I'm afraid it's heartache, not
headache. that's troubling her, muir
INJURED Mrs. Stevens.
"A heartache,' Helen repeated, won
deringly. "Why, / thought she was
very happy
Then, you're not very close obser-
yer, my dear. Haven't you been here
long enough to know the gossip
Haven't you seen her husband with
that Mrs Klne?"
Helen shook her head.
"Wel, you will if you'll take the
trouble to notice. They're together
constantly
But she's so much prettier than
Mrs. Kline-so much more dainty and
refined.
THE USUAL WAY.
Mrs. Stevens shrugged her should
ers. "ITnquestionably The wife is al
most always more charming and re-
fined than the other woman"
Helen, who was crocheting a silk tie
for Warren, worked on III silence. She
wanted to know more about Mrs. Prem
tice-to know why her husband was
Interested in this other woman. who
was so much less attractive than her
self But she had always shrank from
gossip. And now she hesitated to put
her questions into words. However
Mrs. Stevens went on without prompt,
ing.
Don't you remember the other night
at the dance how he spent the whole
evening with Mrs. Kline-and left his
wife to take care Of herself We tried
to keep her in our party so she
wouldn't seem so alone, bat she soon
excused herself and went upstairs
Helen glanced over at the slim
whte-gOWned figure in the hammock
The magazine and work bag lay I'M
touched beside her as she still gaZed
out at the sea. Was she thinking OF
that same night, or of some other in
Sldll-t VI HuiIlilltiJluS utEltNt
"rhc next day she stayed in her
room all morning, and when she did
come down her eyes were red and
swollen. She said it was only one OF
her bad heada ches--but OF course we
knew better. She's such a proud little
thing, that's why she keeps so much
TO herself. She's so afraid we'll Sympa
thizc with her"
M the time Mrs. Stevens had been
talking of Mrs. Prentice, Helen had
been comparing his attitude with that
of Warrens.
However neglectful Warren had
been OF her, at least it was not because
of any other woman. That was the
consolation she always had and some
how now it seemed to mean more thar
ever before. She felt that could the
little woman III the hammock change
places with her in this respect-that
she would gladly do SO. Any wife
would prefer the neglect which arose
to that caused by admiration for Other
women.
That evening at dinner, Helen glanc
cd across the dining room to where
Mr.. and Mrs. Prentice were sitting
He was rather good looking man, YET
there was something in his face she
did not quite like. Mrs. Prentice look
ed very sweet and delcately frail in {
pale lavender gown.
And then Helen's gaze wandered
around the dining room to Mrs. Kline
She was strikingly dressed in blacl
and white. ITnQuestiOnablv a hand
some woman. but of the most obvious
type. with none of the subtle charm
and femininity Of Mrs. Prentice.
"Warren," Helen asked abruptly
do you know anything about thu
Prentices?"
more than that they are here at tn
hotel Why?"
"Dont you know Mr.. Prentice a
an?"
"Oh, I've had a game or two of bill
lizards with him.
What sort of a man is he?"
Decent enough chap, so far as
know"
"Haven't you heard anything abou
-" Helen esitated-"about Mrs
Kline. and his neglect of his wife,"
For Heavens sake, Helen! Are VOL
taking up some old woman's gossip?
You know I'm not! But | couldn'
help but hear something today tina
made me wonder"
We'll. suppose we let the Prentice
take care of their own affairs | dar
say they can. without our assistance
Helen flushed and said no more. Blu
in spite of Warren's curtness, she wa
conscious of the sense of pride which
she always felt at his swift rejection
of gossip in any form. That was one o
the fine things of his nature. He new
err gossipped about anyone. 1t wa
part of his creed to attend strictly t
his own affairs.
Later in the evening. while Warrel
was playing billiards, Helen strollet