El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-09-02
Married Lies Troubles
Helen Has Tea and an Unexpected
Encounter on the Terrace of
the Ritz.
r. Mabel Herbert Uruer -
By Mabel Herbert VI

I
Encounter on the Terrace OF
the Ritz.
] By Mabel Herbert UrneT
Ellen was tIred-tired and warm,
n and just little irritable There
Il is nothing more trying than
continuous shopping and sight seeing
By the large gilt clock over geW-
eIer's window on the Rue de la PalX
it was now half past four heIen
paused undoubtedly She was 700 tIreu
to do anything more, yet 100 resuess
to go back to the hotel ana wait tMO
long hours before Warren would come
She would go somewhere and nave
tea-that would give her Cn44 tSe-e 20
She knew that to have tea on the ter
race at the Ritz was one OF the tnlngs
ito do" while in Paris.
When she reached the imposing en-
trance of this smart hotel, Helen Won
dered if her simple travelling suit mlSnl
not be rather plain for tea at so pre-
tentiOus a place. But at least. no one
would know her
There was a small vacant table near
the entrance and Helen took II hurrleo-
". She wished now she had Walteo
to come some afternoon when she was
more appropriately goWneu; I LOT ne
dark, tailored suit seemed conspicuous
among all those light summer dresses
of silks and chiffOns-
To Helen's surprise, a waiter now
hurried up to her and began Ia, ta4Al lIl5
very fast in French. Seeing that she
did not understand. he rushed OIL ana
returned with an arrogant head walt
er who spoke English
4 Rebuff.
I'm sorry, madame, but you cannot
sit here. This table is reserved
That is also reserved as she gain
cred up her purse and gloves and
turned to another table. but can seat
you inside" -,
were not reserved but that he did not
wish to give to her desirable taDIe
that would seat four For moLnenI
she forgot her shyness and self con-
seriousness and turned to the pompOuS
head waiter with blazing eyes.
do you mean that every vacant table
on this terrace is takenE
yes, madame5 but Will give yOu
a table inside"
With flaming cheeks Helen turned
to leave the place. She 1elt thaI every :
one was looking at her. oh, why haq
she come here? Why had she subjected
herself to this embarrassment
Helen Is Startled.
ct am UnfOrtunte! This IS one OF the
unexpected pleasures that don't OFTEN
Startled Helen turned to find beside
her the man she had met in the Louvre
He looked even taller and more as
tinguished than she had remembered
him. With increased confusion sne
please don't say that you already
had your tea%' -,
abIaze. the waiter just told me all
these tables were engaged
(Which waiter said that? he de-
manded quickly.
The head waiter-the one that
coming now" for that pOmpOUs indi-
with a look of anxious concern.
Mr.. Fordham cut his explanation
short with an impatient, Let US nave
Before Helen realized it. they were
seated at the same table which she nad
been asked to leave a few moments
ago. But now both the waiter and
head waiter were most sollcltouS In
their attentions.
Tea with n Stranger.
Helen was still so furiOusly 1ndlS-
nant over the incident that she could
think of nothing else 1t was not untll
they had been served that she was
really conscious that she was having
tea with a stranger.
Should she have made some excuse
Was it a very unconventional thing
to do. Yet she could not help feeling
grateful for having been relieved from
so embarrassing a position.
Just then a brass butCOned Dell boy
came up to their table
You're wanted on the phone, MI
I'm sorry to have had to leave you -
he said as he again took his place at
Helen Anxious.
do you know" again that personal
note in his voice, this IS the urSI
never take tea I had just come in
and was going up to my room Wnen
something made me come out mere
What form of mental telegraphy would
7 hardly think you can dignity it
by so pretentiOus a name, tusheu
meeting"
crumbling a bit of tea cake by her
plate. The conversation was growing
much too personal
Helen felt the moment of parting was
going TO be an awkward one. she
was trying to think how she could
thank him in a very impersonal way.
MY car is outside" he said quietly
"and I'm going to ask you to let me
send YOU home It will be quicker
and more comfortable than a taxi"
ooh, thank you" she said in hurried
confusion. "but I shouldn't want to
trouble you to do that"
They were at the door now. ne nod
ded to a liveried dOorman. who blew
a whistle, called out something IN
French, and the next moment a gilt
tering private car backed out from
the line Of waiting VenlcIes IN the
street and purred up to the door.
Helen drew back protestingly- 'Oh
nO-nO really =
"Are you going to refuse me so slight
a favor?'
The next moment she was in the car
For an instant he held her hand, theI
gave her address to his chauffeur, anc
the car glided off
For the second time Helen had the
picture of this man standing back witt
raised hat, as she drove away
But the ride to her hotel in the big
luxurious touring car was Anytime
but a pleasure. She could think only
of her confusion and the awkwardnesi
of the last few moments
How could she have refused the ca
without being rude? Yet suppose sh'
should meet Warren as she drove up
Helen had not thought it necessary
when she had merely walked through
a few picture galleries with a stranger
to mention it. But to have tea will
| that same stranger und to be brough
| home in his car-that was different
Yet, after all. Mr.. Fordham had sim
ply been courteous as might an!
| American to another in foreign coun
/ try
! Helen was conscious of sense o
relief tht Warren was not in sight
n Hn efn gh do