The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-01-16
Married Life
the Third Year
EY IA 81 HERBERT URNER.

1t Was &. breakfast. the second
morning after T"rren's arrival. that
Helen asked suddenly:
Warren. tiidn'. you bring your
mother anything? / just thought or
it now, and | don't rem amber seeing
thinS when you unpacked your
trunk"
by George, / did forget that! OF
course, | intended to set her some
thing. But that last day was so rush
ed that it went clear OUT OF my mind.
oh, then, you'll have to get some
thing here. She'll not know where it
came from-anything will be better
than to let her think you'd forgotten
her"
We'll, you'll have to get it; l have
not time now to fool around shops"
But, dear, l won't know what to
get. It's always so hard for me to
select things for your people.
That's absurd get anything.
Mothers not particular. She only
cares for the remembrance. And be
sure to get it today. for we're to go
up there this evening, | 'phoned yes
terday that we'd come"
A Sudden Shock.
Helen laid down her fork with a
startled obi"
What's the matter? I've been back
two days now. Should have gone be-
fore this
"Oh. yes, but-but it won't be nee
essary for me to go, will it,"
why not?"
why, you know. dear, when your.
mother was here last-Oh, wrote you
: all about it,
Nonsense! Mothers too big to
YOU ought to be-
ut isn't that, you know it isn't. But
can't you see how embarrassing it
will be for me to go there now? This
first time, l think, you ought to go
alone"
Nothing of the kind OF course
you're going with me. Get something
for mother today and We'll take it up
with us. | don't like the idea of lying
be hurt if she thought I'd forgotten
here. There as the clock struck the
quarter hour. Its quarter of nine,
now. | should have been out of her
long ago"
And before Helen had time to pro-
test further about the call he had
kissed her hurriedly AMI was gone
All day the dread Of going to his
mothers hung over her. She knew,
of course, that sooner or later she
would have to go-but she did not
think it would be so soon. The mem
DRY of Mrs. Curtis last call with its
unpleasant incident still ranked She
felt sure that there would be no men-
ton of that evening, but she kncv,
that Mrs. Curtis would be stiff anG
formal, and that she herself would b.
painfully self-conscious and i'll a
ease.
Daring the Future.
But more than the awkward situa-
ton, Helen dreaded the subtle infl1:-
ence that this call might have In
the two days since Warren's. return,
things had been better-much better
than they had been for many months.
In many ways they seemed nearer
together. She knew that this was
due partly to the lack of financial
worry, but she tried to believe, too,
that Warren cared for her more, that
the separation had made him realize
his need of her.
And now this call on his mother,
she feared, might be disturbing. That
his mother liked her less than ever
before, she felt assured. Just what
reference she might make to the let
ter she had written Warren. Helen
did not know. But now since every.
thing was so right between them,
she dreaded even the thought Of any
antagonistic influence
After luncheon she went down town
to look for the present. She almost
wore herself out walking through a
big department store before she Anal
~ decided on small travelling eight
day clock in leather case.
When Warren came home that ey
ening she showed it to him, a little
doubtful Of his approval
"Why, that's bully-just the thing
Much better to get something sensi
bic like that than some foolish gew
ga"s. But still | don't like the idea
OF lying about it. Why not tell the
truth to mother-that | forgot to se,
anything out there. so got 1t here?'
ON, no, | wouldn't do that; she
wouldn't appreciate it SO much. JUS,
say you brought it for her, and shell
thlnk, of course, you got it on your
trip.
Harmless Glib"
Huh, | don't see much difference
between telling lie and acting one
But all right; we'll let it 20 at that,
Helen flushed. She knew that i,
s1ral things she was not SO brutal,
truthful a S Warren. She could never
quite see why it was not excusable t.
tell harmless fib, if it saved some
ones feelings.
Now, We don't want to fool aroune
here too long. l phone mother wee