South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-10
SECOND YEAR OF
MARRIED LIFE.

Helen opened the door-but there
was no one there! She stepped out
into the HALT was empty. But as
she turned back there was sound of
snickerine laughter and scurrying feet
from the hall below. She closed the
door with an indignant flush.
Della" hurrying back into the
kitchen" It's that Barrett boy. That's
the third time he's rung the bell this
week.
Did you see him, ma'am?"
no. but l heard him-he has just
run down the steps"
We'll. ma am, you've put mp with
that boys meanness ever since they've
moved here I'd gone straight to his
mother long ago"
yes. l know, but I do so hate to
make a fuss"
Della shrugged her shoulders and
gave the celery she was washing an
angry shake in the water.
That afternoon when Helen went
out on some erands, just as she turned
the corner there was a startling,
crashing noise beside her. George
Barrett dashed by on roller skates, so
close that il was a deliberate intent to
brighten her. AS she gave nervous
start. he laughed a hooking, insolent
laugh and dashed on
Helen was furious. There was
nothing that made her quite so angry
as to be startled. And whenever he
saw her this boy seemed 10 take a
fiendish glee in dashing UP behind her
with all the Gathering, terrifying noise
that roller skates can make.
Helen is Resolved.
And now Helen turned back deter
minedly. She would put a stop TO
this at once. She had tolerated just
about enough from that boy.
Did you forget something, ma am
asked Della.
NO. I've come back 10 settle that
boy. He dashed up behind me down
there Just To see me start. He's al
ways doing that. And you know what
a racket those roller skates make. I'm
going 10 write a note TO his mother
and you're going to take it to her right
now"
Sure I will" said Della with con-
viction. She had long wanted TO get
even with that Barrett limb.
Helen was already at her desk
writing rapidly.
Ny Dear Mrs Barrett:
Will you kindly see that your boy
does not again ring my door bell and
run away. as he has done repeatedly
in the last two weeks? And also that
he does not dash up behind me on
roller skates for the deliberate pur-
pose of seeing me start? Also the
noise he makes skating up and down
the halls is most annoying.
Very respectfully,
Helen +. Curtis.
Helen read it over huriedly. There
were too many "alsO's', but she would
not stop to rewrite ii, for fear her
courage would fail and she would not
sent il at all.
Now Della" blotting and sealing il
rapidly. Take this up to Mrs. Bar
rett's apartment"
Must I wait for an answer"
''No: not unless she asks you to-"
Della when Helen began walking ner-
vously up and down the room What
would Mrs Barrett do? Would she
send a note back by Della or would
she telephone or would she ignore il
/ altogether?
Should She Have Written?
And had her letter been too curt
Now that it was gone Helen. woman
| like began TO wonder if she should
| have sent il. She tried to remem beI
word for word what she had written
| She wished now she had kept the note
and thought about ii a little more
How was she always doing things or
the impulse and then regretting them,
What if Mrs. Barrett should ignore
the note and the boy still continue his
antics? What an embarrassing posi-
ZION she would he in then, She should
| nave ignored the boys misdemeanors
before writing the note. but she GER
! talnly could not ignore them now. And