The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-01-02
Married Life
the Third Year
~ MABEL HERBERT uRNER.

WANTED-A pleasant, welllight-
ed furnished room in private apart
mont by lady living alone. References.
r. K 274"
Three times Helen read this adver
6sement, then laid down the paper
and gazed unseeingly out the window
Why not? Why couldn't she? Why
had she never thought OF this before?
The spare room was never used ex~
cept as sewing room or a store
room. And now while Warren was
away-why couldn't she take a room
er?
What easier way could there be to
help pay the expenses? And Warren's
letters were so vague about when he
would return. He might be gone a cor-
pie Of months longer. Why shouldn't
the room be rented during that time?
Again she took mp the paper and re-
read the advert isenert Then she read
several others, but they were all
gentlemen" or "bache1ors" or "cou-
Piles" who were seeking rooms. This
was the only woman.
All that day Helen thought of moth
ing else. Surely this was the solution
OF her eager desire to make some mon
ey. Just what the room would be worth
che did not know. She searched
through the columns Of rooms to let"
and so few rooms wanted" But wom-
anlikn II was this point that finally
decided her The fact that 1t might be
difficult to secure a r0Omer made it
seem even more desirable.
SHE ANSWERS 1T.
After spelling several sheets of pa
per in variOuslv wOrded attempts,
Helen finally wrote out this answer.
West ---S St, New York,
Feb. 18th, 1912.
r. Y. PA.
I have a pleasant comfortable fur
nished room in modern apartment
with all conveniences. Should you
care 70 see it. would be glad to show
it 70 YOU am time. Very truly yours,
Mrs. ". r. Curtis.
Phone ---- Riverside
Helen was not quite satisfied with
this. She felt vaeuelv that she should
say more--descrihe the room and give
an idea Of the price. But she did not
know what to ask. and somehow she
shrank from praisinP her own apart
ment. The cheapest rooms in the "to
let" columns were described as "luXu-
TiOuslv" or Handsomely" "exouisite-
ly" furnished Were she looking for
rooms herself, she would feel that the
places which were not so overpraised
would be the better places
Yet It was with much misgiving that
Hen mailed her letter Probably she
would get no answer at all. "R. Y. 274"
miGht receive SO many offers Of large
and luXuriously" furnished rooms. that
her own honest note might be over
looked
The next day Helen found herself
looking for an answer with every mail,
nj FL III l. J,o- DO,
expected so soon. Her letter had gone
TO the newspaper office. and would
have to wait there until advertiser
called or sent for it.
However, she satisfied some of her
impatipnce by puttinc the spare room
in perfect order The sewing machine
and table were moved in Warren's
room. Then the room was thoroughly
swept and busted. a fresh linen scarf
put on the bureau, and oven the pink
satin pin cushion had its lace cover
washed and ironod
i WAS not a luxurious" room but
It was pleasant and comfortable and
scruDuICuslv clean. And Helen survey
ed it with satisfaction.
"Is Won expecting company, ma'am
asked Della, VII ocould no longer 70
strain her curiosity as to why this
room should just now be put in such
special order
DELLA is TOLD.
Helen hesitated. Knowing Della
would regard the advaue Of a roomer
with much disfavor, she had not yet
told her.
"No, I'm not expecting company.
Della, but I'm thinking of renting this
room while Mr.. Curtis is away
Della gasped, "Rentin' the room?
You mean you gOin' to take a room
err"
Helen nodded, yes, for a little
while
Della opened her mouth, as though
to make some explosive protest, and
then shut it quickly. There was some
thing in the quiet dignity of Helen's
bearing that checked any decided ex-
preston Of her disapprcval SO she con
tented herself with a mumbled:
"Didn't know this was a roomin'
house" as She polished the mirror
with unnecessary force.
Expenses have been very heavy
this winter, Della" answered Helen
codly. and if I can I shall rent this
room to help reduce them"
And there was a note in her voice
that warned Della to make no further
comment, but her fierce polishing Of
the mirror showed plainly her resent
ment.
That day passed and still Helen
heard nothing from 'FR. X. 274." But
the next morning, about ten. the
phone rang and an unfamiliar WON
amt voice asked to speak to Mrs. Cur
tbs.
This is Mrs. Curtis" said Helen.
You answered my advertisement
about a room I'm up in this neighbor-
hood this morning could I see It
now"
"Why-why, yes" in confusion.