The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-01-08
Married Life
the Third Year
BY MABEL HERBERT URNER.

BY MABEL HERBERT URNER.
1t was Sunday. The first warm sun |
shiny Spring Sunday. But If one is
lonely and unhappy the very radiance I
of day like this seems only to add !
depression.
Since Warren had been away Helen |
had dreaded the Sundays most Of ALL |
Each one had seemed more dreary !,
and desOlatc than the last. And now as |
she wanders restlessly around the |
apartment she wondered how she !
could get through this day.
1t had been over week now since |
she had heard from Warren-not one |
word since her letter about the room |
er. She was anXiously waiting for eV- |
cry mail On Sundays one of the eie- |
vator boys always went to the post |
office, but today there had been only |
a circular for her. And there would be
no other mail until morning.
She had glanced through the Sun |
day papers but was too restless to
read. Finally she went in and got out
her mending basket. Surely it was no
worse to sew on Sunday than to do |
anything else, and the time would .
drag less heavily if she was at work.
A little petticoat of Winifreds and
some stockings were already in the
basket. These she mended and then
SOt out HeT Dlue serge ShlIl Which,
needed fresh braid around the bottom. |
It was so warm that she raised the
window beside her. and the soft
Spring air blew in the curtains through
which she caught slimpses of the
street below. The bright day had
brought cut many afternoon strollers.
The silk hats and frocks and coats of
the men. the spring millinery of the
women, gay with flowers and bright
colored straw, the occasional bunch |
Of violets-it was all part of the at
mosphere of a Sunday afternoon in
Spring.
DEsOLATE THOUGHTS.
No one seemed alone-they were al
ways in couples or groups Of three or
four Helen looked down at this leiS |
urGly Well-dreseed Sunday thrOng and
r,Ore than ever she felt her desOla |
ton.
lust then there passed an athletic |
locking man with IL slender woman be- !
side him and little girl in white run |
ming on in front. There was something
in the carriage of the man that re-
minded her of Warren, and the woman
was strangely like herself. And yet
what a difference! For even as they
arm at the street crossing, and his
very gesture was one of love and pro-
lection, while the woman looked up
and laughed happily
It was only g passing picture, but
it was so full Of the JOY OF companion
ship that Helen turned from the win
dow with the old aching lump in her
throat.
She thought of the look of content |
ment On the Woman's face as the pride |
Of possession in the man S. How long !
had it been since Warren had looked |
hat hot
an give that she could not? And why !
must she be here alone with the ernpti- |
ness of a Sunday afternoon and even
ing before her. while other women had |
the iOv OF their husbands love and |
companionship?
A startling ring from the telephone |
in the hall. She dropped her sewing
and ran eagerly to answer it. Any
chance caler-any interruption to her
brooding thoughts-would be welcome.
Mrs. Stevens is calling announc-
ed the boy.
With a hurried ASK her to come
up" Helen ran back to gather up her
sewing and put it away
"Moping here all alone?" asked Mrs. |
Stevens as she kissed her.
Il thought so. Now put on your
things; I've got the car down stairs.
We're going for a long drive and have
dinner somewhere in the country"
But Wnifred?" It's Delias after
noon off-Ive got no one to leave
with her"
That's all arranged for trium-
phantly. drought Jennie along to take
care OF her-shell be up in mo-
ment."
Jennie was one of Mrs. Stevens
maids, d young French girl, devoted
to children, who had taken care of
Winifred on several occasions SO Hell
en- had no fear Of leaving her.
Nov hurry and get ready. Oh it's
wonderful out"
1t took Helen only a few moments
to dress and get into her wraps. and
when she had given some final III
structons to Jennie about Winifred,
they hurried down to the car. Mr.. Ste
Nens greeted her cordially.
we thought it was too fine a day
for any one to stay indoors" as he
helped her into the car and tucked the
rugs about her.
"NoW, John drive out the ----
road he directed. as they started off.
Helen leaned back in the wide leath-
or seat with a sigh of content. Oh, it
was good to be out. To get away from
the chilled loneliness of her apart
ment into the warm Spring sunshine.
They were soon speeding through
the park and then out to the ------
road. Everywhere We're signs OF
Spring. Bare-headed children, barking
dogs, and farther out in the country