The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-11-23

The mournful sound OF a distant nfs
ana drum Then q hesrse with a nag
orsped comm and three closed car
risges passed slowly by. These sad
little professions were becoming daily
more frequent.
\ Depressed. Helen turned from the
window and glanced longingly at the
clock IL would be at least an hour
before Warren came. Again she took
up her mending. but she was too rest
less TO sew.
She went into the bedroom. As she
gazed moodily across the narrow
courtyard. woman's form was sud-
denly outlined against the drawn blind
OF lighted window. Her every move
ment was clearly silhouetted.
Helen watched her. fascinated.
With clenched hands she was walk
ing up and down the room. Then she
dropped into a chair. her face buried
In its cushioned seat. her shoulders
quiverine with convulsive sobs. There
were abandonment and abject grief
In every line OF her slight figure.
Something that looked like a news
paper lay on the floor beside her.
Heien's thoughts leaped to that daily
column Of killed and wounded.
At any other time she would not
have followed the impulse that now
came to her. But the war had broken
down many barriers. A common dan
ger and sorrow had brought people
together; ordinary conventions were
brushed aside.
The next moment Helen was hurry
ing down the hall to the apartment
opposite. IL was some time before
her timid ring was answered.
Who Is it?' asked a tremulous
voice. the door opening a few inches.
Mrs Curtis-from the apartment
next door," faltered Helen.
The door opened wider. the woman
still shielding herself behind II.
Il know you're in trouble" i'm
puisively. II saw you through the
window-the curtain was down. but I
could see your shadow. Don't think
me intrusive. but I knew you were
alone-and l couldn't help coming
The woman's only answer was to
turn back into the room and throw
herself sobbing on the couch. Helen
followed. constrained and awkward
After all. what could she do-what
could any stranger do?
Its some one-in the war;" gent
ly. drawing chair beside her.
The head on the pillow nodded.
Helen took one of the hot, clenched
hands in both of hers. She could
think OF nothing to say. nothing that
would not seem meaningless.
A small desk clock licked harshly.
There was sound OF Goals settling In
the crate. A faint creak of the chair
as Helen stirred.
Then the woman sat up and looked
at her DULY.
"Oh, it's not What you think" reck-
lessly. Its not my husband or NV
brother-or any one whom can
grfeve over openly. That's why I'm
alone. i don't dare have any one
with me-any one that might know {"
Helen felt Tightening in her throat.
she did not attempt to speak.
He was brought home yesterday
wounded-fatally. I can't go TO him.
can't even telephone-they'd know
my voice" She looked unfiinchingIy
at Helen. "He's-another woman's
husband"
Helen did not start or draw back:
her hold on the hot hand frightened.
This morning I drove by in a cab.
The blinds were down. but there was
no-crape. I'm going again tonight.
oh. It's torture-not knowing"
Abruptly she rose and took from a
desk drawer a leather -cased photo
graph. IL was strong clean-cut face
OF virile Englishman.
There was nothing the whole world
couldn't have known" her burning
eyes were on the picture. And yet
now that's he's dying I'm almost sorry
there wasn't" defantly. Can you
understand that?"
Helen nodded.
oh. were more natural, more
primitive In times like these! That's
why i can tell you this. And vet :"
slowly. '-if he should get weilN,,
would be Just the same Oh we've
made such a waste of our lives-sucb
a pitiful waste, II was all my fault
but I've paid for it," bitterly "I've
paid for one foolish. historical mo-
ment with six years OF torture"
SIX years." breathed Helen.
we were engaged" she stedied her
voice. oh, II was such a trivial thing
we quarreled over And he-he TOOK
IL seriously. He threw up everything
ana went TO India Last year he mar
RED and came back 10 London. We
knew the same people, We couldn't
help meeting. His wife doesn't care
shes always with other men.
Then he began coming here. lie
never made an engagement. vet I
came to expect him every Wednesday
at hve-I lived for that hour. O.
never talked mean about this. Yet
We both knew.
The day he left for the war-he
came TO say goodbye. He tried TO
make II a conventional calI-but I
couldn't. / was the one to break
down. He said there was only ono
solution-for him not 10 come back %
Her voice broke. She looked AT
Helen with hopeless eyes.
: oh. how I've watched the papersr
But there's been nothing until yester.
/ day"
I And yet" murmured Helen. III vou
mad married him. wouldn't giving him
up now be even harder than n isl"
Harder" ferceIy. III we'd had an.
years OF happiness would our lives
have been wasted Sir years with
him! I'd barter my soul for ONE"
She was walking feverishly abou,
tho room. her long hair partly un.
/ bound
oh. can't stand this" hystericaIly.
| j MUST know" turning desperately
i 20 tho desk phono IN No 1 ,,,,,-t.. I.