The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-05-27
Married Life
the Fourth Year
az MABEL HERBERT URNER.

By MABEL HERBERT URNER.
We were stopping at the Asdor1
It's ONLY a couple of blocks from here
cant you come in and have tea?
Helen hesitated, then yielded to Mrs.
Merwin's urgent invitation.
She had met the Merwns on the
steamer They had sat at the same
table on the return voyage and seen
great deal of each other during the
trip. And now Mrs. Merwin's greeting
as they met Unexpectedly on F11tn ave-
nue., was most cordial.
Don't you want to come up to the
rooms? It's much quieter. and I'll or
der tea I'D there" she suggested, a s
they pushed through the heavy revolv-
in door of the Hotel Asdorf.
The atmosphere and appointments
of a big, luxurious hotel had always a
certain charm for Helen, charm that
probably would be dispelled should
she live at one for any length of time.
They left the elevator at the eighth
floor, and Mrs. Merwin led the way up
the hall to an expensive suite of bed
room. sitting room and bath.
She telephoned down for the tea,
ordering with it two cocktails.
oh, yes, we must have something
to drink" as she hung up the receiver.
1--WE been blue all day! Oh, | think
New York is the most lonely place.
III be glad when we get away"
But you're so pleasantly situated
here" protested Helen, glancing
around the attractive rooms. And
don't you find this hotel very good?
I've always heard that the service here
was excellent"
"Oh. II almost hate it! I've been
so unhappy ever since we camel
Helen looked up. surprised at the
tremor in her voice.
You know we'd planned to go on to
Denver. but-but Mr.. Merwin's bust
ness has kept us here. Now II don
know when Wen get away
She had laid aside her hat, and as
she leaned back in chair by the
window. Helen saw how tired and
worn she looked. On the steamer she
had been Omst attractive, and the cen
ter of much attention. But now she
vas pale and listless. with haggard
lines around her eyes and mouth.
What could have happened to have
changed her in so short time?
In few moments the waiter came
with the tea On the tray were two
the cocktail from silver shaker. Mrs
Merwn slipped her eagerly, and faint
color relieved her pallor.
Momentarily it seemed to cheer her
and they talked of the people they had
met on the steamer, several of whom
Mrs. Merwin had seen since.
Then the phone rang, and she start
ed so violently that the tea splashed
from the cup she was holding. The
phone was on the wall by the door
and Helen could not help but notice
how her hand trembled when she took
down the receiver.
SHE BREAKS DOWN.
No, Mr.. Merwin is not here
I'm sorry, but l don't know anything
about that. I'm sure Mr.. Merwin will
make it all right. Yes, as soon
as he comes in"
Hardly had she left the phone wher
tn" bell rang again.
Mr.. Merwin is not in. No, he hasnr
ali office in New York. At six? He
may be here then, but I'm not sure"
TO Helen's dismay. as Mrs. Merwir
turned from the phone she suddenl.
leaned against the wall and burst into
tears.
oh. I can't stand it any longer
td' size SOUuGu IHey re always
calling him up--the people he owes
And he's drinking and gambling away
all his money!"
For a moment Helen hardly knew
what to say, then she made a strained
ard awkward attempt to comfort her
But the emotions which had evidently
been pent up for days were finding ex
preston, and she sobbed out to Heller
the whole Wretched story
The mining scheme that Mr.. Mer
win had been promoting in London hat
fallen through when they reached New
York. He had borrowed money from
every one he knew, trying to promote
some other stock. That, too, had beer
failure. and now they had not ever
money enough to pay their hotel bill
AND they owed for three weeks
"Eut why do you keep these expen
>ire roCms?"ventured Helen. "Couldn'
NOu stay at some cheaper hotel, O.
s|.n al a boarding house,"
ayes, but We can't leave until W,
pa the bill. We can't even tax,
cheaper rooms here, for that woult
maze them suspicious. They think MI
N'r~in has money; he always spent
Sc freely. If they didn't think that
they wouldn't keep giving us credit i,
lh' tHtduIdllt-- ana we We got 10 ca
somewhere"
But if you go on running up th
ALWAYS PROMOTING.
con, Frank keeps thinking he'll &c
money sOmeWhere-he's always full O
schemes" bitterly It's always prc
noting, promoting, promoting! | hat
rhc very word! If he'd only get dow
10 some real work. Anything tina
WOrld give him a regular salary-ir
s'oad Ct trying to hive eXtravagantly OF
a lot OF promoting schemes
oh. know I'm disloyal to talk lik
this. fer when he has money he's tn