The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-06-22

all the windows were closed. Helen
could hardly breathe.
Against the wall was a square din
ing table generously spread with
chicken salad, sandwiches, brides
cake and punch. They all stood around
ry, wishing to be especially hospitable
to Helen, brought her a plate of re-
freshments, and insisted on her taking
a chair by the glowing stove.
Warren, with his easy goodfellow
ship that was his when he chose, was
I the center of an interesting group by
the table Now he was shaking hands
with the groom, and Helen heard him
saying earnestly:
Now you are a very fortunate man,
Mr.. Baker. You have got a mighty
fine little woman for your WIFE
Il know that, sir proudly, "and l
am going to do my best to make her
happy"
The strained awkwardness of the
whole party was being dispelled by
! the wine and strong claret punch.
! There was much laughing and many
jokes.
/ But the bride moved about as
though in a dream. In the white
| simmer of her bridal gown and the
shining radiance Of her eyes she
seemed apart from that crowded,
stuffy, little room. 1t was as though
she was living this hour in a world
of her own-that no one, not even her
husband, could enter
Helen looked at her in thrilled Won
der. Was this the plain, prosaic lit
! CT twn
! had been in Warren's office?
Now some one announced that a
taxi was waiting to take the bride
and groom to a photogra pliers, a few
blocks away.
They will be gone only few min
utes," cordially, land they want every
body to stay until they come back.
Hope they will not have it taken
with his hand on her shoulder" was
Warren's cynical comment, for Helen
had managed to get away from the
| stove and was now by his side.
Dear, cant we go now" she whis-
pered. Il am almost suffocated!"
Just beginning to enjoy myself
as he complacently washed down a
huge piece of fruit cake with gener
oous gulp of claret punch.
Just then, Mrs. Perry brought W
her brother and his wife to be intro
duced. The evening had been a series
of strained introductiOns, and Helen
had murmured the conventional
am glad to meet you" and didn't the
bride look charming?" until she now
said it mechanically.
In answer to Helen's appealing
glance, Warren now turned to Mrs
Perry with a tactful:
Since l haven't your daughter tC
depend on, l must be at the office
early these mornings, SO we will have
to be getting home"
In the little bedroom Warren had
some trouble finding his hat He
scowled into the labels of dozen OF
more before he found his own, while
Mrs. Perry huttered about in anxious
concern.
Then came a succession of rather
awkward good.byes," and when at last
they were out in the hall, Helen gave
a profound sigh Of relief.
We'll, that's over" announced War
rem, with grim satisfaction, as they
started down the four flights
"Oh. II he 10 only worthy OF herr
murmured Helen. her mind still in
tent on the bride. II only spoke to
him for moment-but I liked him
better than thought He may make
her good husband after ALL"
Hope So"
But oh, dear, that awful Yep!
Wasn't that dreadful? Do you sup
pose 1t was nervousness?"
bad break, whatever it was
But do you know, I don't believe
she even heard it? She seemed al
most In a dream. Her face was il