South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-08-21
THEIR MARRIED LIFE
By MABEL HERB RI URNER
HELEN FROM \ BOX LOOKS DOWN UPON WARREN At \
BANQUET ASTORFSITZ.
By MABEL HERB .RT URNE

The waiter had just placed before
him his frozen ice and rehlled his wine
glass. Then Helen saw that every
one at Warren's table was drinking
champagne. some OF the other tables
had champagne. some had claret. and
et few there we're no wine glasses
at all.
Warren was looking up now. He
was glancing toward the boxes, He
saw Helen and waved his napkin.
Helen flushed with pride as the
other women in the box turned TO
look az her. In spite OF their expen-
sive gowns and jewels Helen felt GER
tain that their husbands were not as
handsome and distinguished as War
rSn.
II was Accordingly interesting to sit
there and look down upon all those
men. Most Of them had finished their
dinner now and had relaxed 10 Il
lounging attitude over their coffee and
cigars. Except that now and then one
OF them would look UP at the boxes
and smile, they seemed wholly uncon-
sciOus Of the many beautifully gowned
women who were looking down upon
them.
The walters had now all lined up
by the door. eaching carrying a tray
piled high with small white boxes
=
the head waiter they filed in and out
through the tables. leaving a white
box beside each plate
Had the diners been women, they
would have instantly opened the boxes
but the men seemed hardly TO notice
them. So Helen's curiosity was not
graified.
At length the dinner was over. The
walters began carrying out the dishes
and the pink-shaded candles. most of
which had burned out. The orchestra
that had been playing in a balcony
above the boxes now stopped.
The chairman at the speakers table
arose and raped for order. Helen
wondered why he was chairman. He
was small and insignificant with a
thin voice that did not carry. After
some tedious remarks which no one
could hear, he introduced the first
speaker of the evening, DR.. OlOny, an
eminent sOciOlogist
Helen leaned forward with eager
interest The speakers were all prom
inent men, and she felt their address
ses would be well worth hearing But
Dr. Olony began with the usual trite
preliminary remarks about it being
an honor to address so distinguished
a gathering" Then TO Helen's dismay
he produced a formidable manuscript
and proceeded TO read IT,
Everybody sat back resignedly.
After the first few moments Helen did
not pretend to listen. The women
| beside her kept up a running CONVEX
sation. Several men had now come
up TO the various boxes to sit with
| their wives and friends. The eminent
DR.. Olony was still reading in a mo-
nOtOnous voice.
Helen's glance never left Warren for
long, and now she saw him push back
his chair and leave the table. He
looked up and nodded. He was COM
ing up 10 her.
well. what do you think of it,"
when he entered the box and took the
chair beside her.
oh dear, it's very interesting"
happily excited now that he was with
her. How wonderful he loOked-how
. distinguished, Her eyes rested on him
proudly.
Roasting the Speaker.
Rotten speaker" he grumbled. "A
man ought 10 he mobbed for reading
a speech at a dinner like this. What
people want is short pointed addresses
OF say-fve minutes. That boob's been
! spOuting for ffteen."
"Oh, dear. you didn't bring me your
souvenir! l wanted so much TO see
them"
Forgot the blamed thing. Get II
for you later. Wonder who that stun
ming woman is in that box over there -
Helen followed his glance to the
dark haired. regal-looking woman.
She was undeniably beautiful. Her
gown OF white lace was cut strikingIy
| low, and there were strands of pearls
about her throat and III her hair
Helen was not often jealous, but some
how she felt suddenly plain and poor
1 " gowned beside the striking love-
/ illness of that woman.
The speaker finished now and sat