South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-06-17
Their Married
Life.
THE THIRD YEAR

Go light on opening those windows
/ I've got a cold already" grumbled
Warren. as Helen started to raise the
bedroom windows
But dear. We can't sleep without
some air"
Some air? You want a regular
gale blowing through here. 1 may
have 10 stand for IL when I'm well.
but I'll be blamed II I'm going 10 take
any chances with this cold"
Then you want only this one
opened"
Don't want that open all the way.
Put il dowu-more, 1 tell YOU" as
Helen reluctantly lowered the win
dow an inch or so. We've got TO
have separate bedrooms. then you can
practice your particular brand OF
fresh air insanity without putting me
on the sick list"
II was a damp, close, murky night.
and Helen slipped into bed with d
feeling Of suffocation. Above every
thing else, she wanted plenty OF air
in the bedroom. 1t was impossible
/ for her 10 sleep in a close, warm room.
But whenever Warren had the least
tinge OF a cold there was always this
dispute about the windows. And now
he lay there, huddled up in the bed
clothes. while Helen, with only a
sheet over her and her arms thrown
up over the pillow, felt stifed.
HeIen's Discomfort.
Although il was February. there had
been no winter weather yet. and the
rain and sultry warmth had kept
Helen almost Ill. Tonight not a breath
OF air was stirring. With only one
window partly open, there was not
enough breeze outside 20 stir even the
thin white curtains, which hung mo-
tiOnless before IT,
For almost an hour Helen tossed
and turned-she could not sleep.
Though the radiator was turned off.
the steam was sizzling sullenly, and
the wall beside the bed through which
the pipes ran was almost hot, Helen
kept feeling il with her hand
Warren was sleeping heavily. He
had even drawn over him the extra
blanket which always lay at the foot
of the bed in case it grew colder in
the night. To Helen it seemed in
credible that any one could sleep in
that oppressive room with so much
cover.
A. last she could stand IL no longer.
Softly she slipped out OF bed tip-toed
over TO the door and opened il noise
lessly. At once she felt the relief of
a faint breeze. The open door had
room became bearable, and Helen
dOzed off 20 sleep.
She was awakened by loud. vicious
banging.
Why in thunder was that door
Open?"
The room was in a bhaze OF light.
and Warren in his pajamas was strid-
ing over TO close the window.
Regular hurricane blowing through
here. I told you not 10 open the
windows--so when l got TO sleep you
open the door, Ell? Want me TO get
pneumonia, do YOU" as he shut the
window with an angry force, switched
off the lights and once more huddled
shiveringly under the bed clothes.
Dear, we can't stand 1t shut up in
here" protested Helen, sitting up in
bed We'll both be sick! Why
we've never slept in a room with ev-
erything closed
Refusing to Answer
But Warren did not deign to an
swer.
Just put your hand out and feel
this wall where the pipes run" per-
sisted Helen. Feel how hot it is"
But Warren maintained his con-
temptuOus silence.
Warren, l want YOU to feel this
WALL" with an almost hysterical note
in her voice. Why, it's fearful TO
shut US up in here"
There is nothing more Irritating
than to talk to someone who refuses
10 answer, and as Helen lay there star
ing into the darkness her discomfort
at the lack OF air was increased by
her resentment. Her face burned
against the pillow
Surely no one should be expected
to sleep in Il room with closed win
dows. IL was positively unhealthful.
Her Indignation grew as she thought
of IL.
In a little while Helen had worked
herself into a state of feverish self
pity. II was cruel-brutal-Of War
rem to shut her up in a place as close
and sitting as this, II there were
Since it was also the sewing room.
they had thought a bed would take
up too much space. But now some
thing must be put in, If only "A cot, so
she would not have 10 go through an
other night like this.
Warren" she whispered tentative
ly. uncertain as TO whether he was
asleep. Warren, l can't stand il in
here! I'll have to go in the front
room and lie on the cOuch-if you
don't let me open window!
Did she imagine it, or did his breath
ing seem 10 grow heavier, as though
he was feigning sleep?
She waited a few moments, then
crept out OF bed felt for her slippers.
took her pillow and the counterpart
which covered the bed in the day
time, and went into the front room.
II was a narrow antique sofa, at
tractive as a piece OF furniture, but
most uncomforta BILE 20 lie on. But II
she could not sleep there, at least she
could breathe. She had opened all
the front windows and those in the
library adjoining, but still the heavy
damp air did not stir the curtains.
Yet Warren had expected her 10 sleep
in that stuffy room on a night like
this"
No CapitulatiOn.
But surely he would not lee her lie
out here all night on this hard, mar
row couch, He would soon realize
how unreasonable he had been and
would want the window open, for even
he could not sleep in there long with
out air.