South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-03
THIRD YEAR OF WARREN SENDS TO Helen
MARRIED LIFE. CAL LETTER 'i'''i I'M
HERBERT URNER.

mother than Helen has ever shown
me. None of my children have ever
spoken to me in this way and / can
see no excuse for her.
Il forgot to say that she practically
asked me not TO write about the room.
But l told her that you should know
and unless she wrote herself l would
consider it my duty TO do so.
las you know none of our family
have ever kept roomers. And TO me
il seems a very undignified thing for
Helen to take such person into her
home while you're away. and TO insn-
uate that she is forced to do so be-
cause you do not properly provide for
her.
Am sorry TO have to write you all
this. Warren, but l felt that you should
know
Your father has gone to Trenton
today on business. Carrie was over
last night. and she was going to write
you Well, 1 must close. Write soon.
"AffectiOnately. MOTHER"
Helen had received these letters in
the morning mail. Twenty minutes
afterward she had on her things and
was hurrying blindly down the street.
The first uncomfortable impulse had
been TO get Quito get away from the
rooms.
She paused uncertainty at corner.
Where was she going? She must have
some one to talk to. She had reach
ed the stage where she could no long
er go on alone. She must pour out
to some one some OF the fierce bitter
ness that was raging within her. Sud
denly she crossed the street TO take an
uptown car. She would go to Mrs.
Stevens.
Never before had Helen made a
confident of anyone but Warren. She
had never in any way talked about
him to other women-as do many
wives Always she felt that whatever his
treatment of her. he was after all her
husband and nearer and dearer than
anyone in the world But now her
seething indignation and the longing
10 unburden il to some one swept her
on
When she reached the apartment.
Mrs. Stevens. who rarely went out i'm
the morning. was dressed for the
street. But she greeted her affec-
tionately.
"Oh. my dear why didn't you
phone? I'm going to the tailOr's and
TO luncheon with Mrs. Bennett. But
if known. I'd much rather stayed
and lunched with you. Why. what's
the matter?" as she suddenly saw
Helen's face in a stronger light. Has
anything happened?'
moment she could not speak, and she
had to fight against the hysterical de-
sire to cry.
"Oh. nothing" quiveringly. II just
felt nervous and depressed this morn
ing and II thought I'd come over
here awhile. That's all"
Mrs. Stevens was watching her
closely.
That's not all Something's the
matter Tell me-"
But Helen realized suddenly that
she could not tell her. Now that she
was here the impulse hat had driven
her here had left her
NO. no." as Mrs. stevens insisted.
"It's nothing-Tm just a little un-
strung. III so to the subway with
YOU and then walk horne. The walk
Will do me good
Are YOU sure? Hadn't I better
phone AIRS. Bennett that l can't come
and stay here with your
"Oh. no, no." eXCitedly. IF we stay
here I'll talk" with a break in her
voice. And I know now l don't want
to talk"
Reluctantly Mrs. stevens let her
have her way she knew that some
thing was wrons and that Helen had
intended 10 tell her. But with rare
tact she refrained from further ques-
tiOns, for which Helen was dumbly
grateful
IF there's anything 7 can do. dear.
as they parted at the subway. you
know"
"Oh. yes. know" murmured Helen.
[ "But there's nothing, at least not
now"
And then she turned TO walk slowly
home After all. how hopeless il was
20 try 10 escape from herself. In the
end she must always come back. Al
ways she must fight out things alone.
If her mother were here-it might Se
different.
But she knew now she could not
make a confident of any one else.
And now she must go back and an
swer Warren's letter Already her
mind was framing the answer. CT
one thing she was sure. desperately,
wretchedly sure-that. whatever the
consequences. she would not send Mrs.
Morrison away.
Had Warren asked il in any other
way-unreasonable as was the request
she would have yielded. fSut after
that letter. and the one from his
mother, Even though IL brought
down upon her not only his wrath, but
that OF all his people, still she must
write him that until he returned-Mrs.
.