Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-11-24

''I wish you could stay down to din
ner but you said you were dining out
didn't you, dear? Well, we'll hope
for better luck next time" And Mrs.
Raymond looked at Helen admiringly
as they rose from the table and walk
ed out into the lobby.
Helen wondered nervously how she
was to get away, Mrs. Raymond Kept
up a steady stream of conversation
continually and Mr. Raymond said
little or nothing while Helen had
nothing to do but agree. The situa-
tion was almost funny at times, but
Helen was annoyed and uncomfort-
able. 1t was almost impossible for
her to be tactful when she disliked a
person as much as she did Mrs. Ray
mond and to be called upon to cater
to her was almost more than she could
bear.
Now, If you are in such hurry,
dear, Mr.. Raymond will call a taxi and
send you home" Helen was about to
say that she didn't want taxi, but
MIR. Raymond was off before she could
open her mouth. She knew that it
was rank extravaganza to take taxi
home. Why, the bill would be afro
cious, but how could she stop it now
without making a fuss before the
Raymonds. She simply could not do
it.
mond as they stopped just inside the
door. 'Ill call you up in the morn
ing, and we can make arrangements
for a dinner date. It's been so nice to
have you down!"
Mr.. Raymond stood on the curb
waiting to see her in, and a second
later Helen was on her way uptown.
She watched the taXimeter go up, up,
up, and mentally calculated her bill
all the way home. OF course, it was
possible for her to get out and go
home the rest of the way by sub
way, but it was late, and she hated
10 change the direction. Helen was
the kind of a woman who would put
Up with anything rather than make
fuss, and she determined to get home
just as fast as she could. even if her
bill amounted to five dollars
Broadway was already ablaze with
light, the street was alive with traf-
fic and the taxi was obliged to stop
and wait at almost every crossing, but
as they got further uptown they made
time and almost before she knew it
The man had stopped at her own
apartment and she was getting out.
The Ride Costs Her Close to Three
Dollars
1.-TWO dollars and SiXty-fiVe cents,
madam" said the driver not waiting
for her to ask the amount, and Helen
paid tire bill without a murmur. After
all it hadn't been so bad, and she had
at least driven home just twice as
fast as she would have in the crowd
ed, subway. Her spirits began to rise
as she went up in the elevator and
when she rang the bell and Nora let
her in with a smining face and told
her that Mr.. Curtis had not come
home yet, Helen drew a sigh of re-
lief.
After an uncomfortable afternoon
things were at last coming her way.
She and Warren had promised to dine
with Mr.. and Mrs. Stevens, and as the
dinner was a formal one, that Mrs.
Stevens was giving for her younger
sister, there was, of course, the neces-
sity of dressing.
Helen huEFied into her own room
and took off her hat and coat. The
little clock on the dressing table
pointed to five minutes to six. War
rem was late, but for once she was
heartily glad of 1t. She hurried to
the cedar chest in the corner and
hastily pulled out the large box that
contained Warren's dress suit The
suit had been sent up from the tail
ors a couple of days ago and Helen
had not bothered to open it then so
she hastily undid the strings and
lifted il out.
Warren was always so cross if she
did, not have everything ready for
him. 1t took her nearly ten minutes
to get the cuff links properly fixed
many things there were to do, and
then she began to dress herself. She
was in a light kimono bending over
10 adjust her slippers when the tele-