The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1914-01-06
Married Life
the Third Year
BY MABEL HERsERT uRNER.

'Dear Helen:
So that's your last move. Is it-tak-
ing roomer? Mother has just writ
ten me. Says she called on you last
Week and found out you had rented
khe spare room. Your excuse was you
we're in need of money.
Things have come to nice pass
when you complain to my people that
! don't provide for you, that you're
forced to rent rooms to pay expenses
Mother knows better-but everyone
Hlse don't. Suppose you did it to
arouse sympathy-that would be just
kke you.
And you asked mother not to write
Fne about it-that was just like you,
100. You know we'll enough l wouldn't
stand for such tomfoolery. Now you
pet rid of that woman-and get rid of
her quick-or therell be trouble.
Il knew from your last letter with
Ill that twaddle about Independence
Ind making your own money that
you'd be up to some fool thing. And
now you've rented a room for the mis-
cradle sum of eight dollars week
and giving everybody the impression
you're driven to it. But you tried
mighty hard to keep it from me. You
knew darned we'll I'd see through your
little scheme. Now take my advice and
don't try any more stunts. You've been
playing on that I want to be independ-
ent chord about long enough. Get
something new to harp on.
LAS second thought I'll send you
mothers letter. It'll be good lesson
for you to see how all this appears to
others"
Nothing settled here yet Don't
know when I'm coming homeland
can't say that I'm anxious just now.
Our letters of the past few weeks
would not indicate d pleasant home
coming. There's nothing that sickens
a man more than a woman's attitude
of constant hysteria. SO for Heavens
sake get it our of your system.
"WARREN."
Enclosed with this was the letter
from Warren's mother.
Dear Warren:
Il received your last card the early
part of the week. That must be a very
beautiful country out there. And yol
say the weather's been delightful. It's
been very cold here. This morning the
thermometer is down to eight
was out to see Helen vest erday.
The first time I've had a chance to
get UP since you left. Warren, l think
IT'S my duty to tell you that she is
keeping a roomer. She has rented her
spare room for eight dollars a week
to a Mrs. Morrison--a buyer of mil
nnery somewhere.
Helen did not want me to know,
but the woman came in while l was
there. | caught only a glimpse of her
in the hall, but she seemed a most
ordinary looking person with bleach
ed hair.
'Naturally I was shocked that Hell
en- had done such a thing. Her excuse
was that she wished to help pay the
expenses. She didn't say you did not
send her sufficient money-but she
strongly implied that Of course.
know that you provide her with all
that is necessary. She wants to follow
her own inClinations and she always
resents any criticisms or even sus-
gestions fro many of our people.
II don't like to tell you this, but she
was almost insolent to me yesterday.
When | asked her why she had not
consulted us before renting the room.
her exact words were Il didn't think
il concerned you. The only interest
YOU and Mr. Curtis have ever taken is
to call here occasionally and find
something to criticise.'
After this Warren, you can hardly
expect me TO call again. At least not
while you're away. 1t seems to me
that more respect is due to your moth
er than Helen has ever shown me
None of my own children have ever
spoken TO me in this way and I can
see no excuse for her
Il forgot to say that she practically
asked mo not to write about the room
But I told her that you should know
and unless she wrote herself | would
consider it my duty to do so.
'As you know none Of our family
hare ever kept roOmers. And to me it
seems a very undignifed thing for
Helen to take such a person into her
home while you're away. and to insin-
uate that she is forced to do so be-
Gauge you do not properly provide
for her.
Am sorry to have to write YOU all
this. Warren, but | fclt 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. I must close. Write soon
Affectionately,
Mother"
Helen had received these letters III
the morning mail. Twenty minutes af-
terward she had on her things and
was hurrying blindly down the street
The first uncomfortable impulse had
heen TO get QUITO get away from the
rooms.
HER BRAIN IN A WHiRL.
She parsed uncertainty at a corner.
Where was she going? She must have
some one to t1lk to. She had reached
the stage whore she could no longer
GO on alOno. She must pour out to
sCmc one some Of the fierce bitter
ness that was raGing within her. Sud