South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-01-23
SECOND YEAR OF
MARRIED LIFE.

Now. don't be foolishl Go on if
they want you TO-" urged Warren.
Wilson and l want to play out our
match at billiards."
Helen stood, reluctant. "Oh, but
you know l don't like to go without
you"
That's absurd. You've been in all
day-the air'lI do you good"
Come on" cried the Stevenses who
were already out in the car. Mr.
Summers will take care of you if your
husband don't come"
Helen hurried down the path to the
waiting car.
4 believe you're to sit back here
sprang out TO help her in. Hadn't
l better get you a heavier wrap? Will
that thin one be enOugh?"
"Oh, yes, quite enough" as she
settled back in the wide leather seat.
Mr.. Summers was a cousin of the
Stevens and had been at the hotel for
some time. Helen knew that he adj
mired her. Her wOman's intouition
told her that. He had formed one of
their party for a number of rides and
outings and had been particularly at
tentive TO her.
Often when Warren, with his usual
indifference had left ner to look after
hurried to help her in and out of the
car, and in many ways had been soli-
citous about her com Sort.
Helen had shrunk from these little
attentions because they seemed only
to emphasize Warren's neglect. That
anyone else should have TO look after
her when her husband was present
seemed but a direct reflection on him.
And now as they sped through the
night over the smoothly oiled roads,
with Mr.. Summers beside her in the
seclusion of the deep back seat Helen
was conscious that by his very silence
he was in some way creating between
them a curious sense of intimacy
There is nothing more subtle. moth
| ing that can be made more pregnant
! with meaning than a conscious silence.
Now and then sudden jar of the
| machine swayed her toward him and
she was conscious of his arm against
! hers-and conscious OF his conscious
ness of it,
! She tried to think OF something to
/ say-something simple and natural
anything to break the silence, that
grew more and more ins.stent.
"All the roads are so well kept
! here" she murmured at length. Il
wonder how often they oil them.
| But the remark was SO banal and
! its purpose so obvious that it only in
| creased her discomfort. And when
he answered:
Every few days ] suppose" and
then offered no further comment, the
silence was more pronounced than
ever.
Helen was intensely glad when a
little farther on they stopped at a road
| house. She sprang out quickly with
out giving Mr.. SumIaers chance to
help her.
Lets take a table out here on the
/ ,,
looks So hot and stuffy inside. Ism
/ that red wall paper rrlDle
The porch was lit only by the light
that shone through the window heier
would rather have gone inside, Wnei
the bright lights would have helped tC
dispel this atmosphere of subtle ro-
nance that Mr.. Summers was dehoer'
ately trying TO throw around her.
Wait, Stevens, I'm doing this anc
| Mr. stevens promptly beckoned the
waiter and gave the order. Now ar'
YOU sure YOU won't have a sandwich
or a salad" ne asked leaning TOWARD
/ Helen. who had ordered only clare
lemonade.
she shook her head. No, 'that !
laH 7 care for"
"Oh. I forgot your footstool." as tn
waiter disappeared. I'm afraid IN
|, not taking such very good care Of yol
after all"
"Oh. 1 don't need a footstOol for tn
few moments Wen be here" answere
Helen keenly conscious of his init
mate tone and yet not knowing HOY
10 resent il.
They had all diued together severa
times and when he found she alway
wanted a footstoOl and that Ware
had usually left IL for her TO ask 70
( / it. he had been surreptitiOuslv tippin
E the waiter for bringing il. Each tim
5 Helen had secretly resented that any
[ one should neeG 10 look after her whe
l her husband was present but Ware
had not seemed even 20 notice il.