South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-25

I letter in her hand. Sometime in the
most intense moments an absurd
thought will fash through the mind.
and SO now the thought came to Helen
that Warren would call that 'melo-
dramatic. In novels and on the stage
they always crush the letter" So
she smoothed it out with a harsh
laugh which sounded curiously strange
and artificial in the still room. And
that. too, was melOdramatic, she
thought--they always laugh harshly.
oh. why should she think of such
! things now?
She stopped and picked up the
check from the floor where II had
fallen. She had sent back the other
one. But she dare not send back this.
She needed il too desperately. Della
had TO be paid tomorrow and the milk
and ice bill were both overdue
A SiCkening sense of her helpless
ness possessed her. She must accept
this check and the letter that came
with teach word of which was a
lash to her pride and self-respect
Warren had written her many curt
letters-but never before one like this
II seemed almost as thought he had
WOrded il with the deliberate purpose
of humiliaung her as much as he
could
Was this the fate of other wives?
Must they endure such humiliation
simply because they we're dependent
upon their husbands for their support
and the support of their child? Did
many men take such brutal advantage
of this dependence as 10 write such
letter?
And Helen knew she must answer
this letter. She must acknowledge the
money and the letter with it, And she
| ne nc -
only make IT harder.
shall warm mp that creamed
Clipped beef for your lunch ?" asked
Della again coming to the door.
81 don't want any lunch today,
Della And don't interrupt me for a
while nOW-IVe some letters 20 write"
When Della had gone out grumbling
that people should "eat their meals,
Helen sat down at the desk and wrote:
Dear Warren: II isn't good for
either of MS for YOU 10 write me let
Ter like this. 1t is never good for any
one o. be Inundated as much as this
huuiIiates me such a feeling can't
killed my love for you--it seems moth
ing can do that. But if anything
.could-it would be this
The check l must keep because
need 1T SO desperately. You probably
knew that or you wouldn't have sent
III with EuE0 q reuter- ana you are
probably right I'm saying that I couldn't
earn my salt. That may be true now
but. Warren. il won't be true long.
am going 10 learn how TO do some
thing by which. If need be. 1 can sup
port myself and Winifre6
Even If T never have 20 do il. the
knowledge that I can VIII not only
restore my self-respect but viii make
YOU respect me more. You would not
have written such a letter had I not
been wholly depe ndent upon you. For
Won know me well enough 10 know
that If there was anything / could do
~ wouId not accept this check.
Probably YOU may call this letter
more herOiCs". but j think you Will
End IL - something even more than
that And in the meantime Warren.
don't write me another letter like this
one. viii take great deal from
you-and Z think the past has shown
that But there is limit 30 what the
most abject woman will endure from
the man she loyes-sO don't make il
too hard.
Winifred - well and T am running
things here on just a. little money as
/ possibly can ] am working at my
Jon" aS YOU 80 delicately expressed
49, and 7 shall not neglect H. But
from uoy on g am going to prepare
myself in some way 70 be self-sup-
porting And 7 know that with de-
termination and untiri1E courage
any woman can learn % DO that
HELEN.