South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-10
By MABEL HERBERT URNER.

: through her lingerie. This was one
of her few extravagances, but one she
could not quite give up.
She bought by the ounce the best
violet sachet, never changing the odor,
and made little castings out of odd
scraps OF silk and ribbon. In this way
everything about her was swoetly
| fragrant without any OF the obnoxious
strength of perfume poured on"
Warrens telegram had said $40.
| That meant the arrival of the train It
would take at least fifteen minutes to
get his trunk on the taxi and from
| twenty 10 thirty minutes more from
! the station home. SO Helen was
counting on his being there a few
minutes before o. She had arranged
to have dinner at $50. That would
give him time to rest and freshen up
q bit.
And ii was TO be a most wonderful
dinner Never had she prepared for
one with more care. Only the things
! Warren particularly liked, served in
| the way he most liked them. Bisque
tomato soup, broileo guinea hen, as
paragus, homemade currant Jelly
endive salad, and a fruit pudding made
from his favorite recipe.
1t was an eNtrdvagant dinner-but
il was for WaIren's homecoming.
Della is EntIused.
Even Della had caught the infection
mood of the celebration. Although
secretly she had never liked Warren,
yet she was devoted to Helen, and to
see her so radiantly happy could not
but put her in a good humor.
"Oh, Della, we must have some salt
ed almonds. I forgot those entirely
and Mr.. Curtis loves them so! Can't
you run over to the delicatessen's?
They have them in glass jars. And
be sure that they're fresh. And, oh,
see if you can't get a small can of
those Italian palmetos. Mr.. Curtis is
very fond of them, and they look SO
pretty on the table"
Ii was now q quarter past five. IL
the train was not late, Warren was al
ready here. Helen f1uttered excitedly
around the rooms. putting the last
finishing touches to everything. Ev-
cry now and then she ran into her
dresser, to once more fluff up her hair
and FIX.
She had laid an old smoking jacket
of Warren's out on the bed in case his
trunk should not come with him. And
now she stopped over and pressed her
cheek against it. The rought feel of
the cloth and the faint fragrance Of
tobacco that still chung about it-how
dearly familiar it seemed! On, how
lOng-hOw very long since she had felt
the strength OF his arms about her.
But nOw-nOw it would be only few
moments more!
AS the minute hand neared six she
took up her stand before the window.
might be the one. But they all sped
by. Six o'clock-and still no cab
drew up at the door below. Five min
utes after six-ten minutes after!
Surely he would have 'phOned if he
had been delayed.
She began TO grow sick with fear |
Her hands were icy cold. And now
she raised the window and leaned out |
that she might see further down the |
street. But with her bare back and |
light gown she was soon chilled !
through. Suddenly a taxicab with a
trunk on top whirled into view. Her /
heart leapt with the certainty that this |
was he-and then stood still as it too, |
passed on.
Della called her into the dining |
room for q moment, and when she 4
hurried back TO the window there was I
a taxicab at the door. The driver was
hauling down a trunk from the top, /
and Warren was standing there, his |
suitcase on the sidewalk beside him.
Now he put his cane under his arm /
while he felt IL his pocket for some |
change. Oh, that dear familiar ges-
ture! Just the line OF his back and |
shoulder as he drew out a handful of /
silver and stopped over to look at II |
under the light. All the old spell of /
his personality was over her again.
The cabman, who had carried the |
trunk into the hall. now came running
back. Warren paid him. picked up |
his suitcase and hurried in
There was a breathless painting mo-
ment in which Helen turned from the |
window and stood in the center Of the |
room, her hands clasping tight. And 1
then-then the door Opened-and she |
was in Warren's arms, sobbing brok-
emily.
For a moment he held her in silence |
10 her the thrilled silence of which |
she had dreamed. And then as she
still sObbed on, he patted her on the
shoulder with an indulgent:
'There-there now, none of that"
"Oh, dear-I can't help II. I'm so
glad-oh, I'm so glad you're back"