The Washington herald., 1914-09-21

THE MARRIED LIFE OF HELEN and WARREN
Helen Is Goaded to Desperation When She Finds that
Warren Must Go to London.
By MABEL HERBERT. URNER.
Of "Their Married Life" Author Of "Ths Journal Of
Neglected Wife," The Wsman AlOas," Etc.
CCopyrlgA1 iNlJ

Clean.
Ought to be enough. Phew, I'm
tired" peeling off his coat and vest
As he threw them on a chair, his
glance fell on Helen's packed trunk,
which stood conspicuously by the
open door of her room.
why, what's all this?" gazing at
it with a puzzled frown. What the
devil"
"I'm all packed except a few
things I'll need in the morning"
You're packeda What in thun-
der Are you crazy?"
No, dear, but / would be If I'd
let you go on this trip alone" wrap
ping her hand-miror in an under
skirt and putting it in the tray.
For a moment he stared at her,
then turned away with a sneering
Don't be fooli Cut that stage
acting and help pack ny suitcase"
"1t's already packed. Do you
want to take that gray sweater?
left It there on the chair" deftly ft-
ting in her bedroom slippers.
See here, we'll settle this right
now! I've got enough to put up
with without any new capers from
you"
Helen rose from the trunk and
turned to him with a fierce inten-
sity.
Warren, I'm going! I've thought
it all out. You've a stateroom alone
you can easily get another pas
sage. But if you won't do that
shall go any way. I've enough mon
ey of my own"
Have you gone stark, staring
mad?" beloved Warren.
There's no use roaring at me.
This time it won't help. I'm going
on the ST. Paul tomorrow-if ! have
to go steerage. Dear" she laid a
pleading hand on his arm, 1--WE new
er felt about anything as l do about
this. I'm desperate-can't you see
that? can endure anything but
the thought of your taking this trip
alone"
Warren looked at her in aston
ishment. 1t was a phase OF her
character he had never seen.
In the mildest and meekest woman
there is always the possibility of a
desperation, an emotional reckless
ness that may never oe aroused. To-
night it had been aroused in Helen.
Whatever she might feel tomorrow,
tonight she had this reckless cour-
age that knew no fear. She could
have hurled herself from the win
dow without tremor.
II Warren went alone he might
never return, he might in some way
become involved in the war-it was
this thought that impeIled her.
With a muttered oath Warren
strobe into the library and began
sorting over some papers he was to
take with him. He did not speak
or even glance toward Helen again.
The papers packed, still in a glow
ering silence he took his bath and
threw himself heavily into bed.
When Helen crept in beside him.
she pressed a wistful. caressing
cheek against his shoulder as he lay
with his back toward her. But he
shook her off with a savage:
Let me alone. will you?"
With a sigh she turned away. For
hours she lay watching the white
curtain as it futtered out in the
faint light from the street.
There is nothing so intimidatins,
so fatal to self-conhdencs, as a
sleepless night, and gradually Helen
felt her courage weakening. Her
plans so boldly conceived now
seemed impossible.
Yet for Warren TO go alone-to
take the risks she felt he would take
If she were not with him. She turn
ed and threw her arm about him
with a protective tenderness. softly
kissing his hair and neck and shoul-
der until he stirred uneaSily in his
sleep.
1t was dawn before Helen's tor
turing thoughts grew confused.
=" A street in a foreign city
crowded with a riotous mob. Was
it London? Soldiers with glitter
ing bayonets were shouting at some
thing overhead-an aeroplane. The
man leaning out of it was-Warren.
The soldiers took alma crash
the machine shot down
See here, it's almost seven"
Warren was standing by the bed in
his bathrobe. IF We sail at noon
you can't lie there all day"
Dazed. bewildered, Helen gazed
up at him. The sound of his words
was still in the air, IF we sail at
noon" Then her mind cleared.
"Warrenr she drew him down to
the bed beside her. you said we.
You mean-you arc"
Huh, from the way you ranted
last night haven't much choice"
oh, you have-you have" as she
clung to him. Il was desperate last
night-but l couldn't have carried it
through. But, oh, to have you take
me willingly" The word ended in
an ecstatic sob.
well, I've mulled it over. It'll
be about as cheap 10 take you as to
be cabling back every hour. Now
hustle-youll have to move fastT
And, lodging Helen's clinging
arms, the next moment Warren was
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