South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-05-06
x * X X X \ X X X X X
THIRD YEAR OF MAR
RIED LIFE.
= BY MABEL HERBERT URNER E,

X X X x X X X X x X x X X
Dear. didn't YOU tell her to come
as soon as she could this morning.
asked Helen. as Warren shrugged into
his overcOat in the hall.
Yes. but / don't suppose she'll get
here before 10" He took the cigar
from his mouth and gave her a hasty
kiss I'll call YOU up around IL 10
find out II she comes. But she'll turn
I'D all right It's harder for them TO
get a job when they're that age
Helen went back 10 clear of the
breakfast dishes. She piled them in
the sink and left them for the new
girl 70 wash. Then she busted the
front room. and il was 10 before she
realized IT, Yet Mary O'COnnOr had
lot come.
But at II the doorbeH rang. ana
with a sigh of relief. Helen hurried
to answer IL.
II was Mary OConnor. with a suit
case. package and umbrella She was
smiling broadly. But instantly Helen
felt something was wrOng.-She look
ed different. somehow, and her voice
was different.
Good morning. good morning" she
repeatedly said Il told your husband
I'd be here this morning: so here I
am" setting down her suitcase and
bundle and leaning heavily against
the wall. But 7 can't begin work to-
day. I'll leave these things and come
IN the morning.
You can't begin today?" Helen ex-
claimed in establishment. Why, I've
been depending upon you. l haven't
any one 10 do the work"
But you see. dearie"-Helen start
ed IN amazement at this term, but
Mary OConnOr went on blandly-'you
see. I've got TO go over 20 Brooklyn
today on some business. / really can't
come fore tomorrow"
Then why didn't you tell us that
yesterday" persisted Helen. You
promised Mr.. Curtis you'd be here the
first thing this morning
$50 I did. dearie with a smile that
now seemed To ELLEN curiOusly inane.
and I'm here amt ."
Just then Helen got a whiff of her
breath. She had been drinking. II
was unmistakable. Helen drew back
with feeling Of unmingled dismay.
disgust and pity. She remembered
what Warren had said about 80 many
middle-aged servants drinking
What should she do2 Should she
discharge her now? Yet she had such
excellent references Could this be
only an incident which might not Oc-
cur again? With a good home and
steady work she might be all right.
In a second all this flashed through
Helen's mind. while Mary O'COnnOr
still leaned against the wall and
smiled namely at her.
At least she would keep her Until
she could telephone Warren. If he
would only cOme-he would know
what TO do
Where shall put my things,
dearie ." asked Mary.
Helen shrank from the obnoxious
'dearie'. but it would be useless to
reprOve her now.
You can set them in here. Mary"
opening the door Of the maids room.
But ] don't want YOU 10 go just vet
Mr. Curtis is coming home in a few
moments and want you to speak to
him first"
'All right" amiably "but I've got
friend down stairs. Mrs. Casey. She's
q very fine woman" conhdentially.
she owns three houses in Newark
and her daughter took a beauty prize.
! worked for Mrs Casey two years.
I'd like for YOU 10 meet her. and I
don't want 90 keep her down stairs.
Dearie. won't YOU send for her to
come up"
why - why. yes" stammered
Helen, more bewildered than ever
What did IL mean? Who was Mrs
Casey and why was she waiting down
stairs? At any rate, she would have
10 let her come up.
Before she could reach the telephone
the bell rang shrilly. Ii was the hall
boys voice
Mrs. Curtis. there's a woman wait
ing here who wants To know il Mary
O'COnnor is coming down"
You can tell her TO come up and
wait here" said Helen
And when moment later Helen
opened the door. this time she was
almost frightened al the weird look
ing woman that stood there. pom
derOusly fat woman in a shabby black
dress. with a red blotChed face. under
bedraggled black bonnet. She came
in heavily, without speaking
This is Mrs. Casey" beamed Mary.
she owns three houses in Newark
and l worked for her two years. didn't
i"
That she did" in a deep base
voice She's a fine girl too"
viii you both wait in here ?" fall
fered Helen. 1--we got TO tele-
phone a moment"
All right dearie." assented Mary.
cheerfully. we can wait bit. just
SO / gets to Brooklyn fore the bank
closes You see I've a little savings
hank account over there, and I've got
70 tend TO that"
Leaving the two women sitting side
by side In the dining room, Helen
hurried In 10 the telephone, closing
the door so they could not hear. In
second she had called up Warren's
Office and had him ON the wire
"Oh. the most awful thing has han
pened." eXCitedly. That woman has
come and she's been drinking, Oh
she talks So queer And the most