South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-01-21
A BENEFIT CONCERT AT
THE SUMMER HOTEL IN
WHICH HELEN TAKES PART

Tuxedo when the occasion was not too
formal
Ready, Kitten?"
Helen flushed with pleasure Kit
ten" was one of the most a1fectiOnate
names for her and one he rarely used
now. With womanS quick intuition
she knew it was because she was be-
comingly gowned and looked unusual
ly young and girlish. The desire to
make him admit this, to hear him
put it into words was irresistible, so
she asked shyly:
do | look all right, dear?"
First rate!' which from him was
eXtravagant praise.
Impulsively she ran to him and laid
her flushed cheek against his cool,
starched shirt front
Helen Panic Stricken.
'Be careful! You'll get powder all
over my coat
mo, l won't Do let me stay here
moment. I'm so frightened about
singing. | want to feel some of your
strength" and she put her hand to his
shoulder and tugged at his suspender,
a trick of hers to which he submitted
with the indifference of a big New
feundland dog toward child play
ing with its collar.
ooh, dear, I'm almost sorry 1 prom
ised / would! If l should break down
oh, it would be dreadful"
NONSENSE You'll do as well as
the rest of them" and he shook her
off and examined the lapels of his coat
for traces Of powder.
"Oh, there is a little, just wee
Bit
wait" and she reached for a
brush. Quickly she brushed il off,
picked a long, shining hair from his
sleeve Strengthened his tie and then
drew his head down and kissed him on
the neck.
With unusual tolerance he submit
ted to these attentions. There was
thrill of mingled Joy and pain in
Helen's heart Was il only when she
looked particularly attractive that he
was willing to be purred over?
Down Stairs.
Yet how little difference his APP
pearance made TO her. Her love was
always the same. Whether he was an
a bath robe. a smoking jacket. without
his collar and in his stockinged feet
Ga most unalluring combination or
warm or dusty and travel stained, to
her nothing mattered. 1t was the
man she loved.
Now come on down" as she turned
to the mirror for the finishing touches
to her hair You're all right"
Down stairs they found everything
in the buzz of final preparation Al
most all the seats were already hlled
and Mrs. Stevens in her black chiffon
evening gown was sweeping Otticiously
about radiant with the success or her
plans.
The first number was a piano solo
by Miss Haskell the second a mando-
lin duet by two college boys, and the
third n darkey song by Mrs. stevens.
Helen. who was sitting beside War
rem toward the back OF The room,
slipped a cold little hand into his. As
the time for her own number drew
near her heart beat faster and faster.
What if she should break dOwn-be-
come panic stricken before all these
people
Although IL was only an informal
benefit concern yet she could not have
been more frightened nor could *
have seemed more vitality important
had Ii been her debut in grand opera
Helen Sings.
At last Mrs. Stevens announced " "A
Summer Night, a soprano solo by
Mrs Warren Curtis
Warren released her hand with a
strong comforting pressure, and rose
10 let her pass into the aisle.
When from the little impromptu
platform Helen confronted the rows
of faces everything blurred before
her How she sang that first song she
never knew AS matter q fact she
did not sing II very well, and the APP
tribute to her delicate girlish per-
sonality than 10 the song itself.
But The1 she started De hovn's