South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-04-25
By MABEL HERBERT URNER.

noticing her desolation. Mr.. Walters
sat down beside her for a while and
told her OF the plans for the concert
that night. She had forgotten about
the concert. And this was the even
ing!
At $50 she went down to dress for
dinner. 10 be out OF Warren's way in
time for him 10 dress. She was Just
through when he entered. He opened
his trunk and began TO take out his
dinner coat and fresh linen without
even glancing toward her.
She felt there was nothing she could
say now that would help. so taking a
light wrap she went up TO walt In the
library.
When the second dinner gong had
struck he came TO the library door
with brief ready" At least for ap-
pearance sake he was keeping up the
form OF taking her down to meals.
The dinner was as silent. and for
Helen as uncomfortable as had been
the luncheon and breakfast
Then the stewards cleared the
tables brought in a platform and
placed IT at the end Of the long room.
moved forward the piano. and the
concert began. Small printed pro-
grams were passed around
Mrs A L. Russell. vocal selection"
was the first number. And stout lady
OF thirty-five, sang Annie Laurie a
little off key
At any other time Warren would
have whispered something scathing.
and humorous. He always kept Helen
cOnYulsed with his side remarks on
occasions like this, but now he main
tanned a stolid silence.
Mr.. George Hastings, recitation"
was the next. Mr.. Hastings was an
Englishman with the mistaken idea
that he could right.
The third was John O'Connor. Sc
lectiOns". AS big ford Irishman in
tweed suit took the stand someone
whispered, He's from the second
cabin"
But II did not matter where he was
from. for after the first verse he had"
his audience. 1t was only an Irish
song of a tipsy Irish workman. but
his personality was inimitable. Even
Warren's face relaxed into an appre-
ciative grin.
At the end Of the next verse War
rem threw back his head and laughed
without restraint. And when the song
was finished he Joined in the wild ap-
plause for another. This time it was
the complaint" Of an Irish servant
girl. and il was even more cOnvulsive
than the first.
by George. he's great" was War
ren's fervid comment. why. he
ought TO be a headliner. He'd make
fortune in vaudeville"
Yes, he's very good" murmured
Helen.
Good? Why the mans a genius.
And Helen knew that Warrens sui
len silence was broken. There Is moth
iry more upsetting TO naughty wrath
than something abSurdly funny. And
Warren had not been proof against
this IriShman's Iudicrous drollery.
And now that he had once unbent.
Helen felt he would not again resume
his attitude Of silent aloofness.
But curiously enough, Helen did not
feel elated. Looking back, his whole
attitude seemed childish and a little
absurd. Surely there was nothing big
or fine or manly about a man ignoring
his wife for a whole day and only be-
shining to speak" TO her after his
silence was forcefully upset by a comic
song
An hour ago there was nothing
Helen would not have done to have
broken down this barrier between
them. Now it was unquestionably
broken. for Warren commented freely
on the rest of the concert. Yet Helen
was not eagerly responsive.
Somehow, she herself was now Just
little aloof. And, perhaps, it was
for this reason that Warren seemed
almost 20 exert himself TO make anus
ing comments.
Helen was experiencing variety OF
analyze her feelings for Warren Just
then. And she was startled TO find
how cOldly impersOnal and critical
they were