South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-05-30
Their Married
Life.
THE THIRD YEAR.
BY MABEL HERBERT URNER.

We'll, 1 heard today that Randall
has lost his job" announced Warren
at the dinner table.
Helen. who was serving the salad,
looked up with a gasp of dismay.
"Oh, you don't mean that he's out of
Crane & Barker's?"
That's chat I said, wasn't it?
Pretty hard on his family
But Warren-tell me about il,
Why I thought he was almost one
of the firm. and he's been there so
llong-surely not one dreamed"
"Oh. yes; I've been hearing rumors
for some time. Since Barker died
there's been a lot Of changes there.
Edwards told me last summer he
wouldn't be surprised if they got Ran
dali out sooner or later"
But l thought he was invaluable to
them? Hasn't he done most OF their
buying for years?"
"Nobodys invaluable 10 any firm
these days. Randalrs over fifty. he's
worked up to pretty good salary.
and now they want TO get in young
er and cheaper man."
Surely they wouldn't discharge him
on account of his age-after he's been
with them all these years and helped
build up the busineSs?"
That's what they're doing every
day-not only Crane g. Barker, but
nine-tenths Of the other firms. Loyalty
to old employees isn't a business asset
in this country"
But dear, what will the Randalls
do? Do you think he'll get another
position that will pay him as we'll %
IF he gets anything at all. he's
lucky. They're not taking on men OF
that age now"
"And Mrs. Randall and the chill
Yes, and l guess they havnt saved
anything. They've always lived right
up TO his income"
do you know what he was get
ting?" asked Helen.
About four or five thousand a year.
But they've lived WELL and he as good
as told me some time ago that he
hadn't been able to save. If he had
few thousand dollars it'd be a mighty
big help in getting in some other con-
Germ or even starting in a small way
for himself. He's square, and every
body in his line likes him. But he
doesn't stand much chance now with
out any capital"
And Mrs. Randall murmured
Helen again. oh / can't help think
ing of her. She's so proud-it'n al
most kill her" Then with a sudden
impulse. Would it be all right for me
to go to see her? Oh, L should love
to. if l thought she wouldn't think it
merely curiosity. Do you think she
would?"
Helen Calls on Mrs. Randall.
81 don't know she might" admitted
Warren. You never can tell how a
woman will take things. You'll have
TO decide that for yourself"
All that evening and the next day
Helen was haunted with the thought
of this overwhelming misfortune that
l,T1
not know if it was customary to call
on ones friends at such a time, but
the thought that she might be some
help or comfort finally decided her to
go, even at the risk of being misunder-
stood.
1t was just { little after five when
she reached the Randall's apartment,
and the trim maid ushered her in.
The moment she entered, Helen
seemed to feel the atmosphere Of
suppressed tragedy, although there
was nothing in the surroundings to
suggest 1t: The front room where
she waited was in its usual exquisite
order. red-berried plant with
red satin bow and pile of Christmas
cards on the table were lingering
remnants of the holidays. that con-
trasted curiously with the tense brood
ing silence.
Helen remembered Of having once
called in a house after a funeral. The
blinds were all up, everything was as
usual, yet she had been wildly con-
scious of the atmosphere of death.
A swish of skirts in the next room
and Mrs. Randall entered. She SEEM
ed to have aged ten years since Helen
saw her last, but she greeted her as
though nothing had happened.
For several moments their CONVEX
sation was only that of a formal after
pnon felt r1OW that IA
had made mistake in coming. She
knew Ii must be torture for Mrs Ran
dali to sit tkete and talk Of trivial,
impersonal things. And since she did
not refer TO her husband and the loss
of his position, Helen of course could
not.
"Yes, my little niece from Albany
spent the holidays with u.s." Mrs
Randall was saying conventionally.
She's just Eleanor's age. This was
her first VISIT TO New York, and we
think she enjoyed it."
Just here, to Helen's surprise, Mr..
Randall appeared at the door. He
was evidently on his way out, for he
had his coat and hat.
''Mollie, where did you put those
papers? I'd better take them"
Then seeing Helen, he came for
ward and greeted her cordially. But
Helen felt that his manner was
forced. He, too, seemed older, there
were anxious, haggard lines in his face
that she had never noticed before.
When a few moments later the outer
door closed after him, Mrs. Randall, I
who had gone with him into the hall, |
came back, threw herself on the couch 4
and burst into tears
"Oh, you know, of course" she Sob /
bed. Everybody knows! At first L
wanted 10 pretend that nothing had
happened-but l can't can't. L