Evening star., 1914-11-13

house was large enough to allow such such
comfort. He was to have two evenings
a week to do as he pleased-club, boys
or sick friend" Helen assented
quickly enough to this. She was TO
have the same privilege. John con-
ings, although in his heart he Wlsheo
that she did not care to vote. But ne
was just. Since she cared, such was
her privilege.
set Wednesday evening to go TO tne
theater. They would avoid the stay-at
home rut that most of their friends had
dropped into. Afterward they hao sup
per at a restaurant. Having read much
of wives who moped because theater
and suppers were omitted after mar
riage, John laid his plans carefully.
And then, before they had been mar
ried one year. he became aware tnat
Helen was not happy. Not unhappy.
either. She made thar plain; ana
She was bored. John only suspected II
for a while. 1t could not be possible
when he had so carefully eliminated all
chance Of boredom! But very soon sus-
picion became certainty. 1ar. ne cowfert. Ufe a..
able he had made her independent as
far as money was concerned. he duti-
fully took her to places OF amusement.
Was it possible that Helen dld not care
for him any more! he couio LII" i''
other explanation.
The Wednesday evenings that had pc
gun by being so gay had become mat
ter of fact. Helen really did NOT seen,
to care whether she went to tneater
or stayed at home, although ne ai"as
consulted her about the tickets ana
never bought them for play unless ne
was sure she wanted to see IL
And she took his presents, birthday
and Christmas, without a great snow OF
enthusiasm. though ne was aaMa IH "
careful to inclose the stores check. In
order that she might exchange any
thing she did not like. He noticed tnat
she never exchanged them. SO sne must
have liked them. .. h.
bored. He acknowledged 1t to himself
with horror. He could not understano.
He was sure that he still loved Helen.
At least when he thought OF ner pretty
face, cold and white in deatn. ne sniy
cred with fear. NO otner .ith him MA or That that
ever take her place Win hiii' VI '""'
But life had lost its SAVIOR. And that
is the most serious thing 1hat can
happen to man or woman. Even Ine
pretty. dainty breakfasts that Helen
never failed to give him had lost
charm There were times When he
sniffed rather enviously the coffee ana
rolls of the big, clean, White-Walieu' ~
quick service restaurant from "hlcn ne
had been so glad TO escape a. 'e ''iie
of his marriage. o,o,
Yet he and Helen never auarreied.
There was nothing over when TO
am.rre, Won couldn't imagine quar-
reIinp with Helen. She was always
pIeasant and even tempered. he kept
himself in like temper. and his con
sider.teness never failed. He was al
ways home on time Tor dihner. ne
never complained of anything she
nooted Not that there was ever any
,,usa for complaint. But he had
heard other mcn--Ned Jensen among
othe,s-rail because mutton came on
tho table two days in succession. And
Rosa Jensen had pertly told him that
If ne didn't like it he could get his
meals some place else ihat had nap
Dened in Johns bachelor days. He
had mentally decided that Rose Jen-
SEN would never suit him. And he
I'D mentalIy blamed Ned, too. He
cnuldn.t imagine himself objecting to
Hs1nn's bill of fare. and he couldn't
Imagine Helen telling him to like it
or lump 1t. ;;.,, :,
But now he wondered lrrltaoly if
an open quarrel were not preferable
fare or geniaity. But he didn't try
One evening he rode home on the
.1," with Ned Jensen. Ned had a
box of yiolets He explained that he
and Rose had quarrel and this was
the preliminary peace offering.
can always smooth her down with a
bunch of posies. chuckied Ned. she
John was trifie scornfu1 A year
before he would fairly have quivered
Then Ned got off and forgot the
flowers. John didn't see the box till