The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-06-11


never made an engagement, yet l
came to expect him every Wednesday
at fiye-I lived for that hour. we
never talked mean about this. Yet
we both knew.
THE day he left for the War-he
came to say good-by. He tried 10
make it a conventional call-but |
couldn't. | was the one to break
down. He said there was only one
solution-fOr him not to come back. y
Her voice broke. She looked at
Helen with hopeless eyes,
ooh, how I've watched the papers.
But there's been nothing until yes
terday."
And yet" murmured Helen, IF
you had married him, wouldn't Civ.
ing him up now be even harder than
it ISL
Harder" fercely If we'd had
six years of happiness, would our
lives have been wasted? Six years
with him. I'd barter my soul for
one!"
She was walking feverishly about
the room, her long hair partly un-
! bound.
"Oh, cant stand this hysteri-
cally. 81 must know" turning desper-
ately to the desk phone. Mono, |
mustn't phone Don't let me-"
q Can't l phone for YOU" fall
tered Helen.
Oh looking at her wildly, why
didn't l think of that? Eight-two-six-
nine Mayfair excitedly. ASK for
Lieutenant - No-wait, cam give
you his name."
Need know his name? Couldn't
say the lieutenant?'
"Yes-yes, eagerly, thrusting the
receiver into Helens hand.
FREDERICKSBURG Mayfair?
would like to know how the lieuten.
ant is
lieutenant Carson died this morn
ing at eleven thirty" came the an
swer
Although he Immediately rang off,
Helen still held the receiver. How
could she tell her? What words
would sound the least brutal?
But the womans intuition needed
no words.
When did he die?" her voice was
curiously quie+.
"At eleven thirty
THAT was after / drove by this
morning. He was there them
might have seen him." Then abrupt.
ly, You'll understand if | ask you to
go now, won't you? think Id rather
be alone
"Oh, can't leave, you know, fright.
ened at her strange quietness.| you
mustn't be alone. Let me stay with
you or send for someone"
She shook her head. Il couldn t
have anyone here without telling
them. But you needn't be anxious.
I'm all right. In way" dreamily, I'm
nearer to him now than ever was.
He's more mine now than he is
hers"
But later, In the night, if you
should need one-will you let me
know? Promise me that can't bear
to think of you here alone"
Yes, | promise"
And with that Helen had to be
content. She went back down the
hall haunted by the picture of that
woman alone with her grief
When she opened the door she start.
ed with dismay at the sound of War
rem Whistling. She had not thought
he would be home, and just now she
shrank from meeting him She dread
ed his brusque questioning.
He was in the bedroom, his foot on
a chair, brushing the bottoms of his
trousers.
"Hello!" without looking up. This
blamed London mud sticks like --''
Then he saw her face. What the
deuces the matter now?"
"Oh, dear, 1--we been with the
woman next door, trying to hide her
face against his unresponsive arm.
Who's the woman next door," ell
bowling her away, the whiskbroom in
his hand. What are you sniveling
about, anyway"
IL was hard to tell such a story
while Warren, grimly unsympathetic,
brushed his clothes, put on a fresh
collar and cleaned his nails. Helen
stumbled through it brokenly.
Told all that yarn to Won, ehq
Sounds like it was made out of whole
cloth. Guess there's lot she didn't
tell
Warren, stop!" turning on him
Hereby. "oh, shouldn't have told
you! I might have known Won
wouldn't understand. She's refined
delicate"
Huh" attacking HIS hair savage.
~, brush in each hand, not much
deiicacy in spelling off that tale to a
stranger"
on. how can you be so hard!'
passionately. Sometimes think YOU
haven't any
Well, I'm not Haunting my feelings
IN eVerybody's face. I've always said