Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-06-11


never made an engagement, yet
came to expect him every Wednesday
at five-I lived for that hour. We
never talked-I mean about this. Yet
we both knew.
"The day he left for the war-he
came to say good-by. He tried to
make it conventional call-but 1
couldn't. 1 was the one to break
down. He said there was only one
solution-for him not to come back"
Her voice broke. She looked at
Helen with hopeless eyes.
"Oh, 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 is?"
Harder" fiercely. IF we'd mad
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, I can't stand this" hysteri-
cally. II must know" turning desper-
ately to the desk phone. Mono. 1
mustn't phone. Don't let mel"
Il Can't / phone for you?" fall
tered Helen.
"Oh," looking at her wildly. why
didn't I think of that? Eight-two-six-
nine Mayfair excitedly. ASK for
Lieutenant - No-wait, can't give
you his name!"
Need l know his name? CouldntI
say the lieutenant?'
"Yes-yes." eagerly, thrusting the
receiver into Helen's hand.
"Eight-two-six-nine Mayfair? L
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 woman's 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 then-I
might have seen him!" Then abrupt
ly, You'll understand If ask you to
go now, won't you? think I'd 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. q couldn't
have anyone here without telling
them. But you needn't be anxious.
I'm all right. In a way. dreamily. I'm
nearer to him now than l ever was.
He's more mine now than he IS
hers
But later. in the night. IL you
should need one-win you let me
know? Promise me that! can't bear
to think of you here alone"
Yes, I promise
And with that Helen had 70 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
chair. brushing the bottoms of his
trousers.
"Hello!" without looking up This
blamed London mud sticks like -"
Then he saw her face. What the
deuce's 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"
1t was hard to tell such story
while Warren, grimIy unsympathetic,
brushed his clothes. put on a fresh
collar and cleaned his nails. Helen
stumbled through it brokenly.
Told all that yarn to you, eh?
Sounds like it was made out of whole
cloth. Guess there's a lot she didn't
tell"
Warren, stop!" turning on him
fiercely. "Oh, / shouldn't have told
you! | might have known you
wouldn't understand She's refined,
delicate"
Huh,' attacking his hair savage
ly. a brush in each hand, mot much
delicacy in spelling off that tale to
stranger
"Oh. how can you be so nard!"
passionately. Sometimes think you
haven't any"
We'll, I'm not Haunting my feelings
in nNnr1h1adat.s. Ilra nI,