The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-05-14

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Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure Newspaper S~yndcate)

and have breakfast there?" when War
rem reappeared with wet, tousled hair.
It's a wretched morning. You ought
to stay in bed and nurse that cold. Oh,
are you going to shave?"
go ahead and order breakfast" as
he stropped his razor.
A notice on the door stated that as
many of the walters had enlisted,
meals would not be served in the room
except in case of illness. But now
that Warren had a cold, Helen rang
for breakfast without conjunction
Feel better" when shaved and
dressed, he threw himself into the big
chair before the fire.
From outside came the sudden,
shrill clamor of a fife and drum. Helen
ran to the window. A small troop of
English recruits was marching grimly
through the rain. Most of them were
mere boys, and Helen watched them
pass with the ache in her throat that
was always there when she saw these
clear.eyed, ruddy-cheeked youths start
of to war.
AS she turned from the window, she
was struck with the warmth and cheer,
compared with the scene outside. The
lights, the fire, and Warren reading in
the cozy chair. gave a note of home
like comfort to the hotel room.
Dear" STOPPING to brush his hair
with her cheek, we're going to have a
nice long Sunday all by ourselves.
Don't you think it seems coy here this
morning? After all there's nothing
like an open fire."
Huh, burns your face and freezes
your back"
A knock at the door and a waiter
entered with the breakfast tray.
will you have it here, ma'am?"
drawing a table before the fire.
Yes, but you needn't wait, I'll serve
it."
He left the tray on a chair. and Hell
en-, delighted with this added note Of
domesticity, laid the cloth and set the
table.
"Oh. these are the kind you love-"
raising the silver cover from a plate
Of toasted mullins"
How about the "%offee?" Warren felt
the coffee pot. Thought so; stone
cold"
Helen tipped the lid, but there was
not a sign of steam.
| Here, give it to me. No use send
Eng 1t back; rest Of the breakfast1l be-
cold before We get it," and STOPPING
over the crate, Warren damned the
coffee pot into the bed of glowing
Goals.
"Oh. dear, DON'T. Why. it's silver
plated-you'n ruin it,"
Let it alone" pushing her away.
That won't hurt it."
At the first faint simmer, Warren
tr%iumphantly lifted if off.
How about that" as he poured the
steaming coffee into his cup.
A crash! A scream from Helen!
The coffee pot lay on the floor, with a
dark pool Of coffee flooding the car
pet. Warren stood over it, still clutch.
ing the handle. The heat had melted
the soldering.
"Oh, it'll ruin the carpet" Helen
snatched a towel and frantically
mopped the dark stain.
well, this time it didn't work."
calmly, as he picked up the hardle-
less pot. Punch that bell and we'll
Just duplicate on the coffee order"
Helen thought %resentfully how DIFF
| ferent would have been his attitude.
how he would have fumed and ragged.
had there been the slightest pretext
for blaming her. Flushed and over
heated from STOPPING by the fire, she
rose from her knees with 6 muir
INJURED:
We'll, I'm glad that for once you
couldn't blame me-"
Hey, what's that" sharply.
Nothing" family rubbing the car.
pet with a fresh towel.
"What'd you say"
Hadn't I better try to wash out this
stain before it dries?"
That's all right about that STAIN
what'd you say just now"
Helen h~esitated. then with a touch
of recklessness:
Dear, I'm always blamed for every
thing, so I cant help feeling relieved
when something happens that you
can't blame me for"
That's a nice remark" snarled
Warren. Not content to let things run
smooth-are you? Want to raise q
row, hey? Well. right here's where you
nav for that little speech. Cold or no
cold, I'm going to have my breakfast
IN peace-downstairs. alone! You can
have yours here or do without-just
as YOU blame pleased"
And the door slammed after him,
leaving Helen to a morning OF repent
apce for her tactless remark.