The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1915-07-29

Mabel n. Urner. darted in, closed
the door, locked
and leaned against it, trembling with
and terror.
Don't let him I'M" Historically. "If
he comes after me-oh, don't let him
In"
Without stopping to question her,
Helen drew her into her room, and
snatched from the closet bathrobe
and slippers.
Come over here by the radiator.
You shouldn't have come down those
stone steps in your bare feet!" Helen's
voice was soothingly matter of fact.
"Oh, l didn't have time-I was in
bed when he came in" incoherently.
I'm afraid of him! Oh, can't go
back-I'm never going back!"
Il wouldn't talk about it now," wrap
ping the robe around her. Get warm
first; you're chilled through. Would
you like a little brandy"
Mono" with shuddering revul-
sion, for alcohol was the cause of her
husbands brutality. "Oh. you won't
let him in-say that you WON'T"
"Of course not" reassuringly, "but
he'll not come down here. II he's
been drinking, he won't want US to
see him"
"Oh, he wouldn't care. He doesn't
care for anything when he's like this.
Look" barring her arm to a purple
bruise on the white skin. "Oh, what
ever he says-you won't let him in ?"
Il told you / wouldn't! Wait, I'll
tell Mr.. Curtis. No, keep that around
you-youre shivering."
Ever since the night Mr.. Colburn
had shot himself, Helen had been
vaguely apprehensive; and now Mrs.
Colburn's dramatic appearance seemed
but the elimination of her fears.
That Warren would be strongly OPP
posed to getting mixed up in any fam
lily trouble Helen knew, and she ap-
preached him with much misgiving.
Dear, it's Mrs. Colburn! He's been
drinking again-she's afraid he'll come
after her. We've mustn't let him in
If he does"
why on earth did she come down
here?" sternly. ITO rope us into a
family row."
she doesn't know anyone else in
the house. She says he's wild-he
drove her out in her bare feet!"
Huh, one of these hysterical wom-
en-! Don't know much about Colburn,
but from what I've seen of him he
seems to be fairly decent sort"
She says he is-except when he's
drinking. You know that night he
tried to kill himself"
What's she going to do? She
can't stay here all night"
Yes, she can-in my room! Well
have to let her stay! oh, what's
that?" as the bell rang DANGEROUSLY.
How do you know it's her
brusquely shaking her off.
From the shadowy hall Helen lis.
tened tensely as he opened the door.
rs Mrs. Colburn here?" 1t was the
night-elevator boy. "Mr Colburn
would like to see her"
Very well, I'll give her the mes
sage" gruffiy slamming the door.
Infinitely relieved, Helen ran back
to Mrs. Colburn, who was crouching
by the radiator in wide-eyed terror.
He only sent the elevator boy,
soothingly. You see, he's not com
ing himself knew he wouldn't. Now
lie down; you're all a-quiver."
But she was still pathetically agi.
tated.
"I'll heat you a glass of milk. That's
quieting, and maybe after while you
can get a little Sleep"
sleep? You think l can sleep a?
Obi" with a convulsive start as the
phone trembled put alarmingly shrill
In the night quiet. "Oh, that's he-l
know it is! won't speak to him, y
Historically, Il can't"
Warren was taking down the re-
ceiver when Helen ran in with whis-
pered, Say she's all unstrung! She
can't come to the phone!"
Nice mess you're getting us in
Then sharply, "Hellol Yes.
Mrs. Colburn can't come to
the phone now. She's ill-Mrs. Curtis
has her In bed. She'll be up as soon
as she feels better" abruptly cutting
of.
From the door of Helen's room Mrs.
Colburn had listened terrorized.
He'll come down himself next, -
frantically. oh, l know he Will"
IF he does, you won't have to see
him." Helen assured her. Now try
to get quiet-try to relax. You're only
working yourself up"
Helen brought her the warm milk,
hut she was too thoroughly unstruns