News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-07-14

doesn't care-shes always with other
men.
'Then he began coming here. He
never made an engagement, yet
came to. expect him every Wednesday
at fiveAI 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 a conventional call-but
couldn't. l 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,
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 is?"
'Harder?" fiercely. 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 I'M
bound
ooh, l can't stand this" hysteri-
cally. 81 must know" turning desper-
ately to the desk phone. Mono, /
mustn't phone. Don't let mel"
Ct Can't phone for your" 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, cant give
you his name!"
Need l know his name? Couldn't l
say the lieutenant
"Yes-yes,' eagerly, thrusting the
receiver into Helen's hand.
FREDERICKSBURG Mayfair?
would like to know how the Iieuten-
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 l ask you to
go now, won't you? l 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. 81 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 1 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"
Eyes, / 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
ne would be home, and just now she
5hrank from meeting him She dread
I'd his brusque questioning.
He was in the bedroom, his foot on
/ chair, brushing the bottoms of his
rousers.
"Hello!" without looking up. This |
planned London mud sticks like -"
Then he saw her face What the |
leuce's the matter now"
''Oh, dear, 1--we been with the /
woman next door," trying to hide her
ace against his unresp onsive arm.
who's the woman next door," ell
lowing her away, the whiskbroom in
is hand. What. are you sniveling
bout, anyway"
1t was hard to tell such a story
Thile Warren, grimly unsympathetic,
rushed his clothes, put on a fresh
ollar and cleaned his nails. Helen
through it brokenly.
Told all that yarn to you, Ell?
ounds like it was made out of whole
10th. Guess there's a lot she didn't
ELL"
Warren, stop" turning on him
ercely. 'Oh, 1 shouldn't have told
on! Il might have known you
ouldn't understand. She's refined,
elicate-"
Huh" attacking his hair savage
: a brush in each hand, mot much
efficacy in spelling off that tale to a
ranger
"Oh, how can you be so nardl"
lssionately. Sometimes l think you
avent any"
We'll, I'm not Haunting my feelings
everybody's face. I've always said
omen had no sense of reticence.
hink a man would Dleat out story
Re that? Not if you grilled him on