The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-01-20

going to get up and take shower
before you do"
Huh" contemptuously, I'll believe
that when see it,
He ate his grapefruit in grumpy
silence. the paper propped up before
him. His cereal he pushed away with
an irascible whats the matter with
that cream? Looks like it's blued!"
HE didn't leave nothin' but milk
this mornin'. sir. That's the top of
the bottle" volunteered Emma, as she
came in with the bacon and eggs.
Helen poured the coffee and served
Warren with two eggs and three
pieces of bacon, and herself with one
egg and two pieces of bacon This
was their regulation breakfast prac-
tically the year around.
"Why in thunder can't I ever get
bacon cooked the way want it? This
stuff's too crisp" rapping it with his
fork.
Dear. she does cook yours less.
That doesn't look very well DONE"
you mean that's the way YOU
want it burnt to a shrivel How much
nourishment do you thinks in that?
If l didn't get a good square lunch
I'd not go far on this breakfast"
"Why, dear. you know l want you
to have everything just as you want
it,
Huh, l know that bluff. You take
mighty good care to have things
YOUR way. You want your bacon
like dried chips, and your boiled eggs
hard as bullets-so I've got to stand
for the same kind of fodder"
Helen did not try to meet this IT,
rade with argument. Instead she rang
for the maid.
Emma" as the girl came to the
door, "after this don't cook any of the
bacon SO much. I'll take mine the
same as Mr. Curtis. Cut it thicker
and don't crisp it, ~e~
But even this effort at Cancellation
Warren ignored. Having gulped down
his second cup of coffee, he took up
his paper, pushed back his chair, and
strobe out into the hall.
For a moment Helen's hurt resent
ment kept her from running after him.
He was getting into his overcoat. She
i heard the rattle of his cane as he took
1t from the rack-then the opening OF
| the hall door.
"Warren!" She darted after him.
but the door had closed ~.
Even then she felt he would come
backs to kiss her goodbye, with an
ironical, Thought I'd gone, eh?"
The seconds passed. She opened
the door. He was not standing be-
fore the elevator. The hall was
empty.
"Shall I put this cloth in the wash,
ma'am-or will it do for lunch?" as
Helen, heartsick, passed the dining
room.
"Yes-no, oh, it doesn't matter"
running to the front room window.
A delivery boy with basket, a
couple of girls hurrying to work,
shambling old man in a wind-whipped,
tthreadbare coat-except for these the
street was empty. Warren had al
ready turned the corner.
1t was foolish to feel so wretched,
she told herself with passionate reas-
surance. She had done nothing to
| She must not let this spoil her day.
But Helen had the feminine trait of
magnifying the thing that distressed
her by the simple process of brooding
| BY noon she had visions of Warren
leaving her altogether. and of herself
facing a loveless and destitute old
age. The impulse to "do something"
to avert these threatening calamities
was irresistible. She could not long
er keep away from the phone. She
must call him up before he went to
lunch.
| His stenographer answered.
Eyes, Mrs. Curtis, Mr.. Curtis is
right here. Just moment"
"Hello!" it was Warren's voice, curt
and hurried.
ooh, dear, couldn't help calling
you up" quiveringly. Tin awfully
sorry about that bacon"
"Eh, what's that?'
"I-l'm so sorry about the bacon"
! talk up, l can't hear you," i'm
patiently. "Wait a minute, Miss Mid
dleton," to his stenographer, who was
evidently tipping. Now, what is it,"
| Something in the curt matter-of-
factness of his voice helped restore
Helen's sense of proportion.
| ooh, IL" laundering desperately
for something to say, Il can't find
the name of that laundry. / thought
maybe you'd have it down there"
"Oh," in impatient disgust, "I-can't