Bogalusa enterprise. [volume] (Bogalusa, La.) 1914-1918, 1916-07-04

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.
"Why in thunder can't l ever get
bacon cooked the way want it? This
stuff's burnt to a crisp" rapping it
with his fork.
Dear, she does cook yours less.
That doesn't look very we'll done"
"You mean that's the way you want
it-burnt to a shrivel. How much
nourishment do you thinks in that? II
l didn't get good square lunch-rd
not 60 far on this breakfast"
"Why, dear, you know l want you
to have everything just as you want
it."
"Huh. 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 TRADE
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. Ill take mine the
same as Mr.. Curtis. Cut it thicker
and don't crisp II"
But even this effort at Cancellation
Warren ignored. Having gulped down
his second cup of coffee, he took ur
his paper. pushed back his chair, and
strobe out into the hall.
For moment Helen's hurt resent
ment kept her from running after him
He was getting into his overcoat. She
heard the rattle Of his cane as he tool
it 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
back to kiss her good-by, with az
ironical, Thought Id gone, eh?"
The seconds passed. She opened thu
door. He was not standing before the
elevator. The hall was empty.
Shall put this cloth In the wash
ma'am-or will it do for lunch?" as
Helen. heartsick, passed the dining
room.
"Yes-oh, no, it doesn't matter,
running to the front room window.
| A delivery boy with basket. :
couple Of girls hurrying to work, 9
shambling old man in a wind-whipped
threadbare coat-except for these thu
street was empty. Warren had al
ready turned the corner.
It was foolish to feel so wretched
she told herself with passionate reas
surance. She had done nothing to irri
tate him. It was not her fault. Sht
must not let this spoil her day.
But Helen had the feminine trail
Of magnifying the thing that dis
tressed her by the simple process o.
brooding.
BY noon she had visions of Warner
leaving her altogether. and Of herse'
facing q loveless and destitute o
age. The impulse to do somethin,
to avert these threatening calamiti>
was irresistible. She could no longe
keep away from the phone. She mus
call him up before he went to lunch.
His stenographer answered.
Eyes. Mrs. Curtis. Mr.. Curtis Il
right here. Just q moment"
"Hello!" It was Warren's voice
curt and hurried.
"Oh, dear, l couldn't help calling yo'
up" quiveringly. lin awful!
sorry about that bacon
Eth, what's that"
Tin so sorry about the bacon"
Talk up. I can't hear you," impa
tiently. wait q minute, Miss Middle
ton," to his stenographer. who wa
evidently tipping. "Now. what is it,
Something In the curt, mattero OF
factness Of bis voice helped restor'
Helen's sense Of proportion.
"Oh. H." doundering desperatel!
for something to say. II can't find tn
name Of the laundry. l thought mayb'
you'd have 1t down there"
"Oh." In impatient disgust, II can
bother about that now. Colonial
Cumberland. some such name. Lool
1t up in the book. BY the way, me
Stevens in the subway: they want u
|, to come to dinner Thursday. See
I've got . clean white waistcoat."
Helen turned from the phone Wit
J . hysterical desire to laugh. Woul'
she never learn! It was always lik
this-she was always anguishing owe
something to which Warren had no
given q thought