The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-01-20
Helen and Warren Series;
Story Of Their Married Life

Warren yawned, raised himself on
his elbow, and stared at the small
nickel clock that was half hidden by
the thermo bottle.
Leaning out Of bed to move the bot
tie, with sleepy awkwardness he
knocked off the tumbler beside It.
"Oh-oh!" as the crash awoke
Helen, whats that?'
Smashed q glass"
Its one of the good glasses. too"
drowsily. @
Then why the devil do you put
things so l can't see the clock!" set
thing down for another five minutes.
Hope you had enough aid last night
this rooms cold as Greenland"
Helen, who always got up and
closed the windows, now with shiver-
ing reluctance slid out of bed. nj her
haste fluttering curtain caught In
the sash, and the icy wind blew mer-
cilessly through her thin night gown
as she tried to free it. Then she
stopped to turn on the heat, and then,
chilled through. crept back into bed.
sNo, you don't!" growled Warren.
WARN up on your own side"
A sound Of water gurgling in the ra-
diator then a loud vicious thump.
More gurgling, and more thumps.
"You didn't turn 1t on full-thats
what makes that blasted no1se!"
II turned it on as far as 1t would
CO." dreading to get up again.
In the gray light of the winter morn
ing, the room was dim and cherries.
Helen's head ached DULY, and a feel
ing of utter detection made her long
10 sink back into the oblivion OF
sleep.
The dining room clock struck the
oalf-hour.
Il tell you, we've got to get to bed
earlier" with q vicious jerk Warren
threw back the bedclothes. Tonight
I'm going to turn in right after din-
ner." --..-.-.-.a-..--... .
This was one of Warren's stock res
olutions. Yet even II they spent the
evening at home he would always read
until twelve.
"Oh. be careful OF that broken
glass;" warned Helen, as he lurcned
Thursting his feet into hisNslippers.
he slammed into the bathroom
Helen still lay huddled In bed. Get
ting I'D was always hard, but getting
up this dark, frosty morning was eX-
cruciating. Her whole body shrank
from leaving the sheltering warmth OF
the bedclothes. AS rule she got up
when Warren did, but sometimes sue
allowed herself the few extra mo-
ments until he stropped h's ia"o''
That was her ultimatum -,
Zip.swish! The first stroke on the
razor strop! With heroic effort,
Helen forced herself out of bed and
ran into her room.
For a moment she crouched over inc
radiator. Then, turning on the hght
by her dresser, with numb ringers she
thrust I'D her hair. By this time war
rem was out of the bath room
As Helen went in the drenchea
shower.sheet was an accusing remind
Or warren's cold morning shower
had always seemed a form OF torture
nnti, she read of the ''youth-preserv
Ing virtues of the cold spray, and
resolved to form the habit. For three
mornings she had forced hersen un.
der under the icy stream; then nef
courage bad failed. ..,,.
"Come here and look at this shirt!'
called Warren angrily.
.In Just a minute gulplns ooMn
a glass of water, an internal morn'
ing bath that Helen never oml'.eu -,
"You're to send nothing more to tnat
1aundry-understan throwing down
his brushes, his hair sleek from the
vigorous grooming.
Helen examined the torn hechoanu
n, the shirt on the bed.
81 can mend that, dear, SO Hh no'
show" .s ono
eyes; you fixed that pleated one.
and NV neck's raw yet. Call up that
other laundry-the one we had last
year" ,. sa.r "
with a conciliatory "An right, dear'
Helen hurried back to her room.
She finished dressing. then threw
nm the window, leaned out. and drew
in ten long, deep breaths' OF the 1ros.
tv air-another morning healtn-gNihs
habit that Helen never neglected.
When she came into the dining
room. Warren was at the table glanc-
ing over the war news. Inc deep'
frowning lines between his eyes were
tho danger signals of fault finding
and querulous mood.
The next half hour, until he left
for the office. Helen knew would be a
trying one. She must say nothing to
irritate him, or he would go off in a
temper that she would worry over for
the rest of the day.
"See here, if it takes you so infer
nally Longevity don't you get up in
time?"