Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-11-30

uniform, but l walked farther than
| thought"
You'll have to change my night
gown before the doctor comes" began
I Carrie complainlngly. "And want my
hair brushed, and"
you won't mind if rush Off" broke
in Helen. Il think | can still make
that train"
I'D cut across the commons" sug-
scstcd the nurse. ITS nearer"
, Throwing on her things. with a hur-
ried goodby, Helen ran down the stairs
and out into the quiet dusk of the
suburban streets.
The unpavcd crossings were still
muddy from last nights rain. She had
! forgotten her rubberS. but. regardless
of her thin shoes, she plunged rcck-
lesSly ahead through the soft, marshy
ground of vacant lot
A distant whistle heralded the APP
preaching train. Another block and
She saw il was too late. Already the
engine, with changing bell was slowing
mp. Though she ran on with painting,
| hopeless speed, she was still half II
block away when the train drew out.
An hours wait in that dingy, cheer
less station She did not even con-
slider going back to Carries. In the
| fyspecked window of a drug and
candy store hung the familiar blue
telephone sign. She would have to
phone Dora that she could not get
home for dinner.
The freckle-faced youth behind the
counter directed her to the telephone
in the back. Local calls, five cents
New York city calls, twenty-five cents"
read the card above the instrument.
Helen had not thought that Warren
would be home 50 early, and her heart
bounded at his deep-voiced Hello"
"Oh, I've missed the siX-fifteen. and
the next is seventeen. Carrie
let the nurse off and had to stay.
You 90 ahead and have your dinner.
Dear. I wonder If you could
meet me? Would you mind? 8.
No, | won't take a taXi-it was dol
lar and n half last time. / can take
the subway"
Laying the quarter on the counter
cluttered with pyramided patent medi-
cineS, soaps and chewing gum. Helen
crossed the street to the station, where
the yellow lights now cleaned family
through the dusty windows.
Warren had not expressed the slight
est concern over her long dnnerleSs
wait. Even her "I'm sorry you have
to eat alone" had brought only a care
less ooh. that's all right" instead Of
the sympathetic response for which
she had angled. And he had refused
pointbank to meet her.
The ill-smelling waiting room with
its rusty stove. tObacco-stained spit
tOons and "ecZemaed" walls was not
conducive to cheerfulness. The high,
Pickering lights were too dim TO read
by, and she spent an interminable hour
brooding over Warren's Indifference
and his sisters utter selfishneSs.
Ten minutes late, the SnOrtngly i'm
patient train stopped only long enough
for the conductor to swing her up
the high step.
1t had begun to mist, cold. wind
blown drizZle. Inside the soiled red
plush car Helen gazed out the wet.
blurred window in lonely. morbid de-
lection. The dinner hour past with
out food and her damp feet were phys
ical discomforts that contributed to
her mental dependency.
II was raining hard when they finally
plunged into the tunnels of the Grand
Central station. Forlornly she made
her way up the long platform through
the gates and toward the subway en-
trance.
Hello. Kitten" \ tall. overcoated
figure doomed beside her
"Oh-oh." she caught his arm, her
heart leaping with dizzy Joy.
NO" Warren stcered her past the
subway steps. 'wc'n take a ;axi over
to Jacks and square of to an extra
Srloin."
ooh. mono. Dora's saved some
thing for me. I don't want much"
"Well. I ~ They were outside now.
and he was beckoning for cab.
"Why. dear, didn't you have your
dinner?"
Wasn't hungry then-had a late
Lunch. Didn't feel like eating alone
anyway"
In the shadow of the cab, Helen
nestled against his damp coat, swept
TO the thrilled heights that are only
reached from the very depths.
Hold up there; somebOdy1l see
you"
az don't care If they do" with glee-
full defiance. rs she kissed again his
unbendin; neck.