The Washington herald., 1917-01-08

This series " . eontinuatfen Of ssrhsfr
Married Life." produced By Mabel Her
bert Ur.er for four years. sTAs Mar
ried Life of Helen and warren,s an
pesrinx exclusively In this paper. h
the only series now being written ~
Mabel Herbert urner.
you don't mean he asked you for
money! He hasn't come to that?''
Laura nodded. sttn gazing out the
window at the sQualid back yard with its
melting patches of soot-blackened snow.
But you don't give It to him?" psr-
sisted Helen, with unconcealed disdain.
II don't often have it." bitterly.
But when you DOR
Il can't see him go hungry"
"oh. Laura. you're helpless! You hardly
make enough to support yourself" with
an expressive glance about the shabby
furnished-house room. yet you give him
money. You haven't lived with him, have
you. for monthsT'
mo, but he comes here sometimes and
makes me keep him over night. He gets
these respondent spells-thrsatens to 70
out and kill himself. I'm afraid to send
him away"
But you're here as Miss wlson-thsy
don't know you're marriedf"
The landlady does. told her the first
night he stayed-I had to. The roomers
don't know. and I suppose they talk
about me-" with a shrug.
Laura, you can't go on like thisl IL
there no way you can get a divorce or
q separation-anything that will keep
him away from your"
Silently. broodingly, Laura pushed 6
spool back and forth on the SCARED,
ash-burnt wtndow-sill.
You don't mean that you still CARER
mot in that way" breaking of a Bit
OF thread and winding it about her
finger. You can't care for a man you
don't respect but there's something-oh. !
can't explain It"
Having married in a mement of mad
ness, Laura's disillusionment had been
swift. She had lived with her husband
less than a month. and Helen felt that
even to her she had not admitted all the
degradation OF those few weeks-his bru-
tality. his wild dissipation.
Yet you keep his picture here" ac-
cusingly, taking up an unframed photo
graph from the cluttered bureau
Laura flushed as Helen studied the
face, good looking In a theatrical way.
but with a sensual mouth and weak
chin.
traction for you! He must have or you
wouldn't"
Mono, It isn't that" taking the pie
ture and with deepening color thrusting
II into a drawer. But after you've once
lived with a man, you can't see him
want. Last night he came up here
actually hungry"
And I presume you took him out to
dinner-and lent him money besides"
NWvfN -k.E1l
who would borrow from a woman.
What else could I do?' wearily. He
isn't practical. he can't save-it's the ar
ttstic temperament
Artistic temperamentr- disdained
Helen That's his excuse for idlsncss
1t isn't as IL he hadn't ability. He speaks
two or three Languages and he's a good
musician. Why doesn't he play in a res
taurant, II he can't get anything bet
ter!"
That's curiousI I suggested that last
night He says he would II they'd let
him play good music, but he couldn't en-
dure rastime-
'OhF' The sxpletive expressing a
volume of seorntul impatience. Helen
reached for her nun.
Don't go yet. Wait. I'll make some
teal didn't havs any lunch"
From a shelf protected by a calico cur
tain. Laura took out a box OF crackers,
a tiny bag OF tea and small alcohol
stowe
Watching hsr. Helen realized how tired
and worn she looked! She had never
seemed so frail, so little able to endure
this vicarious, unprotected life
There's some milk on the window-silI-
see IL it's sweet I'll get some fresh
water" starting for the bathroom with
tea kettle.
Raising the window, Helen brought IN
the milk bottle, blew OF the SCOT, and
prted up the pasteboard top with a hair
pin.
IT had TO go way down to the first
foorl Somebody's always In that bath
room. That woman from the second
story back goes In and stays-washes all
her clothes. How I loath this place."
"Whsre're the matches7 I'm going to
turn on the gas" announced Helen. "It's
chill and gloomy in here"
The cracked-globed Jet by the bureau
and the simmering tea kettle. gave a
slight note Of cheer to the darkening
room. It was only three, but the gray
snow-threatening sky had brought the
shadows OF dusk.
Two cups with odd saucers and a Jelly
glass for a sugar bowl constituted
Laura's tea service. The top of the tin
cracker box served as a plate.
This ought to make you appreciate