The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-11-19
MARRIED LIFE.

rled and strangely pfeoCcupieu.
all of Helen's anxious injuries ne re-
piled evasively. And when ene per,
sisted, he had grown irritable; sam
he was all right, if she would only
leave him alone"
you're sure it's not about-specu.:
lating? You haven't lost anything
She asked fearfully, several times
| And he answered curtly, "of course
not Can't you stop harplng on
that"
She tried to believe him, but she
was only half convinced. One night
she awoke to find him walking up
and down the room, a lighted cigar IN
his hand.
"Why Warren, what is it? Can't
you sleep?" ~
"Oh, I'm just nervous. that's all.
Thought I'd get up and smoke
while, I'll be all right when l finish
this"
But Warren"
"I'm all right, I tell you," he re-
piled, "and I don't want to be fused
over"
She went back but not to sleep.
And for over an hour, she heard him
moving about his room. She longed
to go to him to ask him what was
wrong. But she knew 1t would only
irritate him.
The next morning he barely
touched his breakfast, and hurried off
to his office.
That day was long and anxious
one to Helen. She could not keep her
thoughts on the baby or on her work.
Warren's worried face was constantly
before her. And she was haunted
with feeling Of impending trouble.
About two o'clock she called him up,
isaying she just wanted to hear from
him-that sheNcould not help being
anxious. And he replied brusquely
that he was all right but had no
time to answer foolish telephone
tcalls.
Helen left the phone with CULVER
ing lips. And she tried to excuse
his curtness-perhaps she shouldn't
have telephoned when he was SO
busy.
It was late when he came home.
Dinner had been waiting some time.
One glance at his pale, haggara face
verified all Helen's fears. Instinc-
lively she ran and put her arms about
him.
"oh, Warren-warren, what is
it,"
For moment he stood passive.
|
"Now, let's not have any heroics.
I've had all can stand today without
that"
BUT WANT TO HELP You.
"But I want to help you. I can
bear anything if you will only tell
me what it is, and let me help YOU
Il can bear arS-thing."
"Well you can't help me-except by
leaving me alone. When I've any
thing. to tell you I'll let you know"
Helen turned away to hide Aer
tears. Why did he always repel her?
Why did he always resent her SYM
pathy; her desire to help?
Dinner ready?" he asked abrupt
ly.
Yes, dear; it has been ready some
time"
"Well, let's have it, then. haven't
eaten anything today"
Helen hurried out to help Della PUT
the dinner on the table. But Warren
could not eat. After few moments
he pushed back his chair and, with a
nuttered exclamation, left the table.
Helen depressed her desire to follow
her. But she could not eat. al
though she remained at the table and
made pretense of finishing her din
ner.
When she went into the sitting
room Warren had some papers COW
cred with figures spread out before
him.
He did not look up; so she got out
: her sewing and sat down quietly on
the other side of the table. Al
though she kept her eyes on her
work, she was tensely conscious Of
every scratch of his pen and of his
white set face as he bent over the
} figures.
It had come at last-the loss ia
speculation that she had so long
feared. She felt certain of it now
! with a sickening heart-heavy Ger.
tainty. How much had he lost? Was
it more than they could repay. Oh
if he would only tell her? The facts
could be no harder than the sick
; fears which filled her now. But she
dared not question him any more.
THE STRAIN OF SILENCE.
She could hear Della moving about
: In the dining room, putting her dish
1 would be through and go to her room
That would mean that it was almost
:, eight. How much longer woule
i Warren figure there in silence? Sh.
wondered if other husbands put thei1
wives from them in time of trouble.
There was no sound from tn,
kitchen or dining room now; Deli,
had finished. Everything was still
[ except for the scratching of Warren
:. pen. Some neighboring tower clocl
struck the half -hour-half past eight
e And she heard it strike nine.
A little gurgling cry from tn
baby called her into the nursery. Blu
Winifred was only half awake. I
n took only few minutes to quiet hel