The Ordway new era., 1917-10-19

An envelope addressed to "Mr. War
rem e. Curtis, Care 8. s. Adriatic," II
was In woman's writing.
"Dear Warren:
Il am sending with this book that
1 think you will enjoy. You will get
good rest on the steamer and per-
haps meet some pleasant people. I
certainly shall miss you and shall be
glad when you are back again.
Remember, you are to write me and
mail 1t as soon as you land. You
know you promised to write often--to
answer my letters as soon as you re-
ceived them. OF course will try not
to write TOO often.
II know you will find London inter.
esting, but hope not so interesting
as to make your trip longer than you
planned. did not know that the
thought Of SIX weeks could seem SO
long.
"With best wishes,
uu. MARION"
Marion Wendelli The letter proved
what Helen had always thought-that
she had cared! She had cared enough
to write this, for there was betrayal
in every line.
She had never married! Was that
the reason? She was rich and attrac-
tive. Why had not Warren cared!
Athrill with the thought that this
woman had loved her husband, Helen
sat musing over the letter.
And Warren-hnd he known7 Just
last year her father had died, leaving
Marion and her brother a large for
tune. Did Warren ever think what
such wealth might have meant to his
career?
But he was so f1ercely independ.
ent. could he have been happy with
rich wife? He always made scath-
ing comments about any man who
married money. Could that have been
the barrier?
"Will make cream sauce for them
lima beans. ma'am7"
"Why, Dora, it's not after FIVE I"
with startled glance at the dresser
clock. Then hurriedly, "No, Mr.. Cur
tbs likes them just with butter"
Stumbling to her feet, Helen pushed
back the trunk against the wall, leav.
| ing the rest Of the clearing out for to-
morrow.
Still under the Influence of Marion
Wendell's letter, her mind throbbed
with questions. -
A hurried bath, and she took out
her new taffeta evening gown. She
did her hair high, the way Warren
liked 1t, and rubbed her cheeks with
ice to make them glow.
When she was through she looked
long In the mirror. How would she
compare now with Marion Wendelli
He had only seen her at her best
often she had dressed to receive him.
Did he ever make comparisons?
"Hello! Somebody for dinner?" was
warren's greeting, half an hour later.
"No, dear"
"Then why the glad ragsf"
"Can't I dress for you sometimes7"
"Huh, splurge your best duds around
the house-then raise a howl that
you've nothing to wear, Jove, I'm tired.
Did the tailor send around for that
suit"
It was not until they were hall
through dinner and Warren's frown
had relaxed. that Helen ventured
casual:
"Dear, what's become of the Wen.
dells? Do you ever see any Of them"
"Saw Frank the other day. He's
engaged to Baltimore girl.
"Isn't it strange that Marion's
never married7 used to think she
was awfully pretty and nice"
eyes, Marion's mighty fine girl.
Too much salt in these BEANS"
"Do you suppose she's ever cared
for anyone-someone who didn't care
for her-that's why she never mar.
riedf"
IT doubt it." with a shrug. ma.
rion's not the sentimental kind"
A moments silence and then Helen
asked musingly:
who marry money. but If man
really cared for girl who had
money-should he let that stand in the
way7
"Mighty few of 'em would"
"Would your
"Never was up against that. None
of the girls knew was overburdened
with coin"
''Why, Marion had"
"Oh, Marion's all right, Of course. but
she's too intellectual. Goes In for too
many cults and fads. A man don't get
lit up about a girl who's 50 blamed
self-sufiicient."
Helen had not thought Marion's let.
ter particularly intellectual. nor had
1t shown any marked degree Of self
sufnciency. But she had found out
what she wanted. Warren had never
cared for her, nor in his masculine OBJ
tuseness had he ever known that she