The Washington herald., 1917-02-19
The Married Life of Helen and Warren.
OF" of a woma
Hen Awe of Warens Sister Dpeed by Her Syncopaed

Why. We can't sleep with the heat
onT'
We'll, we can tonight-with my tooth"
"Oh, very WELL" with acid frigidity,
as, switching of the light, she iung up
the window.
Helen, what do you meanr'
Why. Carrie. you certainly don't want
the heat on and the window down, too?
Well both be sick!'
We'll. I believe in fresh air as much
as anyone. but not when the thermome-
ter's below zero-and with an liberated
tooth. Put 1t down little from the top
that's the way to ventilate a room."
! instructively
Helen bit her lips to keep back furi-
Gus retort. Then, slamming down the
window, she lowered It a few inches
from the top. Instantly the wind blew
out the shade with a vindictive rattle
Silently, silence that shouted her in
dignation, she got into bed Carrie al
ways succeeded in arousing a disputa-
ttous antagonism. { Helen had never
disliked her as intensfvely as she dis
liked her now.
In rigid discomfort she lay on the ex-
treme edge. The very afr was charged
with animosity.
Longingly she thought Of warren's
large muscular warmth against which
she always huddled. Instead OF the faint
familiar odor of bay-rum and cigars, the
air was medicinal with Carries tooth ap-
plications
Did Warren have enough covers7
Would he be comfortable on that couch +?
IL was like Carries selfshness to let hin,
give up his bed This was the second
time she had done that
the silence was throbbingly conscious
disturbtngly unlike the restful -sleep-in-
ductive quiet when Warren was beside
ner. Suppose she had to live with Car
rie? What hideous thing for two wor,-
en- to have to live together-where econ
omy necessitates their sharing the Same
room!
At length Holen's thoughts grow DROVE
lily confused. but each time she dozad ~,
vicious rattle Of the shade aroused bar
carries breathing had now deepened tc
staccato snore. She was living or be-
back. Helen ventured a slight iudpe
hoping she would turn. For a moment
the breathing ceased and Helen was
Iear1ui lest she had awakened her. Then
again the diaCoustic, climactic snort
A single chime from the library clock
Was It one or half-past? She would be
sick tomorrow II she did not sleep
Warren's occasional soniferous breathing
never kept her awake She was used to
his deep euphonic notes. but Carries
high syncopation was raspingly un-
familiar.
The room was oppressiveIy close. The
heat shut of in the other apartments
hissed vehcmently in the radiator.
Helen tossed and turned her pillow IN
restive discomfort. The discordant chorus
Of Carries snoring. the kissing radiator
and the tapping shade made sleep i'm
possible.
At last. unable to endure It longer.
she slipped out Of bed. Without even
waiting to throw on her bathrobe, she
ran out across the hall to her own dress
ing room, where Warren lay asleep or
the couch
The window was up and the room was
whoIesomely cold. The faint moonlight
outlined the long outstretchcd form.
The pillow showed to the floor. he lay
fiat on the couch-a favorite posture
when he was very tired.
If only she could get in without waking
him. Cautiously she slipped under the
covers.
'TTh-h- What the Sam Hill"
Dear, couldn't sleep in there, She
has the windows down and the heat on
and she snores""
But Warren was again doing of to
demonstration of his own resonant
breathing. which bore not even family
resemblance to his sisters. It was a
rich deep purl like a big Pussy Purr-
new thought Helen lovingly as she nes-
tied closer.
Then her thoughts swept back to Car
rie. The last time she had stayed all
night, Helen had discovered that she
wore a switch. Now came the added
disillusionment OF her snoring and the
black -plastered corn.
Surely her slster-in-law's naughty su-
premacy was ended. Never again would
she stand in awe Of her.
The discomforts of the night had not
been without compensation. And now,
unmindful of the narrowness of the
couch, Heler's rigidily relaxed to a rest
full content, as Warren's rhythmic, SYM
phonious purr lulled her to sleep
Copyright, 1871