The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-12-12
Married Life
By Nobel Herbert Urner.
Their Last Evening Together Before
Helen Starts on Her Visit.

Helen starts on Her Visit.
"Don't you want to put this in ?"
Holding up a tiny white pique coat.
Helen who was on her knees before
her half-packed trunk, looked up
YEARLY.
why mother, do you think Wini-
fred will need that? You know I am
taking the one with the embroidered
collar"
"But this is lighter, and it viii
soon be very warm out home"
every we'll; just lay it there. I'll
put it in the tray"
1t was almost five now; Helen had
been packing all day. Tomorrow
would be Wednesday. the day they
had planned to start. Her mothers
trunk was already packed, but Helen
had still much to do.
1t was hard to get both herself and
the baby ready for visit, even
though the visit was to her mothers
home. It was hard to decide what to
take, just what they would need
especially as she did not know how
long they would stay.
Warren's gruff "stay as long as
you want" had determined her to
stay longer than the two weeks she
had first planned. Was his attitude
of indifference about this trip an as
stunned one? Or did he not really
care? Helen was constantly asking
herself this.
She longed for some sign of con-
Germ on his part, but he was cody
disinterested. It was true he had
spent more time with the baby in the
last few days, but to Helen herself, he
had seemed even more Indifferent
than usual.
Keeping Back the Tears.
And this last day, as Helen put
away his laundry and Strengthened
out his clothes-so that all his things
might be in order when she left
there was a lump in her throat. and
the tears were hard to keep back.
She knew she did not want to go.
She knew, already, that every hour
she would be away from him would
be an hour of longing to return. Al
ready she anticipated her heart-ach-
ing homesickness. And yet she had
gone too far in her preparations to
give up the trip now.
This would be their last evening
together, and she looked forward to
his Homecoming with painful eager
ness. Surely, there would be some
tenderness in his attitude toward her
tonight.
It was after six when he came. She
heard him speak to her mother in the
hall, but she did not go out to meet
him. She would wait until he came
in to her.
She was still lmeeling by the trunk
and with trembling fingers re-
arranging some things in the tray
when he came to her door.
"Hello there! Almost packed?"
She NODDED. "Almest, I've only a
few things of the baby's to put in
nowp
If he would only come over and
kiss her! If he would only say
something to show her that he would
be lonely while she was gone: She
heard Winifred COO as she took her
up.
Flows my babykins? Mono. you
mustn't put everything in your
mouth. My, what greedy little
kitten.
Love For Baby. None for Her.
Helen bowed her head on the
trunk. He had love for the baby,
but not for her.
He played with Winifred for sew
eral moments and then went to his
own room to freshen up for dinner.
Helen hesitated and then followed
dresser in his shirt sleeves. his head
thrown back, buttoning his collar.
him. He was standing before his
His strong, well knit body never
showed to better advantage. ~
1t was characteristic of him that,
he did not turn when she entered.
Helen watched him in silence, as he
selected tie and adjusted it care
fully. He pulled up his suspenders,
and finally turned around with an
inquiring:
tWell?"
'T wanted to show you about your
things. dear, so you will know where
they are when / am gone. Here,
I've put a few OF. your summer shirts
in this drawer. You'll probably need
them in a week or so. The rest are
here" opening his closet, con this
shelf. When you're through with
your winter shirts you can put these
in the drawer where they will be
easier to get at And your low shoes
are here on this shelf. l wanted to
put that heavy overcoat away. it
takes up so much room, but l was
afraid there might be a few cold
days yet"
"Nonsense, not this late. I'll not
want that again"
"Then LII put 1t away In camphor
before I go. And here's your pana-
ma in this box. You will have to
have it cleaned and pressed. And
there" going back to the chiffonier.
"here are your summer socks. Now
I think THAT'S ALL. You know
where everything else is"
Cali right, indifferently going
over to the dresser again and slip
ping on his vest and coat.
''Warren' She Called to Him.
Helen was standing uncertainty by
the door.
"Warren!"
"Well. what is it"
Nothing, only you. You know I'm
going away tomorrow"