Middletown transcript., 1917-09-01

Sunday" in grunting protest, set
tling lower under the covers.
But. dear, it's almost nine," sitting
up with disturbing energy.
"Only day can Sleep" shoulderine
back the bedclothes. "Pull down those
shades"
Reluctantly Helen darkened the
room and again lay down. The shrill-
ing sparrows and the slit Of yellow
light beneath the shades were allur-
ing notes of the sun-bathed morning.
From down the street came the
jangling rhythm Of hand organ.
Strldent as was the tune, somehow it
suggested q white-sanded beach, a
deep blue, sun-glinted sea and the
murmurous rush of frothing waves
What wonderful day for an out
ing! But Warren's heavy regular
breathing discouraged her holiday
spirit. That he had had hard week,
she knew, and Sunday was the only
morning he could be in bed.
For a while she forced herself to lie
still. Then, finding sleep impossible,
noiselessly she slipped into her dress
ing room.
"Will 1 start breakfast, ma'am?"
Dora was busting the dining room.
mo, not yet! Mr.. Curtis wants to
Sleep"
Yielding to an impulse to dress up
to the day, Helen got out her daint-
lest summer gown-a sheer blue or
candle with flounces oS white net.
Another lifting hand organ drew her
to the window. Leaning out she drank
in the sparkling air. Baby carriages
and nursemaids, well-dressed strolling
churchgoers and speeding motors
filled with outing parties gave a Sum
day festivity to the street.
A quarter past ten, glancing back
at the clock on her dresser. Warren
must get up! 1t was Dora's afternoon
off-she would want to get through
with the work.
Entering the darkened bedroom,
Helen drew up the shades, laid out
Warren's clean underclothes and a
freshly pressed light gray suit.
Then, perching on the edge Of the
bed, she smoothed his rumpled hair
with persuasive, Dear, it's after
ten"
But Warren, in deep Sunday morn
ing coma, breathed on in audible con-
tent.
"Sweetheart," laying her cool cheek
against his sleep-heated face, ''you
must get up!'
"Uh-h?" turning over to escape her
disturbing caresses.
'Its Dora's Sunday off-we mustn't
make her too late"
"Eh?" yawningly. Then as the glar-
ing sunlight blinded his sleep-blurred
eyes: "Put down those shades. Don't
want any breakfast"
Look who's come to help get you
up" as Pussy Purr-Mew, leaping on
the bed, shifted inQuiringly at War
ren's outStretched hand.
"See here!" with an angry f1ounce
that shook the springs and sent Pussy
Purr-Mew flying. ''Ill not get up till
I'm good and ready! Now you get out
of here and let me"
But Helen had darted off to answer
the insistent phone.
Hello! Yes" with eager ex-
pectancy. - "Oh, we'd love to
20. - How soon? - Where're
you now? - Downstairs" in dis
may. "Oh, Warren's not even up! -
Wait, I'll ask him."
Leaving the receiver off the hook,
she rushed back to the bedroom.
"The Stevenses are downstairs in
the car" breathlessly. "They want us
to go out to the Fieldbrook club, but
they can only wait ten minutes. Hur-
ry, dear-do hurry"
'Ten minutes? guess not? If they |
can't wait half an hour-tell 'em to
go on"
"Oh, they can't! They've got to
meet some people who're going out |
On the II 80. oh. dear, hurry-hurry,
trying to drag him out of bed. "It's a
perfect day for FieldbroOk"
"Say I'll be down in half an hour"
as with maddening leisure he prepared
to get up. "They can't expect us to be
always ready to fall into their ma
chine"
Cant you wait twenty minutes?"
Helen over the phone.
He's dressing now-he'll hurry all he
,an. - No, of course not-I
wouldn't want you to miss them. -
Yes, I'm ready. - Without War
.en? oh no. 1 couldn't think of It,"
"Why not?" yelled Warren from the
bedroom. go ahead if they want
you! ThatIl suit me. fine"
'But, dear, 1 wouldn't enjoy it with
,ut you"
"Why not?' persistently. "I'll be
mighty glad to put in a good days
More urgings by Mrs. Stevens over
he phone, more gruf' insistence from
he bedroom and Helen reluctantly
'ielded.
"Oh, l don't like to go without you"
When in long white coat and veil
led hat she hovered over Warren, '
Who had gone back to bed. \;
Don't worry about NELL have
he time of my life. Run along now :,
f they're in such blooming hurry" {
Downstairs the Stevenses greeted s