The Washington herald., 1917-01-23

"Eh? What's that?" with sleep-dazed
bewilderment.
The phone. dear. I'll go"
Already out Of bed, Helen was shiver-
ing into her bathrobe.
You get back! II that's q wrong num-
ber-I'n annihilate that operator" as in
his thin pajamas. without waiting for a
robe. Warren stumbled through the chill
darkness into the library.
Several nights lately they had been
aroused by wrong number calls, and now.
creeping back under the covers, Helen
waited his explosive wrath
"HeIlo!" his voice rasped menaoingly.
"YesY" What's that?" with a
changed note. Soon as can get
there"
Helen was sitting up in breathless,
wide-eyed suspense.
IT'S father" briefly. 'Paralytic
stroke" he was starting to dress.
An awed silence. Then tremulously.
Dear. oughtn't go with your
yCan't wait-itri take you too long.
You can come later-Iu phone. Call q
taxi! Ask IL they can get one here in
ten minutes
Helen few in to call up the taxicab
stand a few blocks away. They promised
to send one over at once.
To be awakened at night by a calami-
tous message leaves always a feeling Of
dazed incompetency. And now Helen
could only stand helplessly by. while
Warren dressed with concentrated haste.
'Is there anything can send? Wouldn't t
you like to tske somethingr'
What would 1 take?' impatient 1T the
futility OF her question. Then. button
ing his vest as he reached for his coat,
See II the taxrs here"
From the library window Helen peered
down through the nake-misted blackness
There was no car before the door and no
approaching lights.
Not yet" turning from the window.
It's snowing-IIl get your heavy over
coat" running out to the hall closet.
'pn go down." he was stamping into
his rubbers. "If it's not there, I'll take
the subway. Just as quick on night
like this"
Dear, paralysis isn't necessarily dan
gerous, is it?" with attempted consola-
tion as she followed him to the door.
For a man of fathers age, it's pretty
serious" the husky note his first sign of
emotion.
With her robe drawn closer, Helen
waited in the draughty hall. He rang
twice, then held his finger on the bell
until the hum Of machinery announced
the rising elevator.
I'll be dressed and ready II you want
me-"
with a nO0 ne entered lne CAT
Running back to the window, Helen
watched for the taxi. The street was de-
serted and strangely still. The blanket
ing snow had hushed the city's rumble.
A. single chime from the front room
clock-half-past onei Fifteen minutes had
passed since she phoned for the taxi, and
1t was still not IN sight.
Then from under the awninged entrance
appeared warren's muffed figure. He
was not waiting for the taxi, and he had
no umbrella!
Before he reached the corner his dark
form was obliterated in the swirling
snow Shfveringly she put down the win
dow, her face atingle with the stinging
flakes.
The apartment seemed depressingly
desolate as she hurried into her room to
dress. The night was swesome with the
hovering tragedy
Warren's father was fatally ih-dying
She waited vainly for the sense of griet
this thought should bring. She was awed
chilled, little frightened, but there was
no real grief.
She had never felt near her father-in-
law. He was cold, gruff unapproachable.
Towards her his attitude had been al
ways a disappearing one; she was never
comfortable IN his presence.
But he was Warren's father, and now
| ne was dying. Sne trleQ u IOrce
proper feeling of regret. And Warren
| What would 1t mean to him? He had
never shown any great affection for his
| father. but Helen felt that under his
seeming coldness was a deep attachment
| None of the Curtises were demonstra-
tive, yet their family ties were strong.
Having nothing black, Helen slipped
into a dark blue suit. She would have
to buy black suit for the funeral. And
crepe veil-would she have to buy, OF
] could she borrow, that?
There had been no near deaths in heI
| family since she was a child. Yet vague
| ly she remembered that then many OF
the crepe wells had been lent by the
neighbors. But that was probably only
a small town custom. In the city there
were no cese neighbors from whom tt
borrow mourning.
| Would Warren wear a band on nj
arm? 1t was hard to conceive, of hin
with such an emblem of bereavement.
Then, with a flush. realizing the sordit
drift of her thoughts, she brought then
/ sternly back and tried again to feel
| hitting sense of sorrow.
| TIL telephone! Could he be there 81
/ soon?
! ''Taxrs here" 1t was the hall boy
voice.