The Washington herald., 1917-12-17

Copyright. 1917. by the NJ
you'll get in Dutch meddling in 9
row like that" shrugged Warren
scooping out a soft-boiled egg. what
the Sam Hill can you do. anyway"
Dear. she's all alone, with only the
maid. promised to go up this morn
ing"
well. don't try>any 'brins+em-to'
gether' stunts"
That's such q selfish attitude
brooded Helen, tracing a design in the
cloth. IF can help her"
"Oh, well. it's not my funeral; go tc
% with disrnlssing impatience. as he
rose from the table. Think I'll need
a raincoatf'
When the elevator door changed
after him, Helen turned back to her
unfinished breakfast.
Mora. wrap up a glass Of that grape
jelly; I'll take it up to Mrs. Thorn
ton"
Half an hour later. dressed for The
street, Helen rang the bell of the
apartment two floors above.
I'm glad you've come ma'am," was
the maids anxious greeting. "Sht
won't touch her breakfast. She looks
as II she'd been crying all night"
The whole apartment had a tense
awaiting atmosphere, as Of some pend
ing tragedy. In Mrs. Thornton's bed
room the drawn curtains shut out the
morning. Only the shaded light BY
the bed relieved the dimness.
I've brought you some homemade
jelly" with brisk cheerfulness.
Murmuring a listless thanks, Mrs
Thornton turned her face from the
betraying light
You've had no breakfast Wont
you let me fix you something now?"
mo, please don't I couldn't eat a
thing" with a gesture of repulsion
The door opened and the maid came
in with the mail. A swift glance ovel
the letters. and with .tremulous fing'
ers Mrs. Thornton tore open a plair
white envelope. Her lips quivered al
she read the brief note. then, thrust.
ing 1t at Helen, she fell back on the
pillow.
Dear Renal don't want t.
trouble you about my things. Just
have Jane pack them up and send
them to the club. Only my clothes
I want nothing else. II at any time
I there is anything can do for you
do not hesitate to let me know.
"W. K. T."
The very brevity of the letter car
ried with It a sense of flnality. 1ts
courteousness had an inexorablt
tone.
What had driven him to this stand
OF the real cause oft all Helen was
still in ignorance.
"Oh. could conquer it, thing
could nowI But I'll never have. tho
chance" moaned Mrs. Thornton, hel
face hidden on her outfiung arm. A
silence, vibrant with Helen's unasked
| questions.
'oh. yes. It was my fault: at Ieast
most OF It," a. h the question ha6
been voiced. - was always emo.
tional.' I wanted q demonstrattvt
love, and he's reserved and cold.
was always trying to prove, to tes'
his love. It grew to be an obsession
Oh, I can't explain 1t; you wouldn',
understand
'I think do" sympathized Helen
"I know something of that craving
Every woman has It at times"
Not as had It. I was nervous ant
not well. I was always making scenes
and he loaths scenes. My demands
for affection were incessant. He SAID
he could not live up to them-that nS
man could. Then We both grew en-
bittered. seemed possessed with the
desire to hurt him-to make him suf
fer" 49,.
IF you'd only gone away for 4
few months, until you got hold o.
yourself" ri -
That's what he urged. but woult
not I wouldn't 60. and I wouldn't le
him 60. Every day we were getting
more and more on each others nerves
It became intolerable; one scene aftel
another. And then-that last night
oh. I can't tell you about that.
can't" III .-ss
Don't try" soothingly. Don't gel
yourself worked up. I'm going to give
you some bromide: you must sleep
Everything always looks black aftei
a sleepless night"
It took Helen only q few moments
to run downstairs for the tablets Ieft
from her last illness. Knowing thai
nourishment was also necessary, sh,
persuaded Mrs. Thompson to take witt
the bromide glass OF hot milk.
Exhausted after the long. .tortuou
night. the duieting portion soon dull
ed her to sleep. Cautioning the mait
that she must not be awakened fo
anything. Helen hurried down and ou
into the frosty morning.
The telephone-book address that sh
had looked up last night was haunt
tngly indelible- 8rhornfon. Williar,