The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-10-27

feH H. GURUS, care 5. 5. Adriatic," 1t
was In woman's writing.
Dear Warren:
II am sending with this book that
| think you will enjoy. You will get
good rest on the steamer and per-
maps meet some pleasant people.
certainly shall miss you and shall be
glad when you are back again.
Remember, you are to write me and
mail it as soon as you land. You
know you promised to write often-to
answer my letters as soon as you re-
ceived them. OF course will try not
to write TOO often.
II know you will find London inter-
esting, but hope not so interesting
as to make your trip longer then you
planned. / did not know that the
thought Of six weeks could seem so
long.
"With best wishes,
MARION"
Marion Wendell! The letter proved
what Helen had always thought-th
she had cared! She had cared enough
to write this, for there was betrayal
in every line.
She had never married! Was that
the reason? She was rich and attrac.
tive. Why haG not Warren caredi
Athrill with the thought that this
woman had loved her husband, Helen
sat musing over the letter.
And Warren-had he known? Just
last year her father had died, leaving
Marion and her brother a large for.
tune. Did Warren ever think what
such wealth might have meant to his
career?
But he was so fiercely independ.
ent, could he have been happy with
a rich wife? He always made scath.
ing comments about any man who
married money. Gould that have been
the barrier?
"Will I make cream sauce for them
lima beans, ma'amp
"Why, Dora, it's not after five!r
with a startled glance at the dresser
clock. Then hurriedly, "No, Mr.. Cur.
It's likes them just with butter"
Stumbling to her feet, Helen pushed
back the trunk against the wall, leav,
| ing the rest of the clearing out for to
morrow.
Still under the influence of Marion
| Wendells letter, her mind throbbed
with questions.
A hurried bath, and she took out
her new taffeta evening gown. She
did her hair high, the way Warren
liked it, and rubbed her cheeks with
ice to make them glow.
When she was through she looked
long in the mirror. How would she
compare now with Marion Wendelli
He had only seen her at her best
often she had dressed to receive him
Did he ever make comparisons?
Hello! Somebody for dinner" was
Warren's greeting, half an hour later.
"No, dear"
"Then why the glad rags?'
'"Can't dress for you sometimes?'
"Huh, splurge your best buds around
the house-then raise q howl that
you've nothing to wear, Joye, I'm tired
Did the tailor send around for that
suit?"
1t was not until they were halt
through dinner and Warren's frowr
had relaxed, that Helen yentured 9
casual:
'Dear, what's become of the Wen.
dells? Do you ever see any of them 2"
"Saw Frank the other day. He's
engaged to Baltimore girl.
"Isn't 1t strange that Marion's
never married? used to think she
was awfully pretty and nice"
"Yes, Marion's mighty fine girl
Too much salt in these BEANS"
do you suppose she's ever cared
for anyone--someone who didn't care
for her-that's why she never mar.
ried?" s
Il doubt it," with a shrug. "Ma.
rion's not the sentimental kind"
n hoAiSHL oilSuSC duu Iucu Geien
asked musingly:
"You're always SO down on men
who marry money, but If a mau
really cared for a girl who had
money-should he let that stand in the
wayw
"Mighty few of 'em would"
"Would your"
"Never was up against that. None
of the girls / knew was overburdened
with COIN"
"Why, Marion had"
ooh, Marion's all right, Of course, but
she's too intellectual. Goes in for too
many cults and fads. A man don't get
lit up about girl who's so blamed
self-sufficient."
Helen had not thought Marion's let
ter particularly intellectual, nor had
it shown any marked degree of self
sufficiency. But she had found out
what she wanted. Warren had never
cared for her, nor In his masculine OBJ
tuseness had he ever known that she
had cared for him.
When Dora had served the salad
and closed the pantry door, Helen
threw down her napkin, went over be-
hind his chair, rumpled his hair, drew
back his head, and kissed him with
teasing. $50 I'm not intellectual"
mot that anybody ever noticed.