The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-09-12
Married Life. Third Year
BY MABEL HERBERT uRnER

as he pressed the button.
A moments wait then the "click
click. which announced that the door
was unlocked.
Inside Warren led the way up the
four flights of stairs. Helen could sec
the lights streaming out from an open
door, and when they reached the land
ing she saw that a little girl was
holding it open.
Then woman appeared, slender.
frail looking woman of about thirty in
a loose cheap house gown.
"Oh, it's Mr.. Curtis" flushfg with
very evident embarrassment.
His Wife at Home.
Mrs. Winthrop. this Is Mrs. Cur
it's We were up in this neighborhood
and / thought I'd stop in few min
utes and see your husband
"Oh, I'm SO sorry. he isn.s here as
she opened the door and invited them
in. But il you don't mind waiting,
he'll not be long"
She led them into the front room
with a murmured apology about her
appearance.
It was a small room with cheap
golden oak furniture, stiff Nottingham
lace curtains, and a garish red and
green lowered rug. There was an up
right piano of unknown make and a
red velour covered couch, which at
night evidently served as a bed.
Helen who knew that Winthrop had
been at college with Warren and that
he had married a girl of very good
Philadelphia family. could not help
but wonder. 1t was not SO much the
cheapness of the furnishings as the
utter lack OF taste. The place showed
not only limited means, but ignor-
ance.
1t was the home of people who had
not known and surely the winthrops
should know.
you have very good view here"
remarked Warren stepping to the wiH-
dow. It was the only favorable COM
ment he could have made.
YES, we get plenty of light and air
and that's good for the children
Then. as though divining Helen's
thoughts, she added nurriedly 1--WE
sublet this flat furnished over a year
ago-expectfng to stay only few
months, but Mr.. Winthrop's business
has been so unsettled that we've stay
ed on. But I've missed our own things
So" with apologize glance about
the room. I've never felt quite at
home here
Here the little girl who had opened
the door came in shyly.
| TIE Winthrop Children.
This is Florence" said her mother
proudly drawing her forward and
pushing back a rebellious curly lock.
Florence pulled at rubber band
Winch she had slipped around her
wrist as a bracelet. and stared at them
wonderingly.
Haven't you another little girl,
, Mrs. Winthrop" asked Helen.
ooh, yes, we have two others. Here's
| Alice now. Come in, dear"
{ A child of about four, with beauti-
{ full reddish-gold haid stood hesitating-
! iy at the door. In her arms was hug
ged tiny gray kitten. For a moment
she looked about with big questioning
eyes, then walked straight to Helen
and put the kitten in her lap. "Oh,
how dear of you!" as Helen stopped
over to pet them both. IT have a lit
tie girl and she has a kitten. too. She
; calls it Pussy Purrmew-Pussy Purr-
new, Iitn't that a pretty name?"
The child nodded and made a mo-
ton as if to climb into Helen's lap.
NO. no, Alice" protested her moth
er. Mrs. Curtis can't hold you and
the kitten both"
Yes, can hold Alice and Alice
/
lifting the child up on her lap.
For the next few minutes Helen
forgot the purpose of their visit as
she talked to Alice about winifred and
! Pussy Purrmew. And 1t was a dis
| agreeable reminder when Warren
/ glanced at his watch.
! What time did you expect your
husband, Mrs. Winthrop"
! Why. he should be here now; his
/ business takes him out so many eve
nings but he said tonight he'd be gone
only little while"
| They waited until almost TO- but
| still Mr.. Winthrop did not come.
"Oh, I feel So sorry for her!" ex-
| claimed Helen, when at length they
came out on the street again. She's
i really very nice-and think of her
| living in that place with that hideous
furniture for over a year."
/ Yes. she's fine little woman .
| agreed Warren. land / don't under
stand it. Winthrop hasn't made so
| much, but he's made enough for them
to live better than that. There's a
screw loose somewhere
AS they approached the subway a
| couple were standing just beside the
| entrance
| by .Jove. that's Winthrop now .
| whispered Warren. as he drew Helen
back in the shadow. They stood there
only an instant, but it was lops
enough to hear the man say:
II hate to see you go home alone
| but I've been out SO many night that
she's begun TO complain"
"Oh. / am not afraic.. laughed the