The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-02-14
ache and Helen Does Not
Send Her Letter.
Monday, Oct %.

Dear Mother:-
You write that my last letters
| have been merely notes about Wini-
fred and the apartment, and that il
has been months since | have writ
ten anything about Warren or my
self. And you fear things are drift
ing back to where they were before
l came home to you last spring.
That is true. I have not told you
because it could do no good. But it
seems to me that every day we are
growing farther and farther apart
For few months after he brought
me back he tried to be gentle and
| considerable But gradually he re-
turned to his old habits-of coldness
and irritation.
me voluntary caress, and he only
tolerates mine. Sometimes I wonder
ii he loves me at all.
But there is no one else-of that
| am sure. Always I hug that thought
and try to comfort myself with it. Il
he does not love me, at least it is
not because he loves anyone else He
IS absolutely true to me and | be-
lieve he always will be.
When | think of how many hus-
bands are affectionate to their
wives, and yet unfaithfGl to them
| wonder which is the better way. |
wonder if those wives would not
gladly change with me, if they would
not prefer loyalty of their husbands
to any protestations of love.
| suppose it is Warren's nature to
be cold, just at it is mine to be zaf-
fectionate. And / am trying to be-
come reconciled to that. But his irri-
liability is very hard to bear. 1t
seems to me that I spend most of my
time trying to appease him to keep
him from being annoyed at some
trivial thing or from being angry
with me.
| It is pitiful commentary on mar
rled life that a wife must be con-
stantly straining to keep her hus-
band in good humor, and yet that
is what it has come to.
| Mother. sometimes I wonder if we
/ have reached this stage in two years,
what will it be in five or ten? Do
you suppose the time will come when
we will not be together. Oh, I'm
afraid of what the future may hold.
IT there was only something to look
forward to. something which might
happen, which would bring US nearer
| together.
Before Winifred came I thought
that woodland it did for a while.
For a few months we were very.
very happy. But it did not last. and
now if there should be another child
it would be the same way. 1t might
bring us together for a while, but |
know he would soon drift back to his
GOODNESS and frritability.
| I suppose some women have to
i make their children fill their lives
/ When they give up hoping for the
affection they want in their hus-
bands, they try to satisfy themselves
with their children's love. Perhaps
in time I can do this, but I cannot
now. I love Winifred, but she does
not fill my life. I want the love of
my husband. and it seems to me
nothing in the world will compensate
| Warren Returns.
There was a sudden sound in the
| hall. Helen looked up startled. Sure
! ly it could not be Warren. 1t was
not yet four
She ran to the door. Warren stood
with his back to her. putting his
gloves in the pocket of his overcoat,
which he had just Iung on the hall
rack.
'Whv. Warren, has anything hap
pened ?"
Happened Can't a man come
home when he wants to without any
thing happening"
"Why, yes, of course, dear, but you
never come home so early"
| "Well, I've got a ripping headache
today. and / stood it down there at
the office about as long as | could
ooh. dear. I'm sorry! Can't [ do
something for it,"
"Now, I don't want to be fused
overt / just want to lie down and
sleep if | can"
| "Don't you want me to fix the
bed-or would you rather lie down
on the couch?'
Ell lie on the couch in the front
room. Pull the shades down in there,
and stuff something in that b1emed
telephone so it won't ring about the
time I get to sleep"
Helen darkened the front room
/ took the uncomfortable velvet sofa
cushion off the couch, and put IN
their place a cool linen pillow from
the bed room. -.
smoking Jacket and slippers, now laid
down and she covered him with a
steamer rug.
ooh. I don't want that thing
throwing it of ats too hot and
woody"
"Then I'll get something lighter
!; She brought out silken comfort
err and tucked it about him.
"Oh, my dear, your face is so hot
! I'm afraid you're feverlsh. pom
you want me to put cool cloth on
your forehead ?"
"No. | don't" drawing away i'm
patiently. st told you I just wanted
to sleep. And you see that none of
those Internal bells wake me-"
"AlI right dear-Ill muffle the
bells, and we'll be very quiet"