The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-12-13
Married Life, Third Year
BY MABEL HERBERT uRNER

"Oh, the stone was a little loose
one OF the prongs was worn. and I
left it to have it reset
Always some plausible untruth
seemed to leap to Helen's lips at such
times. She was never deliberately de-
ceiving. The words seemed always to
come Of themselves
More Lies.
Why didn't You give 1t to me?
Where did you take 1t to? Some snidc
concern? They'll change that stone
on you il you're not careful"
"Oh, dear, no. took it to Black
ford's. l didn't want to bother you
with it,
with unspeakabie relief Helen saw
Warren off that morning. At least he
had not doubted her story OF the loose
stone and she would surely find the
ring before night.
Maggie swept carefully every room
and Helen went through every drawer
and closet. Boxes, clothes, hampers,
shoe bags, very possible nook INFO
which the ring might have slipped
from her finger was searched.
She was to have gone shopping
with Mrs. Stevens that afternoon, but
she phoned her that she could not CO.
By noon She was almost sick and yet
she kept on looking. Over and over
again she would search in the same
places in a futile, helpless way.
There amt no use looking in there,
maam," said Maggie. as for the
dozenth time Helen went through her
top burea drawer
Il know" closing the drawer wear
lily. yet I can't help but feel that it's
somewhere about this bureau"
For one f1eairr unp1o,% r51,,h+ -
Maggie flashed through her mind. She
might have found it and not told her.
But quickly She put this thought aside
as unjust. For whatever Maggie's
faults, she was scrupulously honest
You'd better lie down, ma'am," adj
vtsed Maggie at length, cor you'll be
sick. II it's here Wen come across it.
But you won't find it the way you're
looking now" for Helen was feverish-
~ going back again over the same
ground
BY the time Warren came Helen
was almost hystericaI. She felt she
could not keep 1t to herself any
longer. II only she had told him the
truth yesterday instead OF saying She
had left the ring at the jewelers.
Now he would be furious at her
deception! No. she could not confess
that-and the loss of the ring, too.
ihere was still the chance that She
might find it tomorrow.
But the strain Of the sleepIess night |
and the fruitless days search had been
TOO great and at dinner Helen broke |
down completely. Without any warn
ing she suddenly hid her face in her |
napkins and burst into tears
Warren laid down his knife and
fork and stared at her.
Well. by guns! What's come over
your
My engagement ring" she sobbed. /
l didn't take it to Blackford's. It's |
LOST"
The silence of the next few mo- |
nehts was broken only by Helen's |
sobs. She dared not look up.
80 that's it." he finally rasped
That's what's been the matter. And |
why, may I ask. did you lie to me
about it?''
Helen cringed at the cold sarcasm
in his voice.
ooh. thought I'd find it,, she Sob
bed. And 1 didn't want to worry
you"
Huh" with a Sheer, you lied be-
cause you're always lying. You don't
know how to tell the truth"
On but the ring Warren, my en-
gagement ring. Cant you See how
NIT even to myself that it was lost.
On, feel that it's a bad omen. That
It's
Bad omen-piffle. The bad omen
Of that ring was that I ever gave it
TO you. Our. marriage comes mighty
near being a blamed fizzle, all right.
Nine men out of ten are fools for
marrying anyhow-and / was a double
dyed IDIOT"
"Oh, Warren, Warren, don't, don't
say such things. You know you don't
mean"-
mean all that and a whole LOT |
more Your lost ring may be a devil
ish good omen at that. There's a lot
OF things I'd count as better luck than
having to spend the rest of my life
with YOU"
Hurting down his napkin, Warren
stalked out, while Helen with her
mead On ten table sobbed oncvulsive-
ly. II