The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-12-03
Married Life, Third Year
BY MABEL HERBERT uRNER

On each side of the vestibule was the
row of names, letter boxes and bells,
Some of the names were on soiled CARA
lessly written and carelesslv inserted
which gave one an unpleasant impress
sion of the tenant. Others We're print
ed and one or two were On metal
plates.
Helen pressed the bell under a neat
card in Smill script type-"Miss Laura
wilson, From the door came an ans
wering click
Inside the hall was dark and narrow
The stairs We're at the back. She had
just turned the second flight when
Laura Wilson, in a large big apron ap-
peared at the landing above
oh, it was dear of YOU to come. y
leading Helen into the little four-room
flat. I've been so excited about it all
day. l could hardly wait to get home
from the office"
/ do hope YOU haven't gone TO any
trouble protested Helen. as she took
off her things in the tiny bedroom
What a cunning little place" looking
around with eager interest.
isn't it? And I'm so absurdly
proud of it all. oh. I've so much to
tell you'll don't know where to begin.
1t seems so wonderful to have real
home of my own. Wait. I've something
on the stove that will burn, Come on
out if you want to-" and she darted into
the kitchen.
1t had been over a year since Helen
had called on Laura Wilson in her
dingy furnished room. She had just
come to New York then from Helen's
home town. and Helens mother had
written her to call and see what she
could do to make her feel less lonely.
Helen had had Laura to dinner sew
eral times and then had lost track OF
her, as one SO often does in New York.
1t was only by chance they had met
again in the subway. Laura had told
her enthusiastically of a little four
room flat she had taken on One Hun
dred and Fifty sixth street. and had
ca gerly insisted on her coming up
some evening for dinner.
"Pd ask Mr.. Curtis, too she laughed,
'only l haven't enough dishes"
So Helen promised 10 come the first
evening Warren dined out. She felt
conscious stricken that she had not
kept in touch with her. A young wo-
man alone in New York-there were
many ways she might help her.
Isn't it the dearest little kiechen?
proudly as Helen exclaimed over it all.
Il had the loveliest time fixing up my
china closet. Look painted it all
white myself"
Everything was blue and white, the
shelving paper. the china, the tea and
coffee canisters and even the enamelled
saucepans.
But doesn't it cost a good deal to
keep this up?' for she knew Laura 5
-+o could
very large.
ct doesn't cost me any more than 1t
did in that awful furnished room. and
I made myself sick eating around at
cheap restaurants.
But your rent here-"began Helen.
"My rent is just s24," as she took
from the refrigerator plate of butter
and put a generous spoonful in the po-
tatoes she was dreaming. 81 have the
bedroom rent to a young girl for $3.50
a week. I'll show it to you in min
ute. That was supposed to be the liv-
ing room you were in-Pve made that
into my bedroom, and used the dining
room for a sitting room. Do you like
onions?' taking a bunch of young
onions from a basket of fresh veget-
ables under the table.
Love them" answered Helen, very
promptly.
We'll. that makes about 81 a month,
which leaves my rent only s13. and [
paid SIS for that second-story back
room at Mrs. Ellison 's-you know how
dingy and depressing that was
Again she went to the refrigerator
and took out a platter of five freshly
cut lamb chops with paper frills on the
trimmed bones.
II told my butcher I was going to
have my first company dinner tonight
and you see how he dressed up the
chops" taking off the papers and lay
ing the chops on the hot iron grill.
ooh, I can't tell you how I love it all
my little kitchen and my own bath
But you haven't seen anything, have
you? Now" as she showed the grill
back in the oven, come, I'll show you
the flat
Helen was enthuSia site about it all.
Everything was so clean and orderly.
The tiny bathroom was spotlessly
white.
"The landlord papered the rooms but
he wouldn't do anything to the bath
room and kitchen-so 1 had to paint
this woodwork myself oh, you don't
know what you can do with can of
white paint