Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-12-20
Lesson
in Time
By J.K. MARSHALL
Copyright, 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)

4ACAC was Az llOIS uCNUtGu ana
happy couple than the Wards, who had
been married few short weeks; but
today Helen was not happy. This was
due to the fact that she had taken the
time this morning to review the events
of the past few weeks. She knew
that Bruce loved her dearly, and
in his good-heartedness would deny
her nothing to make her happy. But
now she was to acknowledge he had
one serious fault, which was a men
ace to their future happiness, His
belief that it was his sole right to
supervise everything about the house
hold clashed harshly with her free
and Independent ideas.
Helen had religiously refused to
allow these thoughts to enter her mind
until last evening, when they had en-
tertained for the first time in their
new home. She had looked forward
with much pleasure to this event, and
thought with q touch of pride how
Mrs. Warren would compliment her on
the haven of delight that she and
Bruce had created for their home. But
what bitter disappointment it had
been to her as she stood by and heard
Bruce, in answer to the many pleas
ant EXPLANATIONS from the guests, as
they viewed the furnishings, assume
the credit to himself, in a proprietary
manner, with not one word of praise
for herself. The realization Of this
trait in Bruce had spoilt her evening,
and she was unable to be the gay,
Iight-hearted girl they had always
known.
After the guests had departed
Bruce had asked her what was
wrong; but her efforts at an expla-
nation only aroused in him a feeling
of resentment. Her gentle remon-
STRANGE at his persistently ignoring
her, not only in the selection of the
household furnishings but their ar
rangement as well, had brought forth
from him his declaration that he was
master of his home.
She realized the futility of further
discussion of this subject with Bruce,
because she knew him to be too posi-
tive in his ideas. She thought over
all this carefully, and made up her
mind to change things. Yes, she
would begin right now. She called
her mother on the phone and asked
her to go shopping with her.
Helen bought new silk covers for
the round cushions, new curtains for
the windows and a beautiful rich
brown cover for the library table.
She had wanted these things in the
living room, when she was first mar
ried. Well, now she was going to
have them. Mother had always Sc
lected these things at home. Other
women planned the arrangement Of
their homes So would she.
After they had tea, she left her
mother and went home. Hurriedly
slipping into her large blue Bingham
apron, she went to work. First, she
took down the curtains in the living
room. Mrs. O'Brien had cleaned the
windows just two days ago, so she
could now put up the new curtains.
Then she opened her packages.
'What a beautiful, rich golden
brown" she thought, as she held the
curtains up to admire them. "And
how well they looked with the brown
rug!" Soon the room took on new,
pretty effect. True, the curtains and
other things that Bruce had bought
were lovely, but they were not just
what Helen had wanted; and then,
she must show Bruce that she, too,
could plan and furnish room with
excellent taste, and that it was her
right.
Her work completed, she found it
would be a little more than an hour
before Bruce would be home. She
would have plenty of time to dress
and read awhile before starting to
prepare dinner. She had just been
In the sun parlor a few minutes, try
ing to become interested in late
novel, when Bruce arrived. She saw
him coming up the walk, carrying a
square white box under one arm and
a long box in his other hand. ''Flow-
ers and candy" thought Helen. This
had happened once before, when
Bruce left the house in a bad humor
after breakfast, because Helen had |
served bacon with their eggs, and |
Bruce did not eat pork ain any way,
shape or form" Flowers and candy |
were his peace offering, which should |
cover any breach. Well, he must
learn differently. She usually ran
to the door to meet him, but today
she pretended to be reading.
Bruce entered the house and, plac-
ing his packages on the table, he
went to her quickly.
"Helen, DEAR" he began, 81 want
to talk to you. It is about last
night"
Helen gazed at him in surprise.
Why, what did it mean2 This peni-
tent tone from Bruce. And he had
never before said he was sorry. Per-
haps she had been too hasty about
buying the new things for the living