Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-31
Warren. Bored and Irritable, Ignores
Helen's Efforts to Divert Him.


Hot as blazcs in here" grumbled
Warren. "And hustle along that or.
der"
"Yes, sir" Fastening TO turn or
the electric fan nearest their table.
Dear, was it hot in your Office
today" Helen laid aside the menu
after an anxious appraisal OF the
pirate prices.
Hot everywhere curtly, again
cngrossed in his paper.
Wistfuly Helen gazed about the
gray and white, llnen-swathed res
taurant. Other couples were laugh
ing and talking i'll animated dinner
mood. Only she sat silent and neg
lected with Warren barricaded be-
hind the evening paper.
What could she talk about that
would interest him? So far her sew
eral attempts at conversation had
elected only monosyllable grunts.
Dear, how would you like to go
out to the brakes next Sunday?
They've been wanting us to come
all summer--we've just to let them
know
"Um-um," without looking up,
"If YOU don't want to spend the
day-we could leave about and
have the afternoon and evening
To this there was no response
whatever. Patiently she waited,
reading the headlines on the back
of his paper until the waiter brought
the jellied bouillon.
His attention now focused on the
congealed amber broth, Warren
consumed it in stolid silence.
Dear, you seem tired. Did you
have hard day.
mo harder than usual with a
crustness that precluded further
questioning along that line.
1t was several moments before she
ventured on another topic.
"Aren't those red geranums atA
tractive?" admiring the well-kept
window boxes. I've often thought
of having some i'll the dining room
that bay window would take three
boxes. Would they have to be made
to order? What do you suppose
they'd cost?"
Warren's shrug indicated both his
ignorance and indifference.
A barren, dragging interval, en-
phaszed by the vivacious chatter
from nearby tables. spurred Helen to
still another effort.
Il met Mrs. Holden in the elevator
this morning. They're going up to
Cedar Inn for two weeks. Wasn't |
that where the Saniords went last
summer"
"Uh-uh," scooping out large
spoonful Of the quivering jelly.
"I'm sure they won't like it. Mrs.
Sanford said they were eaten up with
mosquitoes. ! wonder why they
don't 60 to the beach again?
Wouldn't you think it would be bet
ter for the children:'
well. I'm not losing any sleep
over where they CO." as the broth
now finished, he reached for the
paper.
Discouraged at the pathetic failure
OF her conversational manocuvers.
Helen broodingly regarded the other
diners. What were they all talking
about? Why were they all so inter-
ested? Was it because they were not
married? Was that what made the
difference?
She, thought of that wonderful year
before and during their engagement
when dining out together was an
event, not part OF the daily
routine. Then there had been so {
much to talk about Tvery trivial
thing had seemed of vital I'M
portance.
Now Warren looked bored to ex-
tinction at every subject she
broached. 1t was an effort to get
even a grunted response.
Over the entree of broiled mush-
rooms she tried. to think of some
thing in her uneventful day that
might arouse a gleam of interest.
ooh, the man came this morning
to fix that lock on the bathroom
door. He said the spring was
broken-it'll be cheaper to put on a
bolt. We never lock it from the i
outside-so won't a bolt do just as ,
well2"
"S'pose so,' absently.
1t was Just then that Helen caught !
a snatch of the trivial but lively dia- c
logue from the adjoining table. +
Il did call you up but your wire ,
was busy. Well, that's what central !.
said. About 3. | tried again at I
half-past but you were out" t
1t was the old story of Before and {
After" reflected Helen bitterly,
comparing this couples absorption =
with Warren's utter boredom. :
Over the roast lamb and aspara-
gus she made another attempt. :
Dear, did you read that wireless
story in this months Colmore's?
About the politician who had a Sc
cret station and received messages
from II
"Oh, cut it! Don't rehash any OF
those Colmore yarns. Ilresome
when you read EN- first
hand" :
"Why I thought the last few num-
bers had been rather good. They've
started a new serial by Fullerton
Haven't you seen the announcement?
They're advertising it everywhere"
Same old sex slush,' buttering his
.
"Evidently that's what the people Z
want" eager to pursue any subject -
L he would only talk. They say .
he gets enormous prices-he's the .
highest paid of all the magazine :
writer's" \
But Warren's glum silence pro-
claimed his complete indifference to
Fullerton's stories or the amount Of
lis income.
Through the salad Helen made no
urther attempt to divert him. In HI
stead she gave herself up to the nj
,lackest brooding. ia
Were all marriages like thisG Was