The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-23
Helen Hunters
Husband
EXHAUSTED PATIENCE.
BY JANE PHELPS
Chapter /.


I've gone the limit" Jack Hunter
slammed the door upon his words cut
ting off the retort on his wife's lips
which reached him then like the echo
of a sharp wailing cry.
A din of small noises, turbulent and
strident, eddied about the building as
he emerged into the street He started
off with an angry stride. pushing one
screaming lad out of the way, and 1t
was not until he reached the corner
that he turned and almost uncon-
sciously waved hand to the weeping
woman in the window of the third
story flat he had just left. He had not
meant to wave to her, but habit is
strong and in the year they had been
married he never once had failed TO
turn and wave a last goodbye before
he turned the corner, usually smiling
gayly.
Now he frowned, and a muttered
"damni'' escaped his lips as he went
on his hurried chase to the canyon
of the subway which each morning
bore him to the office where he kept
track of his prospects" and the COM
missions he had made with the insur-
ance company for which he worked.
Finding a seat. his paper lay unread
on his knee while his thoughts busted
themselves with his own affairs. What
cared he about national or civic
going's on when in his own household
was disruption and unhappiness
What did he care who was divorced,
Or what Wall Street was doing? Helen
was getting more unbearable every
day-that is, her actions were. She
herself was as sweet as ever. That
was the trouble-if only he could hate
heri
He recalled with a frown and eyes
growns somber, something his father
had said when he told him he was
going to be married.
'tMarriage is q grave matter, JACK.
Take plenty of time to make sure you
and Helen are suited to each other
Marriage is the gravest thing in the
world, the gravest in a man or a
woman's life. 1t makes or mars And
the marring, dear boy, is often done
as effectively as the making. There's
time enough Jack-there's always
time enough to be sure"
Jack remembered how he had
laughed at his fathers caution. How
he had assured him ''he knew what he
was about" and had laughed at him
a bit in his thoughts, calling him an
'old fogy" and feeling that he did not
understands if he needed further
assurance that he and Helen would be
the happiest people on earth!
He recalled the day he told his
mother He told her everything there
was to tell. She was so sympathetic
his words fairly poured over each
other as he described this wonderful
girl he loved, who had promised to be
his wife-the only woman in life for
hinl-they were desperately In love
with each other-they were to be
married-married as soon as possible.
When he stopped. he saw slow tear
trickling down his mothers cheek.
He could scarcely recall ever hav-
ing seen his mother cry, not for years
anyway. He had held out a hand 10
comfort her, and she had caught 1t
between her own.
Don't you want me to get married
mother?' he had asked.
"Of course I DO. Jack-sometime-
when-you are sure. There is some
thing very sad-even tho it is beau
less of the future. Life is a hard
thing at best. Jack dear. Real. true.
self-sa crificing love is rare: it doesn I
come to many. If it has come to you
lam glad, even tho it brings you sor-
row. But wait. Jackie sure!'
There she was going on just like
father in spite of her sympathetic ma
ture. the young lover had thought. He
recalled he had told her over and over
then never would there be sorrow for
him: that he never was so happy in
his life-that they, he and Helen,
were IIddo 1OI each OtH6I.
He felt like laughing aloud as he
remembered that expression; made
for each other; He did smile a nasty
curve of the lips that gave his good
natnred face a sinister look.
His mother had asked if Helen had
money. Just as If that made any diff
ference He had told her she had al
ways lived at home with her widowed
mother, who had taken paying guests
to exc out her slender income. But
he could take care of her. His COM
missions with the insurance company
were growing all the time.
The wheels grated and screecheil
as they dragged to a stop along the
rails
Nassau Street" the guard called
and. stuffing his unread paper into
his pocket, Jack Hunter rose with the
rest and fought his way out of the
crowded car.
(Tomorrow-Jack Hunter leaves the
farm.)