The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-27
Helen Hunters
Husband
HELEN's MOTHER PASSES AWAY
BY JANE PHELPS

| CHAPTER s..
There was unusual commotion per-
ceivable in the house even from the
street. Every room was lighted, and a
motor car was drawn up to the curb.
They hurried in, anxious to know what
was going on.
The doctor met them at the door.
What is it?' Helen gasped. She
knew the doctor, he had been called
! once when her mother had tainted.
''Mother!"
Eyes. she is very i'll. She Keeps
asking for you. Try not to excite her.
Be as quiet as you can" To Jack he
said. She is past help
HelenNs mother died that night. She
died happily, holding Helen's hand.
When things We're straightened out
there was about $500 left. Part of this
Helen used to get mourning-stylish.
becoming dark clothes that Jack hated
on her, and which-altho he did not
say so-he Thought unnecessary. They
needed the money so badly. He had
found a small apartment on the upper
West side, only four rooms, and they
would have to buy furniture, as Mrs
Ardmore had rented the boarding
house furnished.
NJack had limited very cautiously that
one could grieve just as sincerely in
colors and mentioned that her clothes
would go out of style if she did not
wear them. But Helen had been so
shocked, so hurt at the suggestion she
should not wear black for her mother
that he said no more. 1t was her
money.
They furnished the four rooms with
very simple and only necessary things,
yet found themselves in debt to the
installment house for the dining room
furniture. Jack had wished to put off
buying it, but Helen would not listen.
'tAll have now, mother is gone, is
had answered his objections. then
chung about his neck telling him how
she loved him, until he would have
pawned his very soul for her.
Jack Hunter was very direct in all
that he did. His simple life with his
parents had ill fitted him to cope
with subt1ety. He was tall, dark rath-
er than light, athletic, had lived an
outdoor life always His face was seri-
Gus at times, but when he laughed his
eyes lit up with a roguish twinkle.
Helen used to say she fell in love with
him when he was laughing.
AS opposed to Jacks directness,
Helen was subtle and rather deceitful.
Life never had been restrained for
her. her mother had seen to that.
Jack had huilded Ill for himself in
his talks with Helen before their mar
riage. His unwarranted optimism be-
cause of his desire for her had thor
oughly impregnated her mind and
colored all her thoughts. Now that
her mother was gone, Jack must stand
in that mothers place. She must be
shielded, INDUCED. She did not say
everything she did, she made him feel
that this was her attitude.
Had Jack Hunter known that
Helen's only idea of happiness lay in
doing what she willed, being INDUCED
as her mother had INDUCED her with
many additions because he was hus-
band and it was his duty, with a
checkbook as her aide-de-camp, he
would have been almost frightened
and he surely would have been dis
couraged. But Jack wasAnot partic-
ularly 1ntuitive. He couldn't be ex-
pected to read her mind. Yet, even
so, many things worried him.
At first the newness of everything
intrigued Helen. The little apartment
all newly furnished, the dainty
kitchen, the utensils so shining, the
novelty of being in her own homo, its
mistress. amused and entertained her
tJack adored her, and had no idea she
was beginning to fretSbefore she had
been three months in their little home
She wanted to 20 out oftener. But
Jack was tired when night came and
he loved to stretch his feet out and
smoke his cigar while he read the
evening paper-always helping Helen
| first with the dishes. After that he
worked over his prospects for half an
hour, getting his business IN shape for
the next day.
at saves so much time" he an
swered when Helen found fault.
'I love you when you look so do
mestic,' he told Helen as he kissed her
cheek, flushed from bending over the
stove. THAT white apron is almost
too small to be much use. isn't it?
Mother always wears one OF those Dig
affairs that covers her whole dress"
| (Tomorrow-4Jack finds Helen hard to
Satisfy