Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1922-11-15


pavements, it seemed as if it had al
ways rained, and always would rain.
Helen was tired, blue and ashamed
ashamed because she was blue; blue
because she was tired; and tired be-
cause-wearily her mind reviewed her
day.
She had dragged herself out of bed
at half-past five, but even then her
simple toilet had been fastened to an
untidy half completion by the queru-
lous insistence Of her mothers frequent
how utterly impossible it is for me to
lift my head until I've had my coffee!
Aren't you almost ready?" Mrs. Ray
mond had Weakened earlier than usual
that morning, and she could never en-
dure to lie in bed when not asleep.
With one shoe unbuttoned and no
collar on, Helen had prepared the cot
fee; then had come the delicate task of
getting the semi-invalid up and dressed,
1t had all resulted as Helen had
feared that it would result-she was
late; and hardness at Henderson &
Henderson's meant a sharp reprimand,
and in time, fine. Helens place in
the huge department store was behind
counter where spangled nets and
embroidered chiffons were Sold It had
seemed to Helen today that half the
world must be giving 4 ball to which
the other half was invited, so con-
stant-in spite of the rain-were the
calls for her wares.
AnnoyanceS at the counter had
been more frequent today than usual,
Helen thought. Perhaps the rain had
made people cross. Helen's list Of sales
had been short in spite Of her incessant
labor-and the list of sales was what
Henderson & Henderson looked at
when a promotion was being con-
Sidered,
And through it all, hour after hour,
there had been the simmer of the
spangles, the light chatter of coming
balls and weddings, the merry voices
Of care-free girls-the youth, and love,
and laughter.
youth, and love, and laughter" I'm
consciously Helen repeated the words
aloud, men she smiled bitterly as she
applied them to herself. YOuth?-she
was twenty-five. Love?-the grocer?
the lnillilnan? the floorwall1er? oh, yes,
and there was the p0stman. Laughter?
she could not remember when she
had seen anything funny-really funny
enough to laugh at
OF all this Helen thought as she
plodded YEARLY homeward of this, and
more At home there would be supper
to prepare, her mother to get to bed,
and the noon dishes to clear away.
Helen drew in her breath sharply as
She thought Of the dinner. She hoped
that it had not been tlfish-and-cream
today. If it had, she must speak to
Mrs. Mason. Goldfish twice a week
might do, but five times! (Mrs. Mason
was the neighbor who, for a small sun,
each day, brought Mrs. Raymond her
dinner fully cooked.) There was @
waist to iron and some mending to do
Helen sighed now. She was almost
home, but involuntarily her speed
slackened. Enthusiastically she dreaded
to go home
At the shabby door Of the apartment,
house Helen half closed her umbrella
IL,
ing herself from something as obnox
1ous as was the rain, she threw bach
herhcad and shook that, too A mo
ment later, carefully carrying the drip
ping umbrella, she hurried up three
flights of stairs and unlocked the doo]
Of the rear suite.
My, but it sprinlSles! Did you know
1t?' she cried cheerily to the little won
an sitting by the west window.
'Sprinkles' Helen, how can Vol
speak like that when you know what
dreadful day it is !" fretted the woman
"Rut, then, you don't know. You neve
do know. If you had to just sit her
and stare and stare and stare at tina
rain all day as do, perhaps you woul,
know"
"Perhaps," smiled Helen oddly-sh
was staring just then at the havoc tina
that same rain had wrought in wha
had been fairly good hat.
her mothers glance followed hers.
Helen, that can't be-your hat !!
cried the woman, aghast.
Helen smiled quizzically. "Do yo
know that's exactly what I was think
ing myself, mother! 1t can't be-bu
it is.
"But it's utterly, utterly rulned!"
YES ma'am."
"And YOU haven't any other that
really decent!"
mo, maum."
The woman sighed in1patiently
"Helcn, how can YOU answer like th,
when you know what it means to sno
that hut? Can't anything dampen Won
absurd high spirits?''
High spirts!' breathed the girl.
quick flash leaped to her eyes.
Clothed in dry garments little late1
Helen set about the evenings task.
'Helen," called a doleful voice fro1
the sitting room. -
Eyes, mother"
"She brought goldfish again today
five times this week; and you kno,
how I dislike Goldfish !"
eyes, know, dear. I'm so sorry ~
"'Sorry'! But that doesn't feed mt
You must speak to her, Helen. / can