San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-06
The Married. Life of
Helen and Warren
BY MABEL HERBERT URNER.
That French "Co}tchette''

safety pins from her toilette case.
"Now what? What's the idea
What tho Sam Hill you trytn' 10
$50 ths, blanket wont Ssvsh
your facet pinning the towel ever
"Huh, YOU'RE ~ nniesv y
travel oven herei II you want
things 20 ell-fired clean-bettsr
stay home. Now, shinny mp there
Il want to yet to sleep"
Dear, there's no ladder-you,u
have to help lme."
Careful yo9 don't ron 81 n ths
night" he swung her up 10 TIE
narrow maksshift berth. Get q
bad bump. No straps to that con
traption to hold you IN"
~Oh, I forgot-my cold srsami
Hand up my toilette case"
"Now cut out the beauty stuntu,s
struggling on his sweater. Get
settled there"
Downing her pajama jAekst,
Helen snuggled down under his
cigary overcoat.
"That won't DO enough q he
tucked it about her. Better have
this blanket, over your feet. Well,
I'll leave it here-you'n want ii
in the night"
"No, no. take it away! I'd freeze
before I'd put that over me-
Now, no wakin' me up to hand
1t to you. How bout. that win
dow? Want it open that much
blows right on you? And I'm not
gettin' up to close it,
mo, / want the air. Dear, be
careful-keep the. towel part next
to your face"
Don't worry bout me. Jove,
this pillows no bigger'n a pin
cushion and bout as soft. How
d'you turn off this bloomin' ight?"
An engulfing darkness. Only a
pale starlight from the window.
They were plunging on now with
the throbbing speed of the French
"rapides."
Always Helen loved laundering
through the night in the snug com
fort of a wagons-lits berth. But
this couchette shelf" was hard and
narrow. And the window, down
from the top, opened on her chiffon
ed ankles.
EARLY AWAKENING.
The linen cover, only laid over
the slippery leather, wrinkled under
her. Her skirt-band pulled, and her
suede oxfords seemed sstiff and
heavy.
Out in the country now, the night
air was sharply chill. Curled up in
knee-chest huddle, she drew closer
the overcoat.
But in spite Of her discomfort, the
swaying rhythm finally lulled her to
a troublous sleep.
Where were they? The train had
stopped.
The suspended motion had awak-
ened her.
She was cold-chilled through.
Shivering, she sat up and peered
out.
A rambling old village, shostly in
the starlight. Dark gabled housed
climbing up a hill. An illuminated
tower clock-ten minutes after 3.
Another four or five hours! She
would freeze!
IL she could close the Window
But the obdurate catches defied her
efforts.
A stiff rattle as she again hud-
died under the overcoat. A paper
in the pocket. Visions OF traps on
windy benches with newspaper
wrapped kneesl
But opened out It was only
thin Paris edition.
Wrapping it about her feet and
ankles, she curled up once more.
Another hour Of shivering discom-
fort. She could never sleep when
cold.
That blanket Germs or not, she
must have il.
Leaning over, she could Just make
out a rumpled heap at Warren's
feet. Could she get 1t without
waking him?
HELEN NO ACROBAT.
Numb with cold, she swung down,
cropping for the lower berth.
But Warren bulked over the edge.
No place to rest her dangling
feet.
Desperately she tried 10 scramble
back, but the cold had cramped her
ability.
Nothing to hold TO but the slip
perry leather pad! And Warren's
hulk barred her drop to the floor.
Just 10 rest one foot-till she
could reach the floor with the
other.
Would II awaken him! She
must chance it--her grip was weak
ening.
Timorously one swinging foot
found uncertain Judgment on his
chest.
A volcanic upheavali His srup-
tive turnover landed her on the
floor.
who's that,- bs rosrsd. "what
In thunder"
A flood OF light.
Blinkingly he stared down at Der.
"Hurt?' he was lifting her MP.
"That damn shelf-'frnid you'd roll
offi'
al was trying to swing down.
quiveringly, rubbing a bruised arm.
Swing down? Why the acrobat
les this time of night?"
"Oh, dear, / almost froze! IL
had to get that blanket"
"Whatd j tell you? Stubborn as
mule! Would have that window
open-and no cover. Why In blazes
didn't you wake me?"
81 knew you'd storm out at me"
still rubbing her arm.
Huh, better that than break your
neck. Here, get in my bunk. No
more trapeze stunts tonight. Now
III bundle you up"
"No, no, not that blanket with the
towel-that's yours. It's warm down