Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 168, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 July 1911 — MARRIED LIFE, SECOND YEAR [ARTICLE]

MARRIED LIFE, SECOND YEAR

HELEN gated sleeplesely out of her moon-lit window. From below came he faint striking of .the dinfrig room clock. She counted the alow regular strokes —twelve—it was midnight. For three long tours she bed lain there tossing feverishly. Her heed ached, her eyes burned, and the throbbing pain In her heart seemed unbearable. To the telegram eha had sent Warren yesterday—there tad been no reply! AH last night and all today she had waited qulverlngly for an answer —but none had come. What could it mean? Surely hd must be ill—Tory ill, or he would have answered. How much longer could she bear this suspense? Through the open window came the sounds of the crickets and tree frogs, and the night air was softly fragrant. She drew a kimona about her and went over and knelt by the window. The moonlight was almost as bright ae day.

There was a sudden rustle among the lilac bushes under her window and Rover sprang out and ran across the yard. “Here Rover—Rover!’’ Helen called softly, so softly that it wae hardly more than a whisper. But Rover heard and came running back under the window. He looked up at her with eloquent eyes and waiving tall. And then as though he feat the witchery of the night and the moonlight, be lay down and rolled over and over on the soft grass. Yielding to a sudden impulse, Helen threw a heavier wrap about her, silently stole down stairs:, unlocked ths front door, paused for a moment on the vine-covered porch .and then went out into the yard,. Rover came bounding toward her. “Hush-hush! No, no, you muen'i bark,** and Rover, seeming to understand, contended himself with a low whine of delight as be leaped about her. Unheeding the dew-wet gras which soon drechen her bedroom slippers, Helen walked slowly about the yard, blindly seeking relief in motion from her tortured thoughts. What could it mean? Why had he not answered her telegram? ’Oh, why had she come on this trip? Surely it would have been better to have stayed and endured his coldness than to have come out here and suffered this anxiety. Should she throw her pride to the winds and go back tomorrow? And then came a thought so fearful that she hid her face in her hands. What if he should NOT WANT HER TO COME BACK? Was THAT what he was trying to show by his silence? Oh, no—no; she knew it could not be! And yet, just the thought had so unnerved her that she sank down on a bench under the lilac bushes and sobbed convulsively. Rover, with his paws in her lap, gazed up at her with eyes full of distress. Rhe put her arms about him and rested her cheek against his head.

“Oh, Rover—Rover, what shall I do? What shall I do?” And Rover could only whine in answer. At length she turned slowly back to the house. As she stole through the dark hall, feeling her way along the wall with her hand, she accidentally touched the telephone, causing a faint stir on the bell. The Long-Distance Telephone. The telephone! The telephone! The same telephone that was in their apartment in New York, where Warren was now sleeping. In a few moments she could be talking with him! She was leaning, heavily against the wall. Why had she not thought of that? In this way she could end her suspense. The cost? But what difference would that make if she could only hear from tlm! It she could only KNOW what had happened! Without stopping to consider. Just following the wild Impulse that led her on, she felt for the receiver and took it down. “Hello!” gazing In the darkness before her. "Is this a long distance telephone? Can I speak to New York from here?” “To Now York?” the operator’s voice answered sleepily. “Yea, all the ‘phones are long distance.” "How much will it be?” “Something like six dollars, I think. Hold the wire. 11l look it up.” A pause. “Yes, six-fifty for three minutes and two dollars for each additional minute or fraction thereof,” evidently reading from the rate book. "But if I shouldn't get the party?" asked Helen. "Then ft doesn’t cost you anything.” "Well I want to try,” desperately. "But don’t charge this to my father. Dr. Allen. Hl come down In the morning and p*y you. Now will you try to get New York? Will tt take long?" "Not very. What’s the number of the ’phone and the name of the party?” “Riverside 2603. and the name Is Warren E. Curtis.” “AU right. I’ll caU you when I make the connections.” “Oh no, I don’t want you to ring this ’phone! I don't want to wake any one up. Can’t I hold the receiver?” “Why, yes, you can. But It will be some time.” "That doesn’t matter, ru bold the •phone. Juet make the connections as quick as you can." With every quivering nerve strained to tihe breaking point, she stood there in the dark, leaning against the wall, the receiver at her ear. What would be the result of this? What would the next few moments moan? What would they bring to her? The wires burned loudly. She could bear the mingling of distant voices, with occasions; words—“BL Louis,” "New York." And then at last she heard some one give the number "Riverside 2603!" She was cold all over now, and trembling so she could hardly hold the receiver. Another wait that F"?med an sterility, then "Here’s New York. You went Warren E. Curtis, Riverside 2003?” Helen heard herself eay “Yes.” "All right there’s your party. Go ahead.” “Hello! HaBol” she called qußsur-