THE END OF THE HONEYMOON
Helen Waldstricker walked nervously
up and down the library. Many times during the
past hour she had gone to the window and stared out
into the night. It was almost impossible to read
or work with her mind in such a state of perturbation.
Every sound caused her to lay aside her book.
She was waiting for Ebenezer to return from the station
with Madelene and Frederick.
Helen dreaded the home-coming of the
newly married pair. Ebenezer was all upset over
the letters his sister had written him from abroad,
and as Deforrest was obliged to be away so much, she
had spent many hours of mental worry by herself.
The sound of a carriage took her into
the hall, where she stood until Ebenezer threw open
the door.
The first sight of her young sister-in-law
showed Mrs. Waldstricker that the girl was not at
all contented and happy. Madelene’s face
was pale, but not more so than Frederick’s.
Ebenezer looked like a thunder cloud. Helen,
with her usual tact and sweetness greeted the young
people in a sisterly manner.
“I’m so glad to have you
both back,” she purred, kissing first one, then
the other. “Now, dear,” to
Madelene, “come along up with me and get off
your wraps and then we’ll have dinner.”
The two women went upstairs together
in silence, and it was not until Helen had closed
the door and Madelene had removed her wraps that Mrs.
Graves turned upon her brother’s wife.
“I suppose you noticed from
Ebbie’s letters that I’ve been awfully
unhappy?”
“Yes,” admitted Helen,
“but I was in hopes it had passed over.”
“It’s worse now than it
was before,” answered Madelene, “I’m
perfectly certain he doesn’t care for me ”
“Then why did he marry you?” interrupted
Helen.
“For my money! That’s why!”
Helen’s answering ejaculation
brought a short, bitter laugh from the girl.
“Oh, no, dear,” protested
Mrs. Waldstricker. “You must be mistaken.
I’m positive, he’s an honorable young
man.”
Madelene flung herself impatiently into a chair.
“Sit down,” she said.
“Don’t stand up!... Oh, I’m
so tired! It seems years since we left France.
And Fred’s been like a death’s house all
the time. I can’t for the life of me see
why he should act the way he does. Why, Helen,
he goes days without as much as ever starting to speak
to me. If he talks at all, I simply have to drag
the words from him.”
“That’s dreadful,”
sympathized Helen, “but perhaps he isn’t
well, dear. Why don’t you get him to see
a doctor?”
Madelene shrugged her shoulders disdainfully.
“It’s not a doctor he
wants, it’s that Skinner girl, I can see that
plainly enough.”
Helen dropped on the arm of the girl’s
chair and slipped her arm around her neck.
“Well, now you’re home,”
she soothed. “Ebenezer’ll help you
if he can, and I know Deforrest will. I’m
perfectly certain though, Tessibel Skinner would do
nothing to make Frederick swerve from his loyalty to
you.”
“Do you know whether Eb went
down there to see her?” asked the girl, wearily.
“I think he did. He asked
Tess for Frederick’s letters, but she said she
hadn’t received any from him. And really,
I don’t believe she did, for she tells everything
to Deforrest and she’d tell him that, I’m
sure.”
Madelene shook her head incredulously.
“I feel perfectly positive he wrote her,”
she asserted.
“Well, perhaps! ” said Helen.
Then they were silent a few moments.
“I suppose you haven’t
guessed something I have to tell you,” stammered
Helen, presently.
Madelene turned her eyes upon her sister-in-law.
Then she smiled.
“Helen, dearest, aren’t you glad about
it?”
Helen blushed and radiated a smile.
“Yes, very, and so is Ebenezer!
We both feel as if we have much to be thankful for and
now if you were only happy ”
“Oh, Helen, I know I’ve
upset Ebbie a whole lot, but who else could
I go to?... Do tell me when ”
“In May, dear,” whispered
Helen. “I wish you were as happy as I....
But there’s the dinner bell. Let’s
go down.”
When they entered the dining room,
Ebenezer was standing alone, his back to the grate.
“Did you say anything to him, Eb?” demanded
Madelene.
“Certainly, child, but he insists
he scarcely knows her. He rehearsed the trouble
his sister had before she died ”
“Oh, he’s told me that,
too,” interjected Madelene, tartly, “but
that wouldn’t make him mix her name up with
mine, would it, and make him get mad every time I
mention her?”
“He seems to be very much incensed
that any one should accuse him of caring for her,”
observed Ebenezer. “And Madelene ”
Helen went quickly to her sister-in-law.
“Dear,” she interrupted
her husband, “if I were you, I wouldn’t
say anything more about it to Frederick until you’re
certain.... Here he comes, now. Do be pleasant
to him, both of you.”
But in spite of Helen’s good
offices, the first dinner at home was anything but
a happy one for the young couple.