The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-05-18
BY Virginia Terhune Van de Water
CHAPTER XVII


Copyright, 1915. by Star Company.
1t was evident, Isabel Hamilton de- |
cided, that if she would keep her hus-
bands confidence she must not show
her distrust of Mrs. Simmons, but
must submit to his plans for going
to this Woman's house on Thursday
evening
She had been so harassed by her
doubts and suspicious that she al
practising self-deceit. Yet even her
ship between Mrs. Simmons and John
had always been and always would be
harmless, failed to reconcile her to
the prospect OF the party"
When Thursday arrived. atrocious
weather came with 1t. First it
showed. then rained, then the rain
changed to sleet and froze. This last
was the condition of affairs when John
reached home at dinner time. Isabel
watched the storm with the hope that
her husband would find 1t too severe
for her to face in her best evening
gown. But this hope was dissipated
soon after John had seated himself at
Its very cold and very slippery"
he announced BE sure to wear a
heavy coat that will cover your dress,
and don't forget to put on storm rub
bers.'
oh" Isabel said family. then you
are going inspite of the weather, are
you?"
Certainly" he said. When an in
vitation is accepted one cannot back
out at the last minutes"
"Of course not" she rejoined. A
spirit Of opposition made her add:
But since it's such a bad night
think I'll wear a palmer gown than
the one l thought of wearing. That
one has train, you know
Her husband looked his disapproval
of this suggestion. LAS the affair is
| given in your honor. Isabel" he pro-
tested, you must dress handsomely.
You can surely pin up your train.
Yes, l cam" she said. repenting OF
her momentary perversity. But, dear,
really we ought to have a taxi"
You must think I'm made OF
money" he laughed. III you wear a
warm cloak and rubbers you will not
need a cab"
| He repeated this assertion even
when, as they looked out of the win
dow just before starting, they saw
that the rain was descending in tor
| rents.
Isabel Thinks They
Should Have Cab.
"Oh, john" Isabel expostulated, I'VE
must have cab"
"Nonsense." he returned. Il tell
you a cab Is too expensive, and II IS
not far anyway. Come along"
Mrs Simmons lived on Riverside
Drive not far from One Hundred and
Sixth street. Though they took sur
| face car, three cross-town blocks must
be traversed before the Hamiltons
reached their destination. The wind
blew and the rain swept in under the
umbrella that John carried low over
their heads The pavements we're
coated with ice under the water which
covered them. 1sabeis hands were
numb from holding NY her dress. Just
as they turned into the drive, she
slipped. caught at John, missed his
arm and fell full length. Dropping his
umbrella John helped her to her feet.
Are you hurt" he inquired anxious
ly
"A little, and fearfully wet" she
shivered She had fallen upon the
hand with which she was holding up
her train. and it hurt her cruelty. oh.
she moaned, how silly to try to walk
on such a night
| Johns muttered imprecation may
have been addressed to his umbrella,
which at this juntcure. blew across the
sidewalk into the street. or TO MS nat,
which followed the umbrella. Leaving
his wife standing in the pouring RAIN
he gave chase to both, returning in
very bad humor
1T is disagreeable enough to have
an experience like this" he complain
ed, without your taking that l told
you so tone. Now try not to fall again
If you had taken my arm you would
not have slipped.
Il can't take your arm and hold up
my dress, she objected And surely
did not fall down for amusement.
NO, only to prove that we ought 10
have taken taxi. he retorted. AS II
we were millionaires.
Il am suffering too much with my
hand. john" she remarked tremulous-
". to care to be scolded
Your hand?" he asked. Whats the
matter with your hand"
Il hurt it when fell
It's too bad he said perfunctorily.
It'll be better when you get in where
it's warm
When Isabel reached the dressing
room at Mrs Simmons she found that
one glove was split and that her hand
showed red and swollen through the
rent Her pretty pale-blue train was
wet through on one side. her coat was
soaked, and the scarf which had COW
cred her head was beautifully spatter-
ed with the rain that had fallen upon
it while John had been pursuing his
truant umbrella. The maid who assist
ed her to remove her wraps looked at
her pityingly.
Its too bad" the girl sympathized.
And such nice dress, too"
Il simply cannot 60 into company
looking like this" lamented Isabel. as
she arranged her dishevelled locks.