The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-10-19
SCAN i BUY YOUR COMPANION
SHIP"

SHIFT!
At the next house where Edith
and her fancywork samples called, her
ring was the signal for a piano WIN
in the house to stop, piano when
had been wildly playing ana no"
paused with an abruptness that sug-
rested mechanical rather than niger
power.
Instead of being admitted by the
usual butler, lovely young woman
opened the door, bright smile on her
face. which faded little at seeing
stranger.
obi" she exclaimed, II thought II
was some one else. | was expecting
a friend. That is-step in, won't YOU"
People always invited Edith in. NOT
even the stiffest of British buffers
eyed her askance. The present lady
listened to the statement OF her er-
rand with uncommon alertness.
"How interesting" she said. taking
Edith's samples on her lap and rum
ming them over with eager fingers.
She was very young, Edith saw, and
wore too many diamonds on her we'd
ding ring finger She moved nervous
ly. almost excitedly. and was OF the
type people describe as takers" She
fairly chattered-
$50 you're doing this to make ex-
ira money, / suppose" she gushed.
"Everybody's doing that nowadays,
aren't they? No one wants to be idle.
I'm taking up Red Cross work.
can't bear not to have anything to
do. l don't see how some folks can
enjoy sitting around. l want to be on
the go every minute. My husband
says l drive people away with my
tongue; but that's only his fun. He
likes to tease me. / told him only
last night"
Edith lost track of her chatter She
was thinking of some way to bring
her to the point of business.
DO you sew much?" Edith finally
broke in at random.
"Oh, can sew; but it's such tame
work. l often run over to the Ladies'
Aid and help them make things for
charity just for companionship. /
hate being alone. Nobody knows low
/ hate it. / like things to be lively.
But my husband doesn't care for gay
ETY.. He Just sits around reading or
working on his wretched plans and
blue-prints.
But he's lot older than l. l some
times think we aren't truly compan-
ionable. He asked me once if l never
cared to read. ! hadn't thought of it
before told him l was quite willing
to read if he would only pick me out
a thin book Most of the ones he sug-
gested were so thick they frightened
me. / did get one out of the library
hut TO fr,ic !,
it. Oh, don't be going. Must you
hurry? l did want to ask you about
these samples. I'm really artistic at
I'm not Now, this baby's bib is per-
fectly darling! Do you suppose I
could get two of them by the last of
the week? Oh, no-not for my own
babies | have none. I'd give any
thing if | had; they'd keep me from
being so lonely
II want the bibs for my sisters kid
dies-the sweetest, most adorable
twins you ever saw in your life. |
cry sometimes by the hour because l
so want one of my own. You can't
imagine how lonesome / get I've a
player piano and photograph and
Persian cat and three Pekinese-"
"Of course. | can let you have the
bibs by Saturday" Edith plunged
into the verbal torrent gently. for the
rattle-brained little creatures one
strain of pathos and sensibility had
struck responsive chord in her heart
II know how you feel about the babies.
Shall l do the bibs in pink and blue
or in one color?" She rose, trying
to pin her odd little hostess down to
few words of definite business.
"Oh, in blue-they are both boys!
But, oh, Mrs." She hadn't even
acquired Edith's name yet Edith
hastily supplied it. Mrs. Ferrol,
wouldn't you-couldn't you-come over
here and do them? All my people
live far away and-and Walter doesn't
come in till all hours. I'll pay any
thing you like-forgive me if seem
rude-anything your time is worth if