The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-08-27

A LITTLE GLIMPSE OF "HEAVEN" I
John Ferroll came home from theI
office with a strange light in his eyes.
For many months Edith had not seen
him in such spirits-hugging her boy
ishly, playing with the Riddles, tele-
phoning his neighbor AL Blake to bring
his wife over and Tets have little
game of something" whistling as ne
brisked about the house.
Jack, darling" ventured Edith at
last, something good has happened
Won't you tell me what? I'm getting
wrinkles from sheer suspense!"
Johns habitual reserve about his
business affairs at first babe him keep
his news to himself. But EditE's pref
| ty, pleading face, her eager manner
warmed him into condolences. Besides
| he was bit excited himself, and
| longed to "get it off his chest"
We've made bit of money. that's
ALL" he said, trying to look uncon-
cerned "Took little flier in Bonan-
| "a Copper. She's gone up three points
already"
Edith hadn't very clear idea how
much three points''was. But sudden
| ly exultation seized her. Money-there
was money at hand. Never mind how
much. Money was money, and the
world seemed touched with magic gold.
| She didn't stop to analyze the source
| of their good fortune. Stocks and
| Wall Street were symbols of wealth
to Edith Ferroll, not realms of lurking
danger, pitfalls of temptation.
| ooh, Jack, jack" she cried. her
! eyes a-sparkle, her arms about his
neck. To the detriment of his fresh
collar, just put on in compliment to
the coming Blakes, and his nicely
brushed hair, Edith danced him round
the room, while the children-Nirginfa
| looking up from her lessons, Jack in
his little nightie. his mouth shaped
| into an "ah!"-looked delightediy on.
The Blakes arrived and the little
! game resolved into a double duet of
talk The two husbands paired off
and we're soon making columns Of fig
ures and doing sums in multiplication
and division. The two wives planned
excitedly trip to the shops.
"You take my advice, dearie," Lily
Blake was saying for the tenth time,
and blow 1t while you've got it."
But l haven't exactly got it." pro-
tested Edith in whom long years of
skipping had bred a distinct wariness
| in financial matters. at all depends
| on whether the thing keeps on going
up John says'he'll give me"
Listen, Edie! Never mind what
John gives you. You go quick and
buy what's needed. He'll have enough
at the end of this week to pay all the
damage. Why, you ought to clean up
cool half thousand-EASY; and
maybe more"
Edith's eyes widened. She felt al
most giddy If this were truei Why
lit was a glimpse of Wonderland; of
heaven itself almost. Her woman's
mind raced madly through fowery
fields of frocks and millinery
She would outfit the children newly
from top TO toe. She would replenish
Johns shabby store of underwear and
haberdashery. And for herself-she
felt little hysterical as she dared to
think of the things she would purchase
I for her own modest wardrobe. SILK
stockings. maybe, And two pairs OF
really good bOots-two pairs at one
time, as Lily Blake did
And, oh, some of those silky, soft
pink things to wear underneath!
Dare she commit such undreamed of
extravaganza? Should she even buy
some of that perfume that she had
priced once in a moment Of yearning
Three dollars and seventy-ive cents,
the girl had told her, for two-ounce
bottle. And very reasonable, indeed,
madam, for the genuine imported. 1t
is real flower essence, you know, not
mere sandalwood." The delicious
aroma of it had haunted Edith for
days. tantalizing her with its message
of tropic languor. dewy groves of bios
SONS, moonlight, the sea-
The Blakes at last went home, Lily
first making an engagement for shop
ping tour on the morrow Edith Fer
rol could not sleep. She dared not
believe what Mrs. Blake had said
about half a thousand, and maybe
more" Yet strange visions danced
,
|