The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-08
NED SQUARES ACCOUNTS


honeymoon in a glow of Joy and ex-
citenient. The former Ferrol cottage,
looking wonderfully spick and span
In new paint and enamel, stood ready
for their occupancy. A procession OF
furniture vans and delivery wagons
left loads which had to be uncrated,
moved and arranged. AS the coy
little house became an exceptionally
seductive home there followed a series
of housewarmings, jolly informal
parties and showers" Of presents.
The Flowertons put an end to the
holidaying as soon as they could with
out hurting the feelings of their many
friends.
We've work to do" they explained
in declining invitations to play.
For they had rented a pretty shop
in the Thirties. just off Fifth avenue.
for Ruth's costume studio" Again
there was furnishing to be chosen and
bought, interior decorators to be dealt
with, fabrics and library on cos
tunes to be selected.
John Ferrol. who had done both his
own and Ned's work for weeks. insist.
ed that Ned stay away from the Office
until he had thoroughly established
his home and Ruth's shop.
I'VE get along pretty we'll without
you" he said jocularly. Business has
picked up marvelously since you have
been away You're busy at your nest
building Go to it and do 1t up brown.
I'll hold the fort
John Ferrols looks belied his jocu-
larity. The strain of doing two mems
work in a rapidly growing business
had been great He looked worn and
tired But Ned let him keep at his
double job for a few days longer. His
office work would take every bit OF
his energy and time once 1t was under
way, and he could not tear himself
away as yet from the pleasant and
necessary business of launching Ruth
in the career he had promised her.
Edith, uneasy about her husbands
obviously worn condition, felt a sense
of reproach at Ned's preoccupation In
his own affairs at the expense OF
Johns strength. Several times she
was on the point Of speaking to her
brother, but when she saw the radiant
happiness of the Flowertons and their
tremendous absorption in their new
life she could not find the heart to re-
proach him.
Then one afternoon Ned said to her:
Isn't Saturday the fifteenth annivers-
airy of your marriage, Ede-the wood
en- or tin or ivory or something we'd
ding? Aren't you giving a party Of
some sort ?"
well, Ned, we were going to have
you and Ruth to dinner at our house."
Edith said slowly Johns too tired to
be officiating at parties"
Tho hint coorpod RI occaro Nod
"All right, then. It'll be the family,
only. Ell? All the better"
There was shade Of mystery in
his manner as he said this which
puzzled Edith. But she could make
nothing Of its meaning nor of Ned's
failure to relieve her husband Of his
double burden of work at the first
possible moment. She was still more
puzzled when neither Ned nor Ruth
brought the least token of the day
with them on the night Of their ami
versary dinner. 1t was an attention
which would not have escaped the dull
est conscience and it distressed
Edith. Was Ned becoming so engross-
ed in his personal happiness that he
no longer had eyes for any one else'so
1t almost spoiled her evening for her.
rose from his chair.
Edith" he said, turning to the
Ferrols, land you, John; you don't
know how l have looked forward to
this moment. When a man has been
borrowing of his nearest and dearest
kin money and time and faith and
sacrifice and labor and devotion as
have borrowed Of you two; when these
have been loaned him with the readi-
ness and love with which you two
have given them you don't know how
that man looks forward to the day of
payment"
The Ferrols looked at each other,
then at Ned.
"Why, we've gotten back hun
dredfold. a thousandfold, for what we
have laid out for you, Ned" John said
mo, John, you've earned that with
your own labor" Ned said earnestly