The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-12-23
Chapter So
MARK COMES AGAIN

"SNN SS"6S SaRsV
1t seems to me as look back over
that Summer, that 1t was series of
climaxes, from which We dropped i'm
mediately to q dead level. That mo-
mentous day-the most terrible Esther
had ever conversational us sitting
calmly at the table, eating pork chops
and boiled potatoes. as though moth
ing important had happened.
Our hired men ate hurridly and raw
enously and went out to their work.
Jim ate as heartily as though he had
not been through some OF the most
tempestuous emotions possible, not
and remorse--and anxiety as to wheth,
err his home would be broken up or not
had no effect on his appetite. He
ate five chops and regretted the fact
that we had only gingerbread and
coffee for dessert.
James did not appear and thought
it best for him to wait until the meal
was over. But he came in finally. a
little frightened, and sullen as usual.
Esther ate as steadily an amply as
usual-indeed, the only two people in
the family not directly affected by the
mornings quarrel. were the only ones
too upset for food-yi and myself.
II dunno what I'll do about it" Es-
Their told me that afternoon.
And little later in the day she re-
marked:
81 guess maybe all men ore alike. "
So she was going to forgive him
after all! suspected as much from
the beginning.
"Are they all alike?" vi asked me,
tho or OF in ho~ h1,po xuiCf-
full eyes. do you think so? Do you
think Bud's--just like all the rest?'
And when I could not answer, she
answered herself:
'I'm sure ne isn't Buds different
from all the others. Don't you think
so. Aunt Enid?"
And apparently almost contented by
deceiving he eself, she went on out OF
the room.
I was worried and very much upset,
and I wanted in some wa to help
them-the whole family seemed to be
in a tangled web. and could not see
any way out OF it. All I could do
was IT, hunt up James socks that
needed darning and sit out on the
porch ard mend them for him.
Parhaps, thought, it would be bes!
for Esthe: to go to the city. She
might, If she lived there, find the new
poin. OF view that had found; sht
might wake up. as / had awakened
she might learn to take care of her
self and perhaps win back some OF ilel
lost youth and prettiness, as I had.
But can a woman win back her
husband when she has once lost
him? Can she win back her youth
and her attraction when she has
so completely let go? Must she
not have great deal of magma
ton and great deal Of ambition
and above ALL persistence, to
accomplish this regeneration?
had the three latter Qualities-but
Esther had not.
For, while could not condone N,
brother in any way, still could no
help but feel that some of II wa
Esther's fault. Jim had within hin
a real love of beauty. and q great dea
of love and tenderness. And Esthe
had not tried to satisfy the first, no
to encourage the last. In fact, she ha,
discouraged it as being. in some vagu
way, not quite proper-not becomin
in man years married and the fathe
of family.
After all, what right had she
think that she could retain this man
love with her unkempt hair. he
shiny red skin, her careless figure an
still more careless clothes?
This line OF thought reminded N
that / was growing careless mysel
for / was sitting out on the porch /
the housedress / had worked in a
morning. / went up to my room, an
dressed very particularly, watcbin
with satisfaction how my skin cleare
and took on color when I washed an
1os