The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-02-09
Chapter so.
OUR TALK,

oOh IAIN.
And when" Esther asked, ARE
YOU going to be married?"
Il don't know" answered truth
fully. Francis wants it to be Febru-
airy. He says we will go to Paris
first, and then straight down to Italy.
1t will be warm there, and when we
go north again we will meet the
spring, and have the fine weather all
the time"
And this is january" Esther ex-
claimed. my land, Enid, how about
Your trousseau?"
"Why bother about one?" / answer
ed. Il can't afford the sort of clothes
l will have to wear as his wife, so
will wait and get what I need abroad"
My land" Esther breathed entire
ly overcome by all this.
thinking of the plans Francis had
made at tea the day before, then we
will go into Holland, which is most
lovely in the spring. and over to Eng
land We will be in London early in
May, when Francis says he likes it
best"
He has been there before?"
"Oh, often!" I answered casually.
Next summer Francis mother is to
lend us her house in Connecticut, and
over the hot weather we will have our
real home decorated and furnished,
ready for next fall"
Have you picked one out already?"
Esther's little eyes were growing al
most large with excitement. I had
never talked like this to her before.
"Oh, no, but Francis owns several,
you know" 1t was hard to keep
certain little worldly pride from my
voice, and certain amusement from
my eyes as l spoke, watching the
effect each statement had on my sister
in-law. l remembered how she had
urged me to marry Mark Upjohn-
who owned a house in a village and
an interest in a small business. There
was more than vanity in my mind
now, however, as l gave Esther this
purpose.
THE one he likes best" I cOntin-
ued, sis in the East Sixties-I mean
the streets that run from 60th street
to 69th street." | explained, seeing
that she did not understand. 1t is
near the park. and though it looks
small, it will do quite well. We shall
do it in old Colonial furniture"
Esther was hanging on every word.
I gave a rapid sketch of the place as
Francis had described it.
Violet is to have a little suite of
her own on the third floor" | finished
"A sitting room, bedroom and bath.
! think | shall cover the walls with
yellow damask, and have blue hang
ings. and as much blue worked in as
possible. / always think of Vi as be-
ing blue and gold"
You always had sentimental ideas
about the girl" Esther spoke little
impersonally l was selfishly elated
already she had given her up,
though in the tiniest measure, to me.
well" she summed it up after
while, "all got to say is you are
awfully lucky. running off with rich
man. Who's have thought it?' She
looked me over curiously. Strange
what difference clothes make in
woman" she went on with a sigh.
Clothes" answered. Do you
think they make so much difference!
RS not that mean, it is not the
richness of clothes that counts. Look
at Mrs Baxter at home-She has
money, and you know what she looks
like! 1t is the sort of clothes you
choose, and the way you hold your
self when you wear them. 1t is NOR"
than that, it is whether your skin is
clear and your hair nice, and whether
your voice is soft and your words
well chosen, whether your manner
shows thoughtfulness-
broke off I hadn't meant going
into a lecture 1T is whether you
love other people and respect your
SELF | ended
Il never had a chance" Esther com
planned. using the excuse Of the weak.
II guess maybe if | had spent Jims
money for fine clothes, instead OF
making over old house dresses from
G-cent calico. l might-he mightn t.
she hesitated.
Found some other woman more at
tractive," l finished brutality.
But there was no use going into de-
tails. Esther was what she was be-
cause she had chosen the careless
way. 1t was something that at least