The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-12-24
A LETTER FROM JORDAN
Chapter AZ

Chapter AZ
Mrs. Talbot lived in constant state
of wonder that winter-even if IN a
constant state of oisapproval also. She
took over all the work of the little fiat,
finding 1t amazingly easy after the big
and difficult farmhouse. She did the
marketing which took her out in the
streets alone. So she learned TO find
her way about the immediate neigh
borhood
An acquaintance she made in the
apartment house helped her. A woman
living on the floor below told her
cheaper places to buy goods, so SHE
went further away, and explored the
markets and shops for mile or so
around. She wanted to make Jane
some more tailored waists as sur
prise, so she gathered together and
went alone to the shopping district
downtown to buy material
Presently she learned TO cross the
streets with the crowds and found her !
self feeling at home in the big stores
and on the business streets. She even
began to Tead-aud she began habit
that once represented to her all the !
luxury in the world-taking an after
noon nap
She was getting better food-Jane
saw 10 that-more rest, since the work
was easy, and with nice clothes-Amy
saw TO that. she looked and felt nearly
ten years younger than she had
She even began to read little, pick
ing up the books around the house.
Most of them shocked her; yet, as
there were none of the old-fashioned
classics she had been taught consti
L hot
was there
She would lay a book down in
strong disapproval of it's story, yet find
herself wondering what was coming
neXt-and after few days, she would
90 hack and finish it.
Of Amy she saw little, that young
lady being so engrossed with her many
studies that she sacrificed most pleas
ures for work, finding greater pleasure
IN that than in anything else OF Luth-
er she saw much. for he could not
afford to go out, most of his income
went to support the fiat and his sis
tiers. Besides, he took little interest
in anyone but Claire, and the last time
he had seen Claire, they had quarreled.
or Jane she saw a lot. Jane was
totally lacking in any quality of f1iTta-
ton, she loved one man, Donald
Moore, and did not care to see any
others. Donald was often around
their pleasure seemed to be in discuss
ing his eases and her studies, and
their recreation in doing a certain
amount of charity work together. Don
aid had no money for diversion.
Often Mrs. Talbot found them sit
ting alone in the living room, staring
tragically at each other. And often
she heard Donald's footsteps as he
walked back and forth across the
room, or long earnest talks in low
tones between the two.
And when she questioned Jane,
Aren't you engaged?" it was always
the same reply
Donald doesn't want to marry me-
And in answer to Amys quick con-
demnation He's quite right We
would be mad to marry without an in
come or even prospects OF one. Don
aid doesn't believe in marriage any
way. Besides, | don't want to marry
him"
But the mother knew this last was
false
And she tried to hate Donald-as
she tried to hate Claire In neither
case could she succeed, which anncy-
ed her For Donald, with all his i'm
petuosity and for all his mad ideals,
had something very likeable about
him.
She wrote to Jordan, of course {:
never getting any answer nor expect
ing one. She had written that Amy
was still studying music, and said she
hoped she would join a choir. She
Gid not believe this, but it was no
direct lie. since she really did hope it.
But she wrote finally of the opera
engagement. And then there was an
answer.
Your children are set on their own
ways he wrote-he. always called
them your children when he was
angry. and my children on the rare
occasions when he was pleased; il
was never "ours'--'' you can do moth
ing with them. Luther is indeperd
cnt, Jane has had enough allowance
from me TO carry her through hel
present term of studies She's through
Amy is going her way too, as The
others have. She's of age and she:
Won They no longer obey their par
cnts nor heed the things they were
taught.
Your place is not with them, it il
home. Your duty is here. Unless yo1
also have been led away by your chill
lren, you will come at once
There was no greeting at the begin
ming or the END. Jordan had plainl.
spoken what he thought.
The woman dropped the letter ant
sat thinking. Her duty--to stay HON
with Jordan to whom she had been