The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-07-18
WINTHROP
Chapter 6


The next morning came warm and
full Of sunlight and the fragrant fresh
ness that only the early season seems
to possess. l could not be depressed
on such a day.
There was the routine of the SAN
atarium to get through with. rushed
Parker through my bath and massage
and waited impatiently for the doc
tors visit.
You look well enough to be sent
home now" he told me.
Not quite home" | answered. II
have plan-Im going to stay on here
for the summer. You can have me
under your supervision then, but I'm
going to live in the village"
AS soon as | was permitted to go
out, | sent for my car and drove to
the little white cottage, took the name
OF the real estate man, and half an
hour later. accompanied by him, was
going through the place.
1t could not have been better if it
had been made for me. II was a
cheaply built, but perfectly good little
house, one and half stories high. 1t
was OF white painted boards with
green shutters, and porch about five
feet square with two wee benches, one
on each side of the door Inside was a
living room with a brick fireplace.
This was half the house. On the other
side, in front, was the dining room;
then the kitchen completed that floor.
Upstairs were two small bedrooms
with sloping ceilings, and a tiny bath
room. The house was furnished with
cheap but plain furniture.
1t seemed it had been built by a
young married couple, who had moved
away to another city and had this
place up for rent. took it at once.
even before I knew its rental I
thought it very cheap, though Mrs.
Taylor told me the man doubled the
price when he saw my enthusiasm
OF course had an almost unlimited
allowance. So | could afford to beg
the doctor to give me Parker for my
housekeeper, at least over the summer
And in a week | was established in
my little home-my first home, the
only house / ever felt l could call by
such a sacred name
You'll want to be doin' everything
and you mustn't overwork," Parker
had to say several times every day
For was full of enthusiasm.
1t isn't too late to plant a little
vegetable garden" l told her. Late
corn and late peas and lettuce viii
grow-oh, lots of things. I've a seeC
catalogue from the grocery store
My aunt would have been Mortified
If she could have seen me. I wrote
her that ! was to be under the doctor!
supervision all summer and would
stay in Wellsville, where I had takeI
small house, and my private nurs,
was to attend me- | wrote Fathe
the same thing. so | was not fibbing
though perhaps | wasn't telling tn,
entire truth
My aunt sent me a lot of summe
clothes, smart things fashioned by he
own dressmakers. Most of them | pu
away. did not want them / bough
lot of big aprons made from c-etonne
things that covered me like a dress
and decided to wear them al
summer My favorite books were tn,
seed catalogue and the mail orde
catalogue.
And finally we were fixed. TIL
cheap hangings had taken down an
| had put away all ornaments. Coo
white muslin hung at the windows
and cretonne curtains and cushion
and couch covers made the place a
dainty as could be- 1t was wonderful
what difference l made in the hous
by few such touches.
And you can still have a garden
and you can set our shrubs Mrs Tay
lod told me.
So we did this too, to the create
a nf hn
time at all it was one of the pretties
homes in the village
And that marked the end of on
sort of life and the beginning of al
other. For when my little house wa
done over, was quite WELL though nc
very strong yet. 1t would take month
of a quiet life to bring back perfeC
health.
Aunt Harriet consented to my ide;
my Father was so far away that til
summer would be half way throug
before he could get another lette
to me.
And now l want to learn to cook
| told Mrs. Taylor
"A splendid ambition! | wish a
modern girls were as sensible as yo
are" she approved. Il shall take gres
pleasure in teaching you"
Then let's cook our own Dime
here Friday" | suggested. That
Parker's evening out. III help ar
you can show me"
But Fridays my girls day out to
Come to my place. have to &,
Winthrop's dinner"
Bring him here!" l suggested.
And that's how simply that ha
pened. Indeed, that was the one thir
that drew a sharp line between pa
and future for me. But did not kno
it then-we never know the big thin,
when they are happening to US
had not met Winthrop. l had see
Z - - $50