The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-12-30
A LONG TALK.
CHAPTER 46.

Next day there was no opportunity
to talk with either Jane or Amy. !.
was Amy's busiest day; she had a
morning rehearsal. She was to be in
one of the cnoruses of Aida" and was
excited over wearing a long black wig
and draped robe of white chiffon and
jeweled girdle. And Jane had some
laboratory work which took her away
all day and brought her home tired.
Amy came home with her costume,
having begged it from the wardrobe
mistress at the opera house. She put
II on, wig and all, for the family.
slorying in the gaudiness of the great
green jewels that bound her head ard
her waist She darkened her legs with
yellow powder and appeared SO In the
living room, her face and neck and
arms similarly darkened, with black
lines outlining her eyes and extending
from the end of the eye toward tie
hair
Il have made up for an Egyptian
dance" she announced. Jane. sit
down and play She hunted up some
music from the opera and put II before
her sister And then she danced,
dance that was not classic, nor EgyG-
tian, but that was simply Amy, intoxi-
Gated with the joy of dressing UP"
Mrs. Talbot felt she ought to be
shocked. But somehow she wasn't
She remembered the Greek dance that
had so shocked her. Yet Amy was as
little dressed now as then-but some
how she was not a girl but picture.
Yet she wanted to talk, and knew
that if she did not have some of ali
this mystery cleared up she would not
sleep this night either Nor did she,
until physical exhaustion triumphed
over nervous excitement.
The day after Jane was home in the
morning But. still impelled by habit,
Mrs. Talbot finished her work first.
Then when the whole house was spot
less and neat as she could desire, she
went into the living room where Jane
sat. at work at the desk.
In spite of all that was on her mind,
she noticed that Jane did not use the
frivolous gay colored quill that stood
in such a dashing way upon the desk.
Jane was working with a fountain pen,
which. when not in use, was clipped
into the pocket of her tailored blouse
Even so, when her mind was pre-.
occupied and troubled, she could not
sit quietly and talk, without puttlnS
her hands to some useful work. She
cot out the darning basket and began
mending a stocking. There was 81
lence while Jane worked quietly. Then,
with an effort
II overheard what you and Amy
were talking of the other night
The pen stopped, Jane was wonder
ing what they were talking OF. Iheh,
with recollection, the pen dropped and
the girl turned to her mother.
II heard what Amy said, | didn't
hear YOU. You were across the room.
Now want to know all about 1t. Why
have you and Amy been decelvlhg
me-"
There was pain and agitation in the
old woman's tones ana in ner race.
the stockings lay neglected in her zap
lanes brown eyes never lett her
mothers face She was in the weak
position of not remembering Just what
had been said. nor knowing Just now
much her mother know. ..
1--WE haven't been deceiving you,
she said finally. AT least, we never
meant to deceive you. But-WeH, Il
is so hard TO explain, mother. You
wouldn't understand"
Amy wouldn't understand! no"
MANY times had she heard that phrase
and in how many tones OF voice
from young Amy's nervous impatiencee
TO lanes present tones of tenderness!
Everything began to rebel in her at
once. Then the mother remembered
that this was not the way TO soiVe
her problem.
"Why wouldn't l understand! she
asked keeping her voice patient, ana
holding back all the anger that was
yelling cup within her.
You never do, ! don't know why
lane said. still looking at her mother
with a mixture of tenderness and con
Germ. Sometimes l think you don