Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-07-07
CHAPTER so.
Consolation"

In one thing Win was faithful that
summer. He put aside every pos
sible cent of money toward paying
his mother back for what she had
advanced. Our country expenses
were trif1ing, even with the guests
we had. I had sold my car-that
saved garage hire and gasoline and
repairs, three items that had eaten
into u bank account.
Having no maid. we were saved
that; food in the country was cheap
and we had an inexpensive table
/. This was partly because 1 was an
amateur h~ousekeeper. and partly be-
cause / was avoiding work in order
to gain health again.
AS the weeks passed, l watched
our grow, apd was pleased
at that. at least. BY October we
would be clear of that monster, Debt,
which was something I had learned
to dread during the winter. Then
there was always the chance that
Winthrop would bring in a new client
10 his firm. in which case ne would
earn an extra commission.
The days fell into a lazy routine,
q pleasant one to me. a bored one
to Win. We rose al Z or before
breakfasted in almost total silence.
and Win took the bus to the train.
My household duties and the baby.
which gained weight and %prettiness
from day to day, took many hours.
Sometimes I varied my routine. by
leaving Connie at a neighbours and
going down to the Sound for a swim:
In spite of my unhappiness and
uneasiness, I was improving in my
health. 1 ate we'll and slept well, the
tired drawn lines had long since dis
appeared nd my skin had the warm
pink glow that caused me to be call
ed beautiful.
One of the things I loved best was
to walk In a pelting rain. Ithad a
lot of old clothes for this and a
waterproof coat and cap. One aft
ernoon when I came In from such
4 tramp. the cold rain had been beat
ing in my face for an hour. l had
tramped to the shore and back. and
my whole body was glowing from the
air and the exercise.
Colin was with us that week. He
STAYED in and was making some pen
and ink sketches for a magazine
article.
II built you a fire in the fireplace"
he said as he looked up. Take off
those wet things and sit in the arm
chair there. I'm going to make tea
for u.s."
How good you are" I answered.
as he brought me a cup of the hot
drink. II feel wonderful after that
walk! This tea is just the thing"
you look wonderful" he told lie,
taking-as he usually did-an I'M
comfortable little chair on the ether
side of the hearth. what a skin
you have. I han match its color
with my pigments. but there's not
an artist alive can paint the quality
Of your complexion-nor the quality
of blue in your eyes. It's not the
shade. you know. It's quality"
II know" I had heard Collins
favorite topic before. Not even
Corot could give the illuminating
quality of the rain and mist as l
law 1t over the valley-by the way
where IS Win? His train is in. There
goes the station Jus past the house"
Colin looked uncomfortable. Then
he stammered:
"The-the truth is, Connie, he
phoned an hour agc-I had to -un
over to the farmho use to get the
message. Yes, I talked to him." as
I looked up suddenly. she says he
isn't coming up tonight"
But 1 could not finish for be-
wilderment. 1t was s 10 surprising
and SO embarrassing. to. For here
was Colin. a guest in our house!
Colin was the sweetest person in
the world-but that was no reason
for Win to put me in the uncom
Portable position of being thers with
him
tits as awkward for me as for
you" Colin broke in on my thoughts.
II told Win as much. He told RE
you could always arrange to have
someone stay with you. I ended
matters by bribing the farmers wife
to come over for the night. OF
course" he added, smiling whimsi-
cally. II might run off with you be-
tween now and the time she comes.