The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-12-16
JANE AND AMY
Chapter 35

Chapter 35
Mrs. Talbot thought that the little
apartment was very mucn neglected.
This idea was formed after Dick had
gone home and when at the unheard of
hour of / o'clock in the morning, she
was allowed to retire to her room.
Then, by close scrutiny of every
article, she discovered dust on the
furniture, a spot on the ruf,and smudg-
IS on the window glass. An ordinary
woman would have thought the little
place well enough kept-it, was indeed,
quite clean and neat. But Mrs. Talbot
had ideas about cleanliness that would
have won the respect of the strictest
Dutch housewife. Hers was a superla-
tive, uncomfortable sort of cleanliness.
Sunday she slept until partly be-
cause she was always in the habit OF
sleeping a little later Sundays, ana
partly because she was physically eX-
hausted from her trip and the hour
when she got to sleep. At home she
always arose at 6, mostly at 5 in the
summer, and on days of special clean
ing and washings she had gotten up at
4-Jordan's mother had always done
so!
A few minutes after o'clock she
was dressed, and in the kitchen. The
place was quiet. She had been afraid
breakfast would be prepared and she
was ready to apologize for over-sleep-
ing
Not a sound anywhere! She went
about preparing breakfast, taking
long time about it because she did not
know where things were kept.
She set the kitchen table for the
meal She Strengthened her room and
put away her clothes, she swept and
busted the living room and decided on
q general housekeeping the next day.
Still not a sound!
1t was o'clock, 10 o'clock-she had
done every household duty she could.
She would have started housekeeping
then and there If it had not been Sun
day.
Ten-thirtyi Amy would be late for
church. To be sure, Luther did not go,
Claire had gotten him out of that habit
and Jane never went-but Amy never
missed a Sunday at home.
Finally she tapped@on the girls door.
Amy came out in a moment, hair hang
ing. trailing a blue silk kimono, her
she called them.
she announced sleepily. I'm first up,
and start coffee while I'm having my
bath"
Coffee being started, she disappear
ed into the bathroom and turned the
shower on full strength. Jane, wide
awake and somehow looking trim and
tailor-made in her plain bathrobe came
into the kitchen and remarked:
We at nIIt
I'll set the table in the dining room.
The mother, feeling rebuked, hastily
changed things about. She had head.
ache from hunger by this time, and
was feeling very cross at everyone.
The girls came out again, Jane in
her simple shirt waist and skirt, Amy
with hair piled high on her head, still
in the lovely silk robe, Luther ap.
peared when il was nearly noon.
such a way of living!" Mrs. Talbot
burst out finally. You'll never get
anything done"
There was silence in answer to this.
Presently Jane said, hesitatingly: 81
have some studying this afternoon
mother, but after tea I'll take you
around and show you some of the
city"
I'm going out with Ted, but well
be delighted to take you along, moth
or" amy said sweetly.
I'm going over to call on Claire,
Luther announced. Want to Gomez
Mrs. Talbot made a sudden decision
the second within a week. She was
progressing fast, for it had been years
since she had made any important de
cisions. Problems were solved by prec
edent, or by Jordan.
Either she did what had always beer
done under such circumstances, or else
she did what Jordan told her
Take me to wherever Claire lives,