The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-09-26
ST RANGERS

Chapter 90.
During the weeks that ! lived with
Winthrop's mother, I had even more
strongly the sense that ! was back
again at the point where life had once
begun for me. Ii was natural enough,
since was back in the same surround
ings, and since very little had chang
ed.
Wellsville had stood still. had mark
ed time, during these two years. For
that | was grateful. Too much had
happened in the city, and far too
much had happened TO me in that same
time.
Here, outwardly, everything was the
same and the changes were small.
Mrs. Taylor-or mother, as / still call
ed her-had slipped back since Win
had lett her. as so many old ladies do.
She had discharged her housekeeper
and found her greatest pleasure now
in ''puttering about the house." as she
expressed it.
She had collected the most awful
amount of ornaments and souvenirs
things Win would have thrown out in
an instant. She never threw away
anything; the mantels were covered
with post cards, paper valentines,
Christmas cards, tissue paper roses in
bottle necked vases marked "Souven-
ior of Niagara Falls" or Greetings
from Minneapolis, and cups of a
rough surface china that made ones
blood run cold when cup and saucer
grated against each other, with dec
orations of hand painted" impossibly
red roses Jardinierres were filled
with dried grasses from last year and
sat about the floor-though the gard
en- bloomed with the most enticing ar
ray of early flowers.
Through this maze of ornaments,
odd chairs, unnecessary tables and
tides. rugs laid over carpets, and pic
lures hanging against lowered wall
paper, Mother Taylor pursued her
busy and contented way She baked
herself ovens full of cakes and pies
And biscuits, and got up dinners that
required days of preparation. She
scrubbed and polished until she was
thoroughly exhausted, but she was
much happier than if she had had all
this work done for her. She could al
ford to have it done, but her money
worried her and she preferred to for
get she had any.
| would have been happier if she
had dropped the past, but she wanted
TO know all about it and | could not
blame her.
Il thought you were in fault, Con-
ME" she said once. Those bills were
for your car, your clothes, your din
ners and things. But | guess Win
was back of it. He always was one
for show, never wc>ld let me have a
minutes peace. Wanted a housekeep-
err and maid and Heaven knows
what, and got mad if | tried to make
him batch of biscuits. AS if
mightn't cook for my own son-and he
liked my biscuits too.
But | guess Win was to blame-as
much as you She was afraid of con.
ceding too much. There's a heap OF
talk about it in the town here. ! had
to say yes, you'd left each other. They
all know you're here, and wonder why
he isn't. It's too bad, but | guess
you'll make it up sometime"
Il hope So" | said, but my voice
sounded hopeless enough.
Yes, Win has been a disappoint-
ment,'' she went on. He hasn't writ
ten me for months, except about
this. | do think he could write me
now and then. What do you think
you'll do, CONNER"
81 want my little white house back, u
| said suddenly. II was so happy
there-and | want to bring the daugh
ter of IA friend of mine here, baby
named after me"
caught myself in time. l wanted
little Connie with me, for the all
would do her good, and she was look
ing badly when | last saw her But
did not want it TO get about that she
was the child of my wash woman. SO
cial distinctions were tightly drawn
even in this village.
did not get the same little house
but I did rent one very much like it
One end of the town was building.
and here there were any number oil
little white houses of the Suburban
Colonial style, made of white weather
boarding with simple doorways flank
ed with pillars, and porches opening al
the side from fair sized living rooms
had to buy furniture for it, and | be