The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-02-16
Chapter los.
A SNOWY EVENING.

- 0NS"Y ENGNtN0s
D my eagerness I forgot all pre-
cations and ran out the door to
greet him, without throwing anything
aralnd my shoulders. Instantly felt
myself fairly picked up from the
ground, and crushed against him.
remember holding tight to him with
highlands and l remember the clasp
of lis arms. Once more the feeling of
abolute security and peace came over
me-Francis was with me, and moth
ing else mattered.
"Sy, land, this is a high STEP"
voicI said behind me. and I saw Es-
therstarting to climb out of the car.
So came back to earth again.
startd to laugh even, because it was
alw$s Esther, somehow, who brought
me aown to the ground. Francis
turnedto help her, and / kissed her,
takingher shawls and bundles from
her hnds.
"Tbre's a heap of things in the
car" she remarked.
"Eid!" Francis voice had sudden
alarrin it. go back into the house.
Youwill be down with pneumonia
runyou silly child"
cad to obey even so slight a COM
mad as that, and laughing at being
caed child, turned and ran up the
pth.
BY this time James had come out,
nd between them they brought in
isther's old trunk which was strapped
IN behind, and the dozen or more
bundles and bags which fairly filled
the tonneau of the car itself Francis
vas introduced to the family in a
pom that looked like moving day.
You must be tired from your long
tde, and chilled. too, so we are going
o have tea early" l announced. And
motioned James to come and help
me.
So the two of US served tea as
did in the city, James carrying in a
tray of cups and saucers, and bringing
me a newly baked cake and some thin
bread and butter sandwiches which I
had made up that morning. l poured
tea in the living room, but Jim refused
to stay for it, and Laura was frankly
scontenptuous of what she remarked
was 'one of Aunt Ends new city
ideas
"OhsI always had tea," Esther said,
coming to my rescue for once in her
life when vi wasn't home, Helen
alwa.s invited me to her restaurant.
She'sa fine girl
James walked about, happy as could
be, rging everyone to eat every last
cruab, and consuming four cups of
tea by himself. James sometimes
blSsomed into delightfully."- sociable
crature. Then after the first enthus-
ism had subsidized, Francis went out
the barn with James, and later we
Jaw them with Jim. climbing the hill
toward the north field
( Laura, Esther and myself got sup
per-or dinner-that night, since had
purposely saved up the main meal OF
the day until evening.
Il think" Esther remarked, "since
we've got such fine company tonight
We'll set the table in the sitting room
Laura, you do it"
Are you gettin' city ideas, too?'
that young woman asked sarcastically
! Esther was human enough to want
to boast about what she had shared
she had taken the longest ride of her
life with Francis, and had lunched
with him at a roadhouse on the way
up. These and other facts she i'm
pressed upon Laura.
And when went out to call the men
to the meal-this time sensibly bun
died up in my fur coat found the
three of them bent over the motor ii
the car, which had been run into the
carriafie shed. And James, proud Of
his knowledge of motor mechanics
was explaining to his father tbs way
it worked, while Francis pointed out
the superiorities of his motor over thai
of o(fer makes. The three of them
had become as good friends over q
collection of wheels and cylinders as
three women over a new crochet
stitch.
1t was the most delightful evening
l ever had in my old home. A little
snow was falling outside, and VIC
gathered under the lamp in the sit
ting room, with cider in jug on the
table, and apples and nuts on a big
dish, and a red fire glowing in the
Franklin stove.
This is so much like the old-fash
toned farm house evenings / used tC
read about-you can't imagine how
enjoy this" Francis remarked more
than once.
Laura looked up at him stupidity
she was knitting a baby sack-ther
dropped her eyes to her work. She
had scarcely spoken all evening, anC
when Charlie rode over for her a