The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-09-06
NEW INTERESTS
Chapter 40

Chapter AZ
After that I made few attempts
to pacify Winthrop. Sometimes
smile when l remember that evening
one of those smiles with twist at
the corner, that we can only achieve
when we are far enough away from
the cause of it
That evening, remember very well.
I turned and walked from the room.
1t was a beautiful, dignifed action,
but il led me nowhere. After all,
there we were, tied up in tiny coun-
try house-where was there to go!
went to the living room below and
covered my dignity by pretending to
get the baby's clothes that Mrs. An
derson had packed up for me.
When I got back to my room-to
our room, rather, for we had the big
sunny room that went across the front
OF the house. Win had disappeared.
Now there were only three bed
rooms in the house. ours, which was
large, the guest room, where Colin
then was, and back OF that, a room
cut in half. one part being more or
less primitive bathroom, the other a
very small bedroom. Into this cheer
less space Win had decided to estab-
lish himself.
The baby was sleeping quietly on
the bed; | went downstairs and
brought up that convenient substitute
for a crib the clothes basket.
padded it with cushions. made a
smooth, comfortable bed of it, and put
my poor little waif in it, for Connie
always seemed waif to me in spite
OF her more or less affectionate
mother.
Then I tapped on Wins door. He
was sitting on the one chair in the
room, not a comfortable chair at all
He was in his bathrobe and he was
reading the only thing handy, the
paper.
She's asleep" ] remarked. I'll
bring her in here now, and you can
go back to our room"
Winthrop made an attempt at great
dignity. Now somehow or other, it is
impossible to achieve dignity in &
bathrobe, and especially so when one
sits upon a hard uncomfortable chail
much too low for ease. But Win tried
nobly.
Il intend to stay here" he remark
ed loftily. until you regain your sense
and send that child back"
81 can't send her tonight" sale
meekly. tits too late"
Your promise to return her will
do"
But don't you see, Win" protest
ed. Il have a certain sense of respon
sibility. I'm very fond of her. He
mother named her after me. And be
sides, she would die this hot weathe
in that dreadful tenement. Please lie
me keep her till she is we'll again. l
Is an act of common charity"
Charity is a virtue which is sup
posed to begin at home" my still yer.
dignifled husband remarked. "You'v
shown little to me- If you will keel
NY house full of common little artist
and washwomen's babies"
If he ended the speech it was t.
the walls with their hideously flower
ed wall paper | turned and closeC
the door
That night l thought about things
all over again. Mentally, physically
spiritually, we had parted-certainly
complete separation. What was tn
end? Divorce? l turned cold at tn
dea. Legal separation? That was NJ
better. Compromise? Where coul,
We compromise? Hadn't tried yield
uS On dILuOSL every point
l slept finally, wondering whethe
al had tried to compromise
When l woke in the morning, it wa
to wonder whether compromise mean
to send back the baby? If so, kne1
could not compromise. Connie wa
TO stay, no matter what happened.
Il feel lighter on top now Winthro
has gone" Colin remarked as W
watched him disappear toward hi
morning train. Doesn't he hate m
though! Do you think I had bette
stay, CONNER"
please dc-please," begget
win is upset-about Mrs. Anderson
baby, not about you. 1t will hel
things along if you stay"
And that was the end of my atteml
at reconciliation. | went my ow
way as much as possible.
And I would have gone under e.
cept for Colin. He spent that wee
with us, treating Win as sweetly &
possible when he came home in Il
afternoons. and receiving the scante
courtesy in reply.
My other interests grew, too tt
baby woke early, she had her bath ar
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