The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-09-07
CONSOLATION
Chapter so.

Chapter 90.
In one thing Win was faithful that
summer. He put aside every possible
cent of money toward paying his moth
er back for what she had advanced.
Our country expenses were trifling. |
even with the guests we had. l had
sold my car-that saved garage hire
and gasoline and repairs, three items
that had eaten into our 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 I was an amateur
housekeeper, and partly because | was
avoiding work in order to gain health
again.
AS the weeks passed, watched our
account grow, and was pleased at that,
at least. BY October we would be clear
of that monster, Debt, which was
something had learned TO dread dur
ing the winter. Then there was al
ways the chance that Winthrop would
bring in a new client to his firm, in
which case he would earn an extra
commission.
The days fell into a lazy routine, a
pleasant one to me, a bored one to
Win. We rose at or before, break
tasted in almost total silence, and Win
took the bus to the train. Ny house
hold duties and the baby, which gained
weight and prettiness from day to day
took many hours. Sometimes | varied
my rountine, by leaving Connie at a
neighbor's and going down to the
Sound for swim.
In spite of my unhappiness and I'M
I n
l ate well and slept well, the tired
drawn lines had long since disappear
ed and my skin had the warm pink
glow that caused me to be called beau
tiful
One of the things | loved best was
to walk in pelting rain. had lot
of old clothes for this and a water
proof coat and cap. One afternoon
when | came in from such a tramp,
the cold rain had been beating in my
face for an hour. | 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 ar
ticle.
Il built you 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 US"
How good you are" I answered, as
he brought me cup of the hot drink.
Il feel wonderful after that walk!
This tea is just the thing"
you look wonderful" he told me,
taking-as he usually did-an I'M
comfortable little chair on the other
side of the hearth. What skin you
have l can 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"
Il know" | had heard Collins fav-
orite topic before. mot even Corot
could give the Illuminating quality of
the rain and mist as ! saw it over the
valley-by the way, where is Win?
His train is in. There goes the station
bus past the house"
Colin looked uncomfortable. Then
he stammered:
"The-the truth is, Connie, he
phoned an hour ago-I had to run
over to the farmhouse to get the mes
sage. Yes, l talked to him" as
, looked up suddenly. ''he says he isn't
} coming up tonight"
But" l could not finish for be-
wilderment. 1t was so surprising
and so embarrassing, too. For. here
was Colin, a guest in our house.
Colin was the sweetest person in the
world-but that was no reason fol-
Win to put me in the uncomfortable
position of being there with him
It's as awkward for me as for
you,' Colin broke in on my thoughts
II told Win as much. He told me you
could always arrange to have some
one stay with you. l ended matters
by bribing the farmers wife to come
over for the night. OF course" he
added, smiling whimsically, Il might
run off with you between now and the
time she comes, but her coming
makes it all right and does away witt
scandal"
How dreadful of VIM" l burs
out suddenly. Isuppose Gwen i:
in town-that's usually the reason
when he doesn't come home"
mo, it's not Gwen. She's in Bal
Harbor, as I happen to know. It:
only the weather. He hates rain and
drizzle; in the city he can forget i
in clubs and takes and hotels. Here
he has to face it. see it, walk in it
he doesn't gain a wonderful complex
ion by that, as you do"
did he say the weather depressed