The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-02-19
Chapter 10S
A LONG DRIVE


AS we slid away from the gate of
my old home, I turned around for a
last look. For it was almost that
should not see the place in Henly
Falls for years. And when l did, 1t
would be. as Mrs. Francis Meade, as
the wife of a wealthy business man,
as the mistress of a lovely home in the
city, as the mother-by adoption-of
my beloved Violet. 49,.
The farmhouse was not romantic to
look at. 1t was the sort of place one
might be glad to leave Farmhouses
are supposed to be rather quaint and
attractive, with long. low lines, thick
walls and open fires. And some are
Francis and l have found one-but
| that does not belong to this part OF
the story.
Our farmhouse was built in the days
| when narrow-chested style of archi.
| lecture seemed to prevail. It's roof
ran to too sharp a peak. it was not
| broad enough. The windows were too
small, so in winter the rooms seemed
/ dark and IL summer there was not
enough air. turned for a last look
thinking should feel sentimental, and
wondering why l didn't. Esther at the
gate waved her apron. Jim had disap
peared, James showed his sincere re
greet by the very way he stood there
Poor James! We had grown very font
! of each other during our month to
gether.
The other houses came into view as
4! I still sat facing the way we had come
Our house was on the edge of the vii
lage: in a few minutes we were run
ming the length of Main Street, pas
the few shops that made what We
sometimes called the business cen
| ire Some of the village womer
waved as l passed. and group stood
together watching the car out of sight
could guess their comments!
And again r sighed. l was free o
it-free of Henly Falls, it's marrow
circle which | never liked, it's GOSSIP
of personalities which bored me, it:
selfish viewpoint with which l had n,
sympathy.
Sorry to go?" Francis asked, hear
ing the sigh
7 turned and smiled at him.
NO. I said simply. Il never wa
so glad of anything in my life
He laughed. steering the car eS
perlty around loaded wagon an,
running faster as we struck smootl
road.
THAT leaves me out" he said
NO" answered, for you're takin
me away"
For long time I sat silent. bus,
with my own thoughts. and Franci
tactfully let ME quite alone But tn
best of men are materialsts aroun
mealtimes, I think Francis finall
broke into my reveries by asking:
Are you hungry?'
! came back to earth with a laug
and nodded, remembering suddenl
that had been too upset to eat niue
= breakfast
"There's a good hotel to lunch a
in the next town." he informed me
And we talked of unimportant thing
until we were once more on GU
way.
What do you think you accom-
: plished by staying away so long. an
keeping me lonely for whole month ?
, he asked during the afternoon.
II don't think I actually accom-
: rlished anything" I confessed.
, made myself lonely, too, and uncon
Portable, because of an idea"
You're not the first martyr to a
5 Idea-or an IDEAL" he smiled as
:, spoke
What I accomplished was only til
;, soothing of my own conscience"
= said. Il felt selfish to run away frol
them, in all their misery and marrow
ness-to--to the sort of thing you offe
1 me g.