The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-11-02
"The Love Pendulum
GIVING UP
Chapter SO.
BY MARION RuBINcAM

Chapter SO.
eff one marries for love. one loses
love, and if there is nothing else. ev-
erything is lost. At least | have this"
Her eyes swept the grounds about the
house, her mind took in the magnific-
ent house and the staff of servants
she managed so efficiently, the huge
stables and garages, the, farmlands
that lay beyond the gardens the
impressive list of guests who were
coming for the weekend.
Media had a social secretary now,
a pretty little college graduate who
kept her engagements straight, filled
in hand at bridge when someone
was needed (and played such an intel
ligent one, that it was never a winning
game), planned amusements so no
guest ever was bored, and placed peo-
pie at dinner so they never sat by peo-
pie they disliked.
IF this brings you any happiness,
you are lucky" I answered But
don't believe it does
Media laughed, leaning back in her
chair, and using her parasol to tease
her prize Chow which lay on the ter
race at her feet.
What lot of odd things have hap
pened to the three of us in the last
few years-to you and Shirley and my
SELF" she answered I'm luckiest and
happiest, because | was cold FLOODED
about the whole thing. Do you re-
member, Connie, only few years ago
we were at school and used to slip
away from Mademoiselle in recreation
hours, TO buy candy at the village!
The dog, worried by her parasol,
fyNT 10
Media went on:
Shirley decided love was the only
thing in life, so she eloped with pen
niless man."
She was happy enough
For a year or so. She got tired
enough of her romantic young beg
gar, and her poor and virtuous life.
But she was clever enough not to let
her family know 1t, so she made them
settle a handsome allowance on her
before she promised to leave him."
But Media"
IT'S true. She got over being in
love in no time-she told me. She
said it was an experience not to be
missed and she knows better now. So
she has her allowance, she's getting
her divorce, and she'll probably marry
the richest man in the city in few
years"
l had not seen Shirley, so this was
news to me.
AS for you-well, why talk of it!
You come off worst of all. | pretend
ed to like my husband, but | married
him because | knew he would inherit
a lot of money He has and here we
are. I'm going to be the social leader
of the country before I'm dead AS for
him-well, l like him as well as l ever
did"
| smiled to myself. ] fancied after
all that Media cared more for her
husband than she pretended. The
very zeal with which she kept him in
terested in her to the exclusion of ev-
eryone, proved that 1t was more than
a desire to be everything to him. She
was too lazy to work so hard for just
that.
The first carload of guests appeared,
in time for luncheon. Media moved
away to greet them, slender figure
that walked with careful grace, in a
gown of cream chiffon and heavy filet
lace, figure that suited exactly her
terraced garden and white peacocks
and her private strip of ocean.
It was the sort of weekend party
Winthrop would have adored. | scarce
ly saw Media after the talk on the
terrace. and was glad had been asked
down the evening before the other
guests came.
There were motor trips in the after
noon, and tennis and swimming for the
younger guests who were still not
afraid of little sunburn, and golf for
the less active. We wore correct
sports costumes in the morning, and
dressed for the garden party ev-
cry afternoon. We met for tea, and
scattered to put on new and ex-
pensive gowns for dinner. and in the
evening some of us danced and some
played cards The men gambled in
the enormous oak pannelled smoking
room, with the women gradually drift
ing in and joining the games as the
night went on.
We played until far in the morning,
and met next day or rather that very
day before luncheon, all of US nervous
ly keyed up to the new program and
only few of us pale from the over
exertion of having a good time. But
Media, and Medals new place, were
considered very great success.
] was assigned suite of rooms in
rose and blue and gilt pieces of anti
que French furniture that Media had
paid thousands for. AS ! lay in bed
and looked about the room, with all
it's restless lines and gilt and carvings
and painted cupids, | suddenly wanted
Mother Taylor's house. Restless