The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-09-20
Chapter 81

Chapter 81
When the door shut behind me /
had the uncanny sensation of having
shut myself off from one sort of life
and into another. The other faced me
as rather blank and desolate. Yet |
had worked hard to make the new
apartment attractive, and | knew that
by daylight it would seem so.
But now it was four strange walls
and a glare of sunshaded electric lights
unfamiliar furniture, and myself with
a handbag standing in the center of
the floor, the stranger who had arrived.
Fortunately the trunks were brought
then. So in the necessity of unpack-
ing, lost the first terrible chill of
leaving home for strange new
dwelling.
And the following morning the place
did look better to me. At least, it
looked as well as any place could TO
me without Win along.
y | wondered what Winthrop thought
He had some warning that was going
TO leave, because of our talk the night
before. Would he be worried? Would
he be shocked into a realization oil
how serious our differences had been
Would he, perhaps. come around and
try to make up?
had purposely left my new number
with Ellen, so my other trunks anc
my mail could be sent to me- So Win
would have my address.
| wondered whether he would BIZ
worried that night when he came il
and found me gone. OF course. if ht
were upset, he would wake Ellen o.
the cook and find out from them wha
bannnnnd uhn 7 I
sure | would have some word tn,
morning after left
But there was none. II was strang,
TO get up and have no mail and NJ
waiting breakfast | dressed and wen
out and marketed and came back {,
cook my eggs and toast rather en-
joyed that, in spite of my loneliness
And | spent the morning cleaning an,
fixing the new fiat, and lunched at
little tea shop nearby
Toward evening phoned Colin, VIII,
came around at once.
It's all over town already" ne an
nounced when he came in. 81 me
Sonia on the street on my way here
she knew it. What did Win saw"
Nothing He did not know | wa
going so soon, though he knew it ha
to happen"
You didn't even say goodbye?"
! hesitated. Then | answered in
low voice:
II couldn't"
Colin walked up and down the Twin
room, apparently examining the ne,
possessions in it. His face was draw
up in frown of concentration, h
rumpled up his shock of red hair wit
his hands, sure sign on his part tha
he was deeply troubled.
Well" he exclaimed at last. An
little later he repeated it.
Well ! suppose it's the best thini
Everyone you know is probably talkin
of 1T this very minute. But that wi
blow over II may bring Winthrop I
his senses. II will probably make yo
more independent, which is the thin
you've needed"
The bell rang loudly. Thinking a
ways OF Win, ran to open the doc
But it was my Aunt Harriet. She VIZ
very much perturbed, but as soon {
she saw Colin, she dropped instant
into what | used to call her "soci
mask"
How charming your new place is
she remarked sweetly, kissing me ;
she came in. "A trifle small, but
any room inviting. dear. All, how {
YOU do, Mr.. MacReady? I hear vol
new portrait of the Countess Hanski
to be a great sensation.
Colin bowed, a little humoro,
twinkle in his greenish eyes as !
watched her performance. But as SOC
as he could. he slipped away, whispe
ing that he would come and take u
to dinner
Her mask dropped as soon as v
we're alone.
so you've done it," she sal
Being an old woman, Constance. "
must allow me the satisfaction
saying I told you so. | told you fe
days after your marriage"
Il thought you, at least, would
pleased" l said this as sarcastical
as I could.
Immensely So" she said, loosenil