The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-09-29
COLIN COM ES.
Chapter SO.


In the end / was glad of Elias tact
lessness, for it broke down the barrier
between us. She came more frequent
ly, and Their was a sincerity in our
friendship now, that had been absent
before.
felt could trust her. So one day
when she asked me suddenly why
no longer lived with Mrs. Taylor, why
I had taken a place by myself, l told
her.
Somehow I can't stand her house.
II makes me restless," | said. Its
so full of useless things ! am always
stepping over footstools, or tripping
over rugs, or humping into silly tables
in the middle of the room. l love
Mother Taylor, but not her house
Yes, aren't houses stuffed full OF
things dreadful Ella agreed.
Once she told me of her own I'm.
happy affair.
Another woman, of course" she
said bitterly. Il guess there is al
ways another woman. You found that
out, too"
fairly WINGED, but said nothing
Elias affair had been serious, she
gave me long details about it. Wins
had not been that sort Win had PM
landered about. flirted. played at an
affection he did not feel for the Other
women, talked sentimental nonsense
and held hands like a school boy-but
there was none OF this. Win was gen
timely fascinated by Gwen, fascinated
so that I had no longer any part il
his life, but that was all. Elias story
was one of serious transgressions.
She came to me and asked me tc
give him up" she finished her story
And | was so sorry for the poor, stu
pid little thing | did-besides, | was
mad at him, and hurt. | wish | hadn't
now.
But surely-you-would you wan
to marry him, knowing all that?"
asked in surprise. IF it went on be
fore, it might-after."
II guess all men are the same" Ella
ended up. 1t was the calm, cold tone
of complete establishment. Il know
lot about the people here, and
guess after all, he wasn't any worse
than the rest of them. Now | will be
an old maid In two years more | viii
be a complete back number, no one
will look at me. | will have to begif
doing charity work like the old maid:
and widows in the town.
1 sat silent.
I'VE all have our tragedies" | salt
finally If yours is not marrying
mine is in having married the WRONG
one. Though Win isn't at least, HI
isn't the wrong one for me. ! care ;
lot. He-doesn't
We had been drawn so closely to
gether by her own confession tina
mine came naturally. Ella forgot her
self and asked more about it.
| tried 10 go over 1t.
1T wasn't anything except-that WI
were always at opposite sides of ever.
question that came up. | did not hk'
the people he liked; he did not lik'
those | did. He liked people tina
talked as though they were smart ant
well informed and | always saw tina
they were shallow, that they manage
to have a surface coating of clever
ness when there was nothing beneath
Il liked people who tried to maxi
something of themselves, who wer:
interested in things sincerely, anC
not because it was fashionable to b
interested in just those things"
watched to see whether she under
stood She did not seem to.
in other words, like simple life
and real friends and no show and pre-
tense, and Win doesn't. He wants {
be out every night almost all night
He wants to see all the shows an
dance, and waste money and sit abou