The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-10-15
N EDDA.
Chanter "a.

SHdpIcT oos
I don't suppose I shall ever forget
the picture we made as we sat there,
Colin on the broad stool with the fire
light behind him, and on the couch
Outside there was a steady drizzling
rain. cold and depressing as only z
November rain can be. It was long
past twilight, but a faint glow from
the lighted city came through the big
studio windows
We were sitting in a pool of light
that came from the candles on the
high mantel, and from the fire II
touched up the silver tea service that
stood. on a table beside me, making
cleaning high lights on every piece,
and it threw a soft twilight over the
big room. 1t made of Collins figure a
dark silhouette against the red glow
of the burnt logs-a queer grotesQue
outline of man with terribly bernt
shoulders and hollow chest, one arm
somehow hugging his knees, the other
raised so a hand held the cigarette
to his mouth. Colin was profile to
me, caught all of the LONELINESS and
none of the good points of him-ex-
cope that only total darkness could
extinguish that great mop of red hair!
He had kissed me, and said he was
not in love with mel
| believed him in spite of the contra
diction of action and word For some
how it was not a lovers kiss-at
least | thought it was not.
Ellen came in for the tea tray and
switched on some of the lights. And
when she had gone Colin turned to
smile at me, that lovely, sympathetic
smile that made him beautiful.
We'll Conniei"
We'll, Colin!" l smiled back How
odd you are today? What us the
matter?"
Nothing. I wanted to kiss you.
That's all. You look so charming
and so kissable. Do you mind-just
this once?'
NO" l said slowly only I'm glad
you aren't in love, because il you
were you would go away so shouldn't
see you-you told me that once in
the summer And l don't know what
Id do then. You are the only real
person in this silly world I am living
in. You are the only one l have TO
depend on"
II know, said Colin. After mo-
ment he threw away his cigarette and
got up to go. Have you heard from
Winthrop" he asked.
"No-not since the letter ! didn
answer. That's been-many months.
He left, and / went slowly into my
room to change into another gown.
was dining with my aunt that evening.
While dressed ] wondered why nc
should have asked that question.
A few days later Media was in for
tea. There were more people-Nar-
donski, who still had his orchestra, and
who was just as amusing and Just as
ANNOYING as ever, and Shirley, who
had long since forgotten her lisp.
Media waited until the others had
gone-she was restless and irritated'
and she fairly snapped at something
Shirley said once. :,
Cant stand that silly little thing,
she announced when Shirley had gone
and we were alone.
You used to like her better than
anyone else. Don't you think oeing
married has improved herr"
"Yes-no. I don't know"
"She seems happy enough-though
| don't think quite as
"She isn't She is trying to get her
family to promise her $4,000 a year
if she will leave him. She wantet!
, $4,000. They will do 1t to break OIL
that affair."
Doesn't she love"
"She loves a good income better
You can see from her clothes she's
had a hard time of it. She's almost
rasged-well, shabby anyway
What a pessimist you are! OK
claimed, and tried to laugh.
Media opened a carved wooden Don
on the table and took out cigarette
she walked restlessly back and forth
then threw herself down on the couch
Il am. It's rotten sort OF life
all of it. | am sorry for Shirley. She
married in a burst of romantic en-
thusiasm, love in a cottage, all tna'
sort of thing. Love instead OF none!
now she hasn't either"
But you
Yes, I'm better off than most.
married in cold-blooded fashion, be
cause my husband was handsome
GOOD tempered and rich. | like hin
better now than when we were mar
ried. We get along very well-ou
that's all l can say. And that's no
much. After all you are better OF
than most of us. You had your ro
Nil