The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-02-24
Chapter 112.
LETTERS,

@"S'
You cannot have Enid tomorrow
afternoon l am taking her with me"
Mrs. Meade announced at the dinner
table.
Francis glanced up. Surprise and
then pleasure showed in his face as
he took in what his mother said.
y can't think of anyone to whom
would rather give her up" he said.
What is it-calls and frivolties?"
"ClothesL" his mother answered
Calls later perhaps.
Violet complained that she never
saw me during those two weeks. Mrs.
Meade did things thoroughly, and
when she took me in hand, she did it
as efficiently as though she was I'M
dertaking to run a business, a charity,
or church bazaar. Neither my time,
nor my tase nor my inclination were
my own from that moment But I
gave in on every point, anxious to
make her like me, to have her pleased
with the marriage.
So we shopped, driving from place
to place. comparing. planning, lunch.
ing together in some softly-lit restau-
rant, occasionally paying a call on
some old fried of hers-women with
soft voices and charmingly smooth
manners, who made me feel vaguely,
that ! was crude and unfinished. But
| learned from them rapidly some lit
tie tricks of social usage-as I think
Mrs. Meade meant that should.
You will need suit, of course"
she said, and chose one with huge
bands of fox on it, that was really
wnndarfnI1u hno0yoipo
You have the fur coat but you must
have hat for it, and one to match
the suit, and one for luncheon am
taking you to Monday. You might
as well buy dozen blouses now-we
really make them as we'll here as they
do abroad, and the style in waists
can't change so rapidly. OF course,
you will need an afternoon gown for
the luncheon, and at least two dinner
gowns and an evening gown"
But I was to buy those things
abroad!'
You'll buy more abroad You can't
look shabby on the boat-not as Mrs.
Meade!"
I felt snubbed and hurt-then lit
tie amused. For | saw exactly what
she wanted now-she wanted to run
me as she had very graciously but
very firmly run" Francis. She was
having lovely time picking out my
rousseau in New York, and she was
: going to pick out as much of it as she
could, and leave very little for me to
choose for myself.
So l gave in. Later her gentle tyr
rany might annoy me-but now l was
rather glad of it.
Violet, too, was packing to go to her
Ia h,
was rather depressed-about my going
away and the breaking up of the tiny
apartment where we had been so hap
oy. and where we both had learned
80 much. But there was never a word
about Bud, or why she had told him
not to come to see her And feeling
hat | must wait until her confidence
was freely given. | said nothing. Be-
sides, she was too tired at night to
ak, and l was usually late getting
nome.
Helen solved the problem Of what
% do with the apartment itself
Toby and l are going to be married
the spring, and | think we will simp
y take this place of yours" she said
coming up late one evening after
lad gotten in. She was rolled up in
one of her marvellous batik silk negli
ges, and her short hair was in a de
.ightfully touseled state over her head
Toby isn't rich, and although my
tearoom pays well. l want to save
money and some day buy a farm. Sc
We will live in this sweet place and
economize.
And l could wish her nothing better
than that she should be even half as
happy as l was.
Violet came into the room then, also
rolled up in her kimono. She was un
pinning her hair, which had been gath
cred up in a tight knot khile she was
bathing, and its golden glory fell al
around the blue silk of her shoulders
I, too, was tired-the three of us look
I'd weary enough-so l slipped into a
aeglige, too. Violet suggested hot tea
and though it was nearly midnight, We
agreed it was just the thing to make
as feel better. Then it was that vi re
membered the letter from Henly Falls
Dear Enid" Esther wrote in
her little cramped handwriting
that had become so familiar to
me. I'VE got the invitation to
your wedding. l must say it was
hospitable of Mrs. Meade to ask