The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-09-01
A DIFFERENT LIFE

Chapter 40
I did not expect the first few days
TO go very well, so l was not disap-
pointed at the moodiness on Wins
part In fact, was so tired | did not
notice particularly.
had started out half dead and that
last evening had nearly taken all my
strength. But the house was turned
over to me sweet and clean, and had
little work to do. | had mailed an or
der and check to the grocer in the
village. and we were well supplied
with provisions,
For a few days | unpacked, hung
away clothes, re-arranged the house,
to make it more cheerful. | blessed
Wins mother for having taught me
quick ways to get meals, and my dear
old nurse and housekeeper for the
efficient method of doing work that
she had shown me- We lived almost
picnic fashion the first days.
Yet / was so tired that when |
cleared away the last of the dinner
dishes, was glad to go to bed. Win
stayed below in the little living room,
reading a paper and smoking endless
cigarettes. He had evidently made up
his mind to be miserable, and he was
really having a good time being thor
oughly so.
let him alone After all, that was
the wisest thing to do. And the week
end after we were settled, | had Media
down; Win liked Media.
AS for me, | began to enjoy myself
again. / went to bed early and often
slept in the afternoons. / was out
doors digging in the garden, watching
the green things grow under my care +,
I was outdoors in the sun and wind
wedding my flowers. | read up books
on gardening to make up for my lack
of knowledge and made friends with
some of the women living near, who
helped me out with practical advice
I learned that Win and | were regard
ed as bride and groom, and smiled at
with that reminiscent kindness with
which even the cynical regard newly
married couples.
What an awful hole, there isn't a
thing to do Win would grumble.
looked out from the porch of the place
The lawn sloped to low white paint
ed fence. Beyond the road was a stone
wall. and field that dropped down
toward creek. A full moon hung
over the country, we could see miles
of 1t from where we stood. The hills
rose gently toward the clear blue and
silver of the sky. waving brown line
that our eyes followed for long dis
tances. Behind US, in the valley, the
town lay. a patch of little lights gath
cred together into a hollow. Oul
house was high, one reason why
had chosen it.
Its like daylight; let's go for &
walk"
Win, too bored to stay home. was
ready enough. ] threw a cape arounc
me and we tramped miles along the
roads. AS we topped the hill above
our house we could see it, and the will
age beyond it, black shadows of tht
houses and two church spires, and the
CLEAN of the bay beyond-for we were
only few miles from the Sound.
ITS SO lovely, Win, how can vol
help liking it," I said Look, lool
at the town. and look how our house
stands out from the trees and the sof
yellow of the light in the living room
window"
If you'd lived in such a place a:
this all your life. as l had" Win said
you'd hate it too"
But we nave TO save. We can llV'
here all summer for less than $1,000
and save the five we owe your mother
Win, you want to get ahead. How
else can you do it?'
No other way. I don't suppose,
Win conceded. I'm tied between tw
women. One holds my money becaus
my father made a silly will. The othe
holds the money I earn myself
ITO pay the debts you contracted"
flung back angered by this injustice