The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-08-04
ARGUMENT.
Chapter Il

we rang Inc DELL or our own house
as though we were utter strangers.
And Parker answered the door and
let us in, and it was still as though
we had come to call at a new house.
Parker was too scared, or too nervous,
TO smile a welcome
She assumed the solemn, important
manner Of one conducting a funeral
and led the way into the hall. She
even regarded me with the kind and
sympathetic manner that one might
use in looking upon the chief mourner.
II began to effect my nerves imme-
diately.
TWO women were in our living room.
Aunt Harriet sat erect in one big arm
chair. Wins mother was hunched up,
trying to look at ease, in the most
uncomfortable seat in the room.
suppose 1t was an amusing tab
leaux, but then l was not ready to see
its fun Aunt Harriet had so we'll the
air OF taking the best the poor little
dwelling afforded, of being hideously
uncomfortable, but too much a martyr
to politeness to say so. And she had
our best chair, too! Whereas Mrs.
Taylor who really must have been
suffering physical discomfort in the
wooden chair. had the air of pathet-
ically making the best of it, and of
trying to be cheerful at the same time.
Afterwards / wondered what those
two ever talked about.
Win and | stood at the door, and I
felt like q naughty child
Why Aunt Harriet, it's sweet of
YOU to come" murmured mechan.
ically to break the awful silence.
1T is" Aunt Harriet said. "ihere
was no one to meet me, and / had
to find this place myself with an
imbecile taxi man-jitney man, he
called himself"
I'm so glad you got here safely, .
murmured again, crossing the room
and kissing her. She presented very
cold cheek
This is my husband" / went on,
putting hand around to hunt Win.
BY that time needed physical as we'll
as mental support.
Aunt Harriet turned to him. leaving
me for moment. I took advantage
OF 1t to go over and kiss Mrs Taylor.
Win saved the situation
You needn't pretend you are glad
to see me, Mrs. Bennett" he said 81
know just how you feel and would
feel the same in your place"
At least you are frank" Aunt Har.
riet said, and felt as though Win had
gained little advantage. Il shan't
try to be polite or even conventional
I've been sitting here two solid days
while you-you-"
While l was running off with your
niece Win said 81 know how angry
you are, and l don't blame you. Only
you would have done the same in my
place"
He went over to kiss his mother
Somehow | felt he had the advantage
again. There is no way to be angry
at person who admits his fault!
You might have waited until
came, at least"
But you see, if I had you might
have taken her back to New York, "
Win delivered this with a charming
smile. He was, as he said later, ''tak-
ing the wind out of her sails" and she
felt it. 1t made her angrier because
1t took away all her arguments.
Il should certainly have taken her
back to New York with me-" she said
Il shall do that anyway-tomorrow
since there is no train tonight"
But" l began.
Then | stopped, catching her glance
Aunt Harriet could always freeze me
to my marrow when she drew herself
up in that manner.
She was very handsome woman
this Mrs. Bradley Bennett. She was
as her friends said, lone of THE
BENEFITS" l never in my life me;
those who were merely BENEFITS, sc
] never knew what the difference be
tween a Bennett and the Bennett was
1t gave me nothing that l could recog
nize, but it did give Aunt Harriet
a superb bearing.
She was very TALL too tall, but she
had overcome this fault by learning
to carry herself beautifully. She once
had red hair; it was white now and
always eXquisitely marcelled. She had
kept her lovely skin. and she had KEEP;
her slender. young figure. She dressed
to perfection, wearing only certain
colors that she knew became her-soft
greens, a great deal of black and
white, certain brick dust red, very
dull shade that she used sparingly. Il
was very clever of her, for when one
saw these shades, one thought or Mrs
Bradley Bennett.
And she affected long necklaces OF
strange colored stones and no other
jewelry but her wedding ring.
Win had crossed the room and stood
in front of her
Il am sorry you have any idea OF
going tomorrow, much less of taking
Constance" he said quietly. I'VE
hoped you would stay with US for
awhile"
wei" Aunt Harriet gasped at the
word. And pray, where did you, both
of you expect to put me in this band
box?"
The house is too small" Win
agreed apologetically. But my moth
DDnHoNyAT AInTTETN