The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-01-27
Chapter IS.
ESTHER COMES

left Bud and Violet alone as soon
as ! could, and ran off to Helen's tea
room to sit and talk with her. The
dinner rush was just over and her
pretty little restaurant was rapidly
clearing out. / slid into the big arm
chair back of her desk, and while Hell
en- counted up the dinner checks, we
talked
had not told vi about Francis,
. and did not tell Helen, yet. One
/, of the sweetest things about a
first engagement is keeping it
secret for little time. Every
woman likes to clasp to her heart
this precious bit of knowledge,
before she shares it with a COM
paratively Indifferent world.
More trouble down in Wall street"
she observed, adding up figures ex-
pertly. How is Bud coming on?"
Rather badly" l answered. "At
least, he insisted on breaking his en-
gagement to Violet until he was clear
of this business
Really" Helen put down her pen
Gil and turned around to me. DO
you know / admire him for that.
didn't know he had it in him"
Il am afraid vi. doesn't share your
feelings. She is broken-hearted,"
answered.
well, poor child, she would be.
But it is the thing for Bud to do just
the same / don't think he took any
money -hc IS no. that sort, that is
eviden: 10 anyone. But he was fool
ish. and ne was taken in by that
crowd lie ran about with. l see they
suspect this Simcns."
Yes, answered absently, not
knowing how this knowledge would
affect Bud, and not realizing its inn
portan:c. by the way l had let
/. ter from Esther this ~veIdLS. She
is coming to spend lie holidays with
as
Heien's eyebrows went up a little,
and slight CLEAN came into her
Numerous eyes.
That's nice" she said, in a non.
colnmi::al tone.
wi is going to find a position over
the holidays" | went ON, givin,: my
last bit of gossip.
"Exceilent. Tell her to try the book
departments in some of Ihe big stores.
| hear they need people for the
Christmas rush, and like getting col
lcge girls"
l went back early to find vi and
Bud washing the dinner dishes, vi,
with her sleeves rolled up, drying.
and Bud, with his hands in pan Of
hot water, cheerfully shaking soap I'M
til he formed pyramid of poarly
soapsuds above the pan. | knew they
were both happy, for the time, at
least To vi, of course, this was a
little foretaste of the domestic life
she wanted so desperately-to Bud,
dish-washing was a pleasant novelty.
I'm exiled while your mother is
here" he was saying. But | will
charter that buby-hole table at Hell
ems for tea every afternoon. And
then l will meet you where ever you
condescend to work for the holidays
he was sinking his merriest at her
now-"and take you there for tea.
Sc your mother need not know, and
you won't be deceiving her, either
Il want her to like you though
vi protested.
ooh, we'll, do too. She will-wh'an
I start to make my fortune. But so
far, | have wasted everything l earned
and gotten myself into deuce of a
scrape, and ruined my reputation and
} gone in debt. That is not much of
a recommendation to present me
with"
So we let it stand.
And the day after the college closed
for the holidays, vi did go around
answering ads, with a courage that
| could not help but admire. The
second day she found temporary po-
sition, in small book shop on Fifth
avenue. where she made SIS week,
and where the surroundings really
were very pleasant.
Francis was out of town on bust
ness, but wrote me that he expected
to get back by Christmas day.
And when | come, l have rather
nice little engagement ring that |
hope you will like, he wrote, but
YOU shan't have it until Christmas
day Then l shall give it to you with
proper ceremony, and take you up to
my house to have dinner with mother
| haven't told her yet, but | will when
| get home"