The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-11-05
MIXED HAPPINESS
Chapter 102


Compromise! That was the word 1
Colin had preached to me all winter,
all the summer before. l remembered i
the things he had said and began
saying them to Winthrop now.
Compromise, Win. You tried to
make me go your way and | couldn't.
And | tried to make you go mine, and
you couldn't You we're stronger than
land compelled me to live your sort
of life until my stubbornness came to
the fore, and l left.
Now you're tired of your sort OF
life, and am tired of mine. So well
try something that has in it little
of both. Well live so that we have
enough leisure for a little reading
and little thinking, so We are quiet
enough to keep a sane and balanced
view-yet not out of the way OF
things"
How shall we, and where" Win
wanted to know.
Wait. I'll find a place"
Win dropped the subject, or rather
changed it. He leaned over suddenly
and threw his arm around my shout
der and came close to me.
Connie" he said, Tets elope-as
we did before, Come on! Your bags
are at mothers, still packed 1t is
barely 10 O'Clock. In three hours we
can be-where shall we go?"
We held the road map before the
lamp of the car There was fair
sized town within less than three
hours run, the roads were good. /
knew all of them by heart; there was
moon, and my car was fast. My
small travelling bag was only half I'M
packed. Win jumbled things into a
suitcase and joined me in five min
utes, while | sat in the car in front
of the house. Mother Taylor had dis
creetly retired early. Wellsville at
half past ten was asleep or at the
movies. We sped out of town, paying
little attention to speed laws - and
away. My heart was hammering and
my cheeks flaming from excitement
and happiness.
Three weeks later Win and stood
in the garden of house built with
rambling lines and a white pillared
porch that contrasted well with the
soft shades of its brick wall A wide
lawn spread about tit had been
carefully planned for wealthy family
who had been obliged TO go south and
wanted to sell Immediately. The real
vantages, retired TO his car, and wait
ed for Win and me to talk it over.
IT'S only 80 minutes from the city
and plenty of good trains-good thea
ire trains, too" | remarked Wen
keep our apartment for the winter
months though, and spend most of the
year here"
Rather nice gardens" Win remark
ed And the house is really beauty
| foresaw the CLEAN of old mahog
any against the walls and sheer white
curtains blowing lightly from the open
windows. II was a lovely place. There
was seclusion if one wanted it, and
excitement If one wanted that. The
agent explained the advantages of the
country club with it's golf and tennis
and dances. We already knew some
of the people who lived in the nearby
suburbs
You can invite Colin out as much
as you like" said Win, in a burst OF
extreme generosity.
That reminds me, I never opened
his letter" l pulled from my bag an
envelope with his familiar, irregular
handwriting.
1t was the shortest of any letter he
had ever written me. II explained
simply that he had had a cable from
Muriel the girl in Paris, that her hus
band had died. He was off on thu
next boat for Havre and would write
from Paris. | read it to Winthrop
Probably he'll stay on there for
year or so, and in the end he'll MARI.
her." | said. He's waited so long ant
been so devoted. She surely coulC
not resist him
Winthrop smiled down at me sud
denly, a smile so warm and tender
was a caress in itself
Wen have them both here some
time. then. Do you like this place
Shall we buy it,
! nodded, a deep sense of satisfac
ton going over me at the idea o
making my home in this charming
restful place, a quiet world that wa
and yet was not cut off from the rest
less. stimulating world about us
I'VE might adopt little Connie if yo
want" Win suggested
| nodded again. | had always want
ed to-but | was glad he made h
offer without my suggesting it.
It's a nice garden for children t
play in" | said For Connie-an
for our children too.
Again his smile was a caress.
Wen be perfectly happy. won
we?"
l did not answer. We would NJ
be perfectly happy. 1t would be
mixed happiness. But | was wi:
enough now not to look for perfection