The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-10-03
GOSSIP.
Chapter 70.


she had not expected to tell me all
this about my mother. 1t was the first
time had ever been able to find out
anything definite at all, and did not
want to let the opportunity slip.
please go on | begged
After all, there isn't so muck to
TELL" Aunt Harriet continued, playing
with a handsome black pearl ring she
wore. 1T was evident your father and
mother were unsuited to each other
from the start. She was not born to
the sort of life she had TO lead with
him, and she made him look ridiculous.
How"
She hated to spend money for
things. She dismissed servants, she
wanted to do her own work. She hated
to spend money on clothes, having al
ways made her own. She thought it
wicked TO have more than three
courses at a dinner-your father used
TO give dinners where there were Is
and 20"
How awful" murmured.
My aunt smiled.
"Of course in those days things were
done differently. But your mother
would not try to conform. She believed
her own narrow, economical way the
best. The odd part was that she
looked so dainty and pretty, and when
she was dressed up in the sort of
clothes. fit for her station, she was one
of the prettiest women in the city She
could have made him her slave, if she
had tried, for your father has always
been susceptible to beauty in a
woman.
Il suggested taking her abroad. Eu-
rope was the great place to finish Off
ones education. She was seasick, she
hated the strange new cities, she dis
liked the people she met. Poor girl,
/ suppose we should have been sorry
and helped her more than we did. We
were both little impatient.
she disapproved of so many things.
Perhaps, from strict standpoint she
was right. But we all have to make
allowances. Our own code of honor
cannot be applied to everyone else.
That's where she was narrow. One
evening a very distinguished woman
was present at reception in her
house-your fathers house. too, re-
member. The woman said something
which offended your mothers scruples,
and she insulted her, there, with all
the room looking on. Everyone your
father cared about was present.
He was furious. They quarreled
and she went back home. But they
made il up. outwardly at least, and
YOU were born six months later You
lived with her in the country for two
and a half years, and she died then
| went to the funeral. Your father had
gone to Europe, he came back as soon
as he could. I took you away with me
and you've been under my care ever
since-until you ran off with Win.
throp"
I asked for more details. Strangely
enough, could not entirely sympathize
with my mother, when I knew all my
aunt could tell. Yet I longed more
than ever to have known her.
so when your father heard of you
deliberately coming down here, he
naturally thought it was your mother
in you, her odd instinct for getting
away from people, for burying herself
in the country. I suppose you do IN
herit your recluse instincts"
We talked of other things later She
told me what she had heard of Win
which was little enough.
Il saw to it that our set dropped
him. she said. He runs around with
quite another group-not very nice
people, rather fast, | think Gwer
won't drop him, of course"
So it seemed that things were the
same with him. If only he would see
the shallowness of those people. Il
only he could be made to see the
worthwhile things of life, felt all the
old longing more strongly than ever.
Colin came again for two weeks anC
left. had kept away from the village
people while Aunt Harriet was with
me, knowing she would not like them
When Colin came, they seemed tc
avoid me-possibly feeling hurt be
cause they had not been invited tc
meet my aunt. So was alone all the
time now, except for Mother Taylor
and Elias occasional visits.
4 sudden and sickening revelation
came TO me one day when May was
calling, the first visit from her fol
weeks. The baby was on the lawr
and | called her for her nap.
Connie | called, and as she did MOI
come, Connie Anderson, You little
WITCH | ran down and picked her VI
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