Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-08-01
Chapter II

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Colin went back to the city after
three weeks, promising to come
down again. He had some work to
do in preparing a picture for the
autumn exhibition: and a portrait
to do as well.
So 1 was left quite alone for a
time. The days passed lazily, and
not unpleasantly, if L could only
have forgotten the dull pain that
never left me.
/ had not heard a word from
Winthrop since the letter enclosing
a check. l returned the check, and
he made no further attempt either
to send me money or to find out
what 1 was doing. L had taken
back my old allowance from my
own family, which was more than
enough for the simple way l liked
to live.
So l knew nothing at all of Wins
whereabouts. L wondered whether
he was sticking out the hot months
in the city. Probably, for the roof
gardens were cool and there were
always people about to keep him
amused. Theatres had iced air
blowing through, so an evening
tcould always be passed pleasantly;
and Win had a car in which he
could get out of the city in no
time. into the cooler country.
But Win had no taste for country
life. Weekend parties to him meant
pnly a collection of people from the
city who sat about and smoked
through tea, gossiped through din
ner, spent the evening dancing and
playing cards, and half the night
sitting up talking and smoking. 1
doubt if he ever noticed the country
pm the weekend visits we used to
pay.
Nor had his mother heard from
Win. After that one letter, ne
eeased to write. Fol me, my nus
band had dropped out completely
from my life. Perhaps it was as
well, but it only accumulated my
loneliness.
For even when I laughed, there
vas deep within me a great desire
10 cry. and even when l talked of
other things, there was ~unconsci-
busly q little thought of Win. 1
lived with him always, in my mind,
Is closely and lovingly as in the
karIy days of our marriage.
y l had news finally, when my aunt
Harriet suddenly descended for a
tisit. Enthusiastically, the visit
Vas unexpected. L drove home late
pne afternoon from a sale far out
n the country, where I had bought
! love of an antique side table and
lone chairs and a rag rug. Aunt
Harriet, in the smartest of white
hummer dresses, was on the porch.
"Merciful heavens, you look like
moving van," was the first thing
lhe said at sight of the stuff piled
b the machine.
II feel like one" I answered
lheerfully. Why didn't you let me
know and I could have met you?
\ Lift Connie out. will you, and I'll
1Jet this unloaded."
My aunt gingerly lifted the baby
put. Connie gave her n long
)erious look from her gray eyes.
hen trotted up the path and went
b search of her toy engine.
Child looks like an OWL" Aunt
Harriet remarked. ELLEN made me
ga. Come UP on the porch and
ri pour you some. Not a bad
lace here. for a country home"
Aunt Harriet stayed a week, then
her restlessness carried her off
lgain. Her sense of duty was
bottled by the visit.
I'm glad you like it," I said to
her the day before she left.
II don't" she answered promptly.
\ only said it wasn't as. bad as
expected. At least you have
Ellen to do the work, and your
meals aren't bad. Simple food is
tealthy, doubtless, but uninterest-
ng after a time. However, you
lon't seem to mind it,"