The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-23
After Ten Years
BY MARION RUBINcAM
TENSION
Chapter 9


Most girls think of marriage more
or less vaguely from the time they be-
gin to mature. Philosophers tell us it
is the mating and the home-making
instinct which causes them to look
upon every likable boy of their ac-
quaintance as possible husband
father of family that in their matur-
ing minds is nothing more than the
bisque dolls of childhood come to life.
Like every other normal young girl,
Patty and thought and talked of marry
ing, pictured herself in one of the new
little white painted houses that all the
young couples of Wissakeagan prompt
~ rented and occupied. But that was
before she went East to college. From
her last high school year until this
moment, she had been so busy all such
ideas had been crowded out of her
mind
Now, suddenly the Wissakeagan boy
and the typical Wissakeagan house
were revolving.
Mile, looking up, read her sisters
thoughts.
"You see, it's just as mother said,
she remarked. rolling up her own sew
| ing you won't look at any of the
chances you'll get here. There's jim
my. though, he's not so bad, and Basil
is supposed to be good catch
Involuntary, Patty shuddered. She
adored dancing with Basil and skating
with Jimmy. But she did not want to
think of anything beyond mere friend
ship.
ITS not that" she began, feeling &
defense was needed against even thi;
Il. -l.x &c hirhn
suppose I'm rather young to think Of
marrying"
you're 20-nearly 81" Millie re
joined sharply. IL was only 10 wheI
l married Humphrey"
Further defense was needed. Patty
threw aside tact for truth.
You're not happy she said.
AS a means of argument, this was
successful Mile agreed. And sht
had suddenly the opening she wanted
to talk about herself, to tell all hel
troubles to her sister.
you're right" she said I'm not
And | was married too young. | won
) say it's anyones fault (Her tone
implied it was everyone's fault bu
hers). Mother thought she was do
ing the best thing for me to get MI
married and settled young. She die
not have such lot of money and sh'
knew Humphrey would always have :
good income. And l was too youn:
, to know better-and romantic"
"Millie, you were in love-, Patt,
cried, trying to save her last Illusion
, Millie admitted it reluctantly. Afte
all, Humphrey had bribed the ten
, year-old Patty with huge chocolate
creams to keep away from the shad
owy porch on the evenings be called
; 81 suppose | was. But | was to-
young to know anything about love,
: she said How could | know? | wa
: 49," catching herself quickly she col
: rected-"19 Il mean. But awful
t young for 49, And look at me now
. Twenty-nine isn't old; it's scarcel
more than being a girl. But all the.
t think of here is that I've been maj
2 ried ten years. and that must max
me middle-aged."
She paused to catch her breath
Then she demanded, DO l look mic
die aged?"
) The two sisters sat facing each otf
: er, each with the forgotten bit of sew
V in her lap The afternoon was fadin
{ and the light was rapidly giving wa
D to gray, cold twilight But even Sc
: Patty could see her sister plainly, S
plainly she could not miss 4 flaw.
Millie had been SO pretty, so full c
{ life and vivacity! She had been S
smart, she carried her clothes so wei