The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-06-29
DIFFICULTIES
Chapter 90

OndpIeF %
Mile never quite knew exactly
what she went through all that Spring
and Summer. Had she been self an
alytical, she would have seen the
change as 1t took place. But she
wasn't
What actually happened was this
in the old days in Wissakeagan she
had a sincere desire to be something
little better than she was. But she
did not quite know how to get out of
the rut she was in, and even if she
had known she lacked the energy TO
do So Patty's arrival with all her
fresh youth and with all the prospects
that seemed ahead of her. had only
reused in Mile more vague yearnings
for youth and equal opportunity,
yearnings which again she had not
the energy to translate into acts.
When she thought of her past 1t was
represented by Humphrey. When she
made any attempt to analyze her pres
ent it was again Humphrey, and when
she looked into the future it was
nothing but year after year of Hum
phrey, until finally she reached Il
point of unreasoning aggravation,
when she felt she could not see him
any more.
Then, as has been chronicled. every
thing went to pieces financially and
Humphrey disappeared Mile went
to the city with high expectations, but
again she was bound to be disappoint-
ed. Wissakeagan at last paid a great
deal of attention to her; the city did
not notice her at all.
If she was driven away from Hum
phrey by exaspera9pn she was driven
back to him by lo&eliness. 1t is the
much too common aStory of the mar
ried woman.
Now Humphrey offered to take her
back to the one place she had ever
known as home At first she did not
answer Finally she asked practical
question.
How much money would we have?'
Humphrey worked it out 1t was
about half what they had lived on.
Though l suppose" Humphrey
EAid, eff worked hard enough at that
business l could make it pay. I've
never really tried
Mile thought about it while they
finished the ride home, and all next
day. While she worked about the
house she often stopped to look at
herself in the glass. Certainly she did
look better. The excellent mountain
air, the outdoor exercise, the long
daily rides, the little measure of con-
tent that she was feeling, were all
building her up and making her look
younger She wondered what Cora
and Maud would say to her short
hair. She decided to have some pic
lures of herself taken on her horse
to send back to them.
She decided suddenly that she
wanted to go back.
Cora says that they're building "A
real theatre in the lot next to Ma
sons grocery store" she said, land
they're going to have real shows"
A week later Maude sent her fan
cy gilt card, the invitation to a dance
at the Country Club 1t was time for
the next election at the Thanatopsis
Club. Mrs. Werner, of course, would
run again A woman Mile particu-
Iarly disliked was up for vice-presi-
dent
do lets go back" she begged of
Humphrey
He shook his head.
1--WE got a big deal now in mind, "
he said, IF it goes through we may
have lot more money I've been
talking it over with Jones'"
but it's so dull here" said Mile.
"There is no one to talk to-" 1t sound
ed so much like Miles old com
plant that Humphrey was immedi-
ately on the defensive. He began
praising the other women in the camp.
There was the assistant foreman 5
wife
shes got eight children" said Mil
lie, land all she can talk about is
whooping cough and how to bake
bread"
1t was no use defending the other
women after that They possessed
good sturdy qualities. but their con-