The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-06-23
AN EASTERN HOME
Chapter 80

Mrs. Mum was in jubiiant spirits.
She had accomplished more than
half of her plan when, first Mrs. Parke |
and now Mile, left She began pre-
pairing surprise for Patty
Miles train had gone early in the
evening, Mrs. Mum had had her to
dinner, and was very nice. Patty was
to stay on at the big house Just off the
Avenue. Paul was delighted, since he
could see her now whenever he want
ed.
And Patty, returned to her new
home, found that the bedroom and adj
joining little dressing room and bath
on the floor above Mrs. Munn's, had
been fitted up for her.
81 did nothing elaborate" Mrs.
Mum explained, "for I'm afraid II
shan't keep you with me long" And
she glanced at Paul and smiled.
But when Patty went upstairs to her
room, she found that quite bit had
been done. Mrs. Mum had done the
walls in her favorite silver gray, but
had frightened that by hanging long
curtains Of rose pink taffeta lined
with blue against the windows and
had used rose pink for the furniture.
The little dressing room that opened
from this was done over In blue and
pink, and the bathroom beyond in
blue
Just old materials had around the
house." Mrs Mum said, coming in be-
hind her. you've no idea what fun
1t was. / can't think why I've been liv-
ing along here in this big house all
this time when I might have had you
all along"
She quite forgot Patty's family and
her sense of obligation.
There's no sense in having you ev-
cry day at that Committee" Mrs.
Mum went on, settling herself in one
of the big chairs to talk. "In any
case, I'm afraid that Committee is
about done. What can you expect of
a lot of silly womon!" and she began
to laugh a little. so | resigned for
you this afternoon while you were
helping Mile off.
"But-that would make me depend
ent upon you"
"And thereby give me more pleas
ure than I've had since you started
for home year ago!"
It was tyranny, but pleasant sort.
And Patty was the type easily tyr
annized.
Instead of giving you salary as
/ used to, I'll open bank account for
you, just as / did for Mary. Every
month I'll put in a certain amount.
And tomorrow We'll do some shop.
ping"
Paul had always seen Patty well
dressed, SO her new and expensive
frocks did not impress him as much
as she with pardonable feminine van
ity, thought they might. A year ago
she had a nice collection of things
cleverly made over from Mrs. Munn's
frequently discarded wardrobe. With
in the year many had become shabby.
but Patty had a clothes sense, and
wore her things well.
If she had any feeling against being
dependent, Mrs. Mum was tactfui
enough to overcome it.
you might Just as well be my so
cial secretary" she said. I'm sup
posed to spend my mornings in bed,
you can come to me at ten, and Wen
go through my mail, answer letters
and then read bit until I'm allowed
to get up"
So Patty, discarded her businesslike
suit for a silk negligee which she Sc
cretly adored ran down to her friend
room after breakfast, and opened and
read her mail to her, answered tele.
phone calls, made engagements, and
made notes about business letters
which she later wrote on a typewriter
in another room The sight of her
self in a drapy silk negligee sitting al
a machine used to make her laugh.
Mrs. Mum decided that Patty need
ed a change Of air, latter the confine
ment of your office" she said.
So she took her off to the shore fol
two weeks, secretly amused at Paul;
long face, and secretly and a little
selfishIy pleased at having Patty quite
to herself. 1t was one of the few
signs she gave of growing old-thiS
tyranny, gentle as it was, and TIL!
occasional selfishness.
But Patty bloomed like rose in hel
new life.
She was physically and nervously
strong enough so the hours bent ove'
a desk did not hurt her, though o
course, her cheeks were a little less