The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-06-08
After Ten Years
BY MARION RUBINcAM
MRS. DARLINGTON
CHAPTER rs


fast the next morning, so Paul knew
that he had thoroughly upset her
These days he arrived at his Office at
9, which meant an o'clock breakfast,
and being awake by 1880. Paul was
enjoying learning to jump swiftly into
his clothes, fixing tie in the fewest
possible motions, to being bathed and
ready for breakfast in the shortest pos
sible time.
But Mrs Darlington never honored
him at breakfast, even in the old leis-
urely days. Her maid heard her first
ring at 10 or H. Mrs, Darlington often
remarked that she ate practically no
breakfast al all "a favorite expression
of Mrs. Parke, by the way, but the
servants noticed that large silver
tray with coffee and mullins and eggs
and fruit went into her room laden,
and came out fairly empty.
For an hour or so after that she lay
propped up with pillows, made and
unmade engagements over the phone,
and visited in the same convenient
manner with other similarly relaxed
| friends. At luncheon time, exquisitely
would not admit it, she was ready to
begin the day.
| Had it been the fashion, Mrs. Parke
would have done this too. Essentially
| the two women were alike But Wissa-
Reagan would have held up Mortified
hands at any woman staying in bed ex-
icept when she was sick. At present
| Wissakeagan took life and its respon-
sibilities seriously.
So Paul knew that his mother was
upset. But he simply said that seeing
her this early was an unexpected pleas
ure, and gave his attention to his
| notwithstanding
There were just few things I
wanted to talk to you about" she be-
gan sWeetly, as though she had awak-
ened early for the sole purpose of a
little friendly conversation. "One sees
so little of you these days"
Paul grinned at this allusion to his
work and his evening visits with Patty.
He finished his grapefruit and began
busily cracking the top from an egg
sitting ready in little silver cup.
Sorry" he apologized. I'm usually
home to dinner"
Mrs. Darlington watched the butler
disappear through the door. lone
doesn't always care to discuss family
, matters at dinner, with servants
about" When she had on what Pau
called her European manner and way
of speaking" he was sure she was dis
pleased. He didn't want to waste time
, so he brought her to the point
You mean Patty?"
"Er-Patty, as you call her-thougf
Its sometimes hard to understand yol
when you talk and eat mullins a
once"
Paul felt himself a boy of four, re
! proved for talking with his mouth full
He began to be amused.
, TT it-Patty-you go out with il
7 your car every evening""
yes. Whenever she'll 60" Pau
! answered cheerfully. You see She
J working all day and has a class il
: short tand at"
Very worthy of her, doubtless,
Mrs. Darlington said. She regarded
: him with fine and frigid pair of eyes
: Her maid had done" her hair befor
, she left her room, she wore one of tn
: softest of chiffon and lace robes. Blu
no chiffons. no frills, no feminin
touches could have softened the cold
8 stern, aloof impression that she ere
ated. She did not wrap her marrow
s shoulders tightly in a silk shawl, a
: did Mrs. Parke, she did not purse he
lips into a disappearing semi-circle
V pointing downwards, she had subtle
i ways of showing her dislike.
k Hang it all, mother" Paul burst ou
!. forgetting his breakfast to glove
/ across the table. "Patty's not worthy
she doesn't belong to that set your sill
committee is trying to improve. Sh
is one of the finest girls
The railways are, murmured tn
S lady.
"All right. She's a friend of Mr.