The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-06-24
A WESTERN HOME
Chapter 80

1
Doesn't it seem cynical TO say that
family is sometimes happier sepa-
rated than together"
Mrs. Mum laughed and answered.
why should it,. That all depends
II the family is too much alike, it is
sure to be unhappy II 1t lives together.
II it's very different, the same thing
happens. Is your family happier apart?"
Patty glanced down at the letter
from her mother, which had come that
morning.
I'm afraid So" she answered sadly
THAT is. mother likes 1t better where
she is. 1 haven't heard from Mile
yet, but I think she is robably mis-
cradle"
As far as her mother was concerned,
Patty was right in the conclusions she
drew from the letters her family sent
her. Mrs. Parke was practically happy.
That was as near a perfect state as a
woman Of her temperament could
come
She would have been happier had
Mile and Patty been there, Of course.
But with her, as with great many old
people, it was the place that mattered,
more than the people. 1t is trait
shared by cats. Her eyes had seen GER
tain sights for years, her old ears were
used to certain voices, certain sounds
and noises, daily she had talked with
certain people, probably saying the
same things over and over again.
It did not much matter whether she
liked any Of these people or not, most
of them she didn't, but she was used
to them. She welcomed them all when
she saw them again, and they well
coined her.
Besides, for weeks she was a heroine
in mild way, because she had spent
the winter in a distant and big city.
Her sisters children would run to
call her.
The grocer's here: he wants to say
how-do," the smallest girl, a child of
II. would report.
And Mrs. Parke, in a wool shawl to
keep off spring chilliness, would hurry
TO the door to shake hands and talk
with the man that had taken her orders
for years.
You'll be getting back into your old
house soon, perhaps" more than one
person asked her.
Il hear Humphrey is making money
again." the bank cashier remarked as
he passed her on his way home.
Mile writes she might buy back
her old house sometime" Cora said
coming in one afternoon to call
All these things tended to bring Mrs
Parke back to her old life Perfect
happiness might be attained If she
could move into her old house, with all
the carpets, curtains, and furniture
just as they had ben for many years
then she could forget she had ever
gone away
And yet
Wasn't the city awfully noisy?'
Maude asked, on one of her frequent
calls.
"Oh, not so very" Mrs. Parke an
swered. "Of course parts were, but
then, we chose quiet neighborhood. ;
Well, OF course, l spose there are
quiet spots in New York" Maude was
willing to give the distant city credit
for one or two good points.
But weren't you awfully cramped in
tiny fat, after you were used to such
large house?" Cora wondered.
"Oh. no-somehow 1t seems natura
to live in a small place in the city
she said. Besides, it was so convent
ent. The work was nothing"
'FOh, well, of course, since YOU hadn'
servant, that was a good point,
Maude said, with no desire to be cat
sish at all.
Mrs. Parke was silent. She hated I,
admit that they could not afford
servant, in spite of the fact that every
one in the town knew that the famil,
had lost all its money 1t seemed +
lower her socially in her own eyes, t
admit publicly that she had don
homework.
Its different in the city" she said
Servants are awfully hard to get an
when you get them, they're not muc'
good. And expensive. too. Most peopl
do without, living in small fats-al
the rooms on one floor and janito
service being cUnted too
we really didn't want any help.
she added That seemed to make thing
better. Doing without a servant bt
cause one had to was a disgrace, goin
without because one wanted to, wa
quite another matter
i think you liked it." Cora said. he
tone of voice improving a certain di!
loyalty on Mrs. Parke's part
Not wasn't home. l like my oil
friends best. Of course, we saw lot
of peoplc-there was Patty's frient
Mrs. Mum, who visited me last sun
mer, she was just down the street
This, too, was a pleasant impression I
hold out, for Mrs. Mum with he
French maid and her lovely frocks ha
made an enormous sensation. "An
Paul was always around, and Patty wa
out to dinners and theatres with hil