The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-09-20
CONDOLENCES
Chapter 81

Il don't think there's much to-
tell Pan replied, trying desperately
to understand it herself Il was in
love with him, l know that-Oh, T.
know because it hurt so awfully
when"
When Gladys came into it, prompt
ed Gloria.
Yes! If she had liked him as
did, l should not have minded-that
is, | shouldn't have minded so much.
l suppose l should have selfishly
wanted him to be n love-"
Her thoughts came pouring out then
For once she could talk freely for all
the things that were pent up inside
her
you see, no one ever liked me. Not
even when l was a child. l was so
frightfully ugly
Poor kid, you weren't" Gloria
said softly
Il was, | was thin and nervous and
had pale face and big mouth with
huge teeth that Aunt Maud called
tombstones. And l looked so dreadful
in the gingham pinafores Aunt Maude
made US. You see, when we were lit
tie, she dressed us both alike That
is, Gladys had new pinafores, and
wore them out next season-She was
so much larger that they always fit me
when she'd outgrown them. But her
hair went into nice fat curls when
Aunt Maude wet it and brushed it
around her finger and mine was al
ways plastered back flat and ended in
stringy pigtail, it was so awfully
ugly!
Il always had to work so hard over
my lessons, if didn't study and study
I'd fail. But Gladys never paid much
attention, and somehow she always
managed to get through. So she wasn't
stupid, as | know you think"
There's certain type of mind that
cannot fall into the routine of school
studies!" Gloria explained. "Docile
children thrive under such a routine;
children with too much individuality
are always at war with the hard ana
fast rules of academic studies. l fan
cy you were that sort
Pan went on:
"All the teachers liked Gladys. They
never cared much for me, except an
old lady who was my English teacher.
The rest said | had no personality
Otherwise, never made friends-and
the teacher died while l was in high
school
Gladys grew more and more popu-
lar, and somehow | felt as though |
were being showed into the back
ground. But knew that if l were the
sort that could be showed, l deserved
to be. And l was busy, the work at
home never was very easy.
And as l grew older grew more"
Sensitive" prompted Gloria again.
Eyes. l couldn't dance we'll, nor
play games well, tired out on long
walks, l couldn't swim nor row we'll
when they talked about-oh flirtations,
and the sort of impudent give and take
very young men and women like-well,
l couldn't do it. The whole trouble
was that Gladys and her friends were
full of the joy of life, and l had none
of il"
Floor child, how could you?" Gloria
wondered
But, you see, as life gave me moth
ing, | grew never to expect anything,
that's the consolation of my type" Pan
went on, with a keen flash of self
knowledge. so l never was envious
and l never looked forward-as Gladys
and all the others did. They looked
forward to being in love, and being
married, to having homes of their own.
Some wanted a lot of money, some OF
the girls and boys wanted to go to
other cities to live-when l did think
ahead, felt that somehow, unexpect-
eddy, things would change for me- and
would be happier Meantime, you see
! had no money, so l couldn't break
away, and no courage to go anyway,
because | was so sure l was useless.
But the unexpected came-through
you" She gave Gloria one of her
sweet, shy. little smiles and resumed.
But first of all, something else IN
expected came. That was Morton-whn
liked me. He was my first friend, my
only friend, except my father, oil
course.
And he did like me, in spite of al!
my faults and short comings. 1t was
you can't imagine how wonderful to
me, because everyone has always liked
you"
81 can imagine though" Gloria said
gently, putting one hand over the
girls.
Il was so-grateful Then I began
to think l could do him good too, by
being good friends with him. thought
he was so wonderful"
That's because you wanted to think
so. the idealism in you coming out
Gloria explained.
Perhaps But that was the only
thing / wanted-to go on being in love
with him. And then-Gladys who had
NV m q