The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-08-05
PREFERENCE
Chapter Ii


The worst OF it is" Dora said when
they were sitting by the fire for a
moment before Morton had TO go
home, that | always know what
want to say-only as soon as / open
my month, my voice sticks IN my
throat"
She touched her slim neck With a
small finger and a stained and broken
finger nail.
Just as though there was a gate
there that shut | can feel muscles
tighten so my voice doesn't come out.
Then something in one corner Of my
brain says that no one would want
TO hear il anyway-so | go on keeping
quiet" Then she laughed a little.
'The funny part is that l always
think of the thing that someone else
says. But if / do say it-it-well.
falls fat. l haven't the manner"
This was getting into subtleties be-
yond Morton's comprehension.
Il don't talk to them because they're
so light headed" he announced. You
are different. | like serious people.
! can talk to you about things 1 ike
Dora was immensely fattered And
Morton talked on.
'Of course, there's no chance for a
fellow in town this size. The thing
is to go to the city ard live. Should
you like to live in the city,"
''Oh, I'd love it," Dora's voice thrill
ed with conviction.
"Of course I'd be poor" Morton
might have been pursuing his own
thoughts, obligingly taking her along
with them, or he might have been pro-
posing. A coquettish girl could have
done much with this opening. 1t never
occurred to Dora to wonder about this
until long afterwards.
Being poor isn't so bad" she said,
If you haven't been poor you'd dread
II and think of all the Dickens stories
about very poor people. But if you've
been-it-well, you wouldn't mind"
"But-you've never been really poor
i mean you've always had a good
home here, even if you did have to
work"
"Oh, but | have-that winter father
and | tramped through the south-oh,
1t was fun. but we hadn't any money.
We slept outdoors sometimes and
sometimes went without meals When
] was little girl, before we came here
TO live. father was out of work and
We hadn't thing" Dora broke of
thinking this tale of poverty unkind
TO her father, whose fault it seemed
to be-
Father has always been too great
for ordinary work" she felt an apoL
ogy necessary. HE has the cleverest
1deas-but he hasn't the money o.
time to study out the practical part
always-lll show YOU things he's made
some time"
Some time" was the following Sun
day, a warm and delightful day. Nor
ton appeared without his book of Sc
lect quotations, and with new idea
II / practise getting over my self
consciousness on you, why don't yor
practise getting over yours with me
as an audience?"
What fun" Dora laughed, and they
went to their favorite spot on the. little
hill beyond the house
Il never know what to wo with my
hands" said Dora. Look, I'll hold
them like this" She clasped them ii
her lap. NO. | know I'll give z
party and you can be all the guests"
She jumped up from the rock, anc
stood with comic little smile on he
face as she pretended to be the host
ess. How do you do, Mr.. Newberry
so good of you to come today" Thii
was in imitation of society stories sh,
had read
Good afternoon. Mrs. Newberry, s.
nice of you to bring your delightful
husband to my tea"
She ratified on gaily loaned book
to imaginary guests, talked politics
cd h
moment over some incompetency of it
Shorthand ended only when she wa
attacked with giggles and had to 81
down to laugh at herself.
Morton was laughing too.