The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-10-14
A RETURN
Chapter 70


The Paris days grew more and more
hectic.
Gloria had more friends here than in
London, and more demands upon her
time as result.
Il feel as though we were home
again, with these afternoon tea parties
happening" Pan remarked happily
when Gloria came in one day and an
nounced that several visitors would
shortly appear.
"Tea isn't the ceremony here il is
in England, or the sort of thing / make
of it at home" Gloria explained, slip
ping out of her suit and hunting for a
cool and appropriate gown. "The
French idea is that it spoils dinner,
and they build up their day to proper
appreciation of the meal"
But | can't take food so seriously.
Pan, if you tell Madame Rollande /
asked it, she'll send you huge white
cloth to cover some of the gilt of that
table. The darling gives me her best,
but her best means too many curli-
cues"
Pan did as she was asked, put out
of sight most of the ornaments and a
green plush cover that gave Gloria q
headache, and even managed to go H.
to the kitchen and make the tea-for
the hotel was small and Madame
adored her American guest
And Gloria was almost Historically
gay at her party, as she poured tea an
dispensed little cakes, showed off
frankie and introduced Pan as her
protegee
Though whether look after her or
she looks after me | can't say" Gloria
said. Donald, look at the fine shape
of her head. Wouldn't you like to
model that? A caressing hand touch
ed Pans hair lightly Pan smiled, used
to being discussed in the third person
Donald was a sculptor studying in
Paris; there was an elderly lady who
was addressed as duchess, and who
spoke only French, a middle-aged jour
nalist, and English friend who happen
ed to be staying in Paris, an italian
who spoke any language, George
standing to one side at home with
everyone and Gloria a gay centre of
an odd group
How strange that I should be
here!" Pan said after they had gone.
i don't belong here, but they don't
know that. They were nice to me be-
cause you put me here. They didn't
know came from Norris City and am
nobody at ALL"
Don't go back to your feeling of in.
feriority," Gloria warned. She looked
ten years older suddenly, the gaiety
had gone with the last guest.
No, I'm not. l was only thinking
none of these friends of yours would
bother with me, except that live with
yoQ and am your friend There is
nOthlng in me to attract"
My type attracts some people,
yours Others" Gloria answered prac-
tically. Il have dash and initiative,
perhaps, you have an enduring sweet
ness" Silence then. Il shouldn't lee
ture you about feeling inferior / feel
IT myself at times-now, for instance
These people you admire so - that
french duchess is as hard and IN
4 scrupulous as woman can be, she
comes because | amuse her. The rest
come to meet her, she's a big social
light. | don't care snap about any
or them-anything-"
This was childish for Gloria! Pan
sat and felt miserable
If only you'd cabled Santley before
you sailed" she said finally. 1T would
have been all right then. He didn't
near and went out of town and then
Do you think a cable woul have
made difference?" Gloria asked. mo.
it's plain enough. He may not be in.
terested in this other girl, but he GER
tainly got over his fancy for me. He
may only have been in love because he
couldn't marry me, and because he was
sorry for me-
There's nothing to be sorry for
now. I'm free. I've a business that
makes me independent. I'm settled
where I've lots of friends And think
OF the time-it's been years"
Not so many if he really cared. /"
Pan argued. Didn't he write so Won
could tell how he felt?"
"Oh yes, of course And said he was
going to follow me to New York But
his future was in London l knew that
and | couldn't go back with Frank
living there. And l couldn't let him
waste his time over married woman.
SO | made him stay away and made
him write just friendly letters They
were always affectionate-good Lord
I've lived on those letters for years
i wish you would marry" Pan said.
You may like your independence but
you are killing yourself the way you