The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-08-31
THE LETTER
Chanter 40


In due time the letter came in
Gloria's large scrawly hand.
This is being written while sit on
the edge of my child's bed and fill
his mouth full of thermometers and
tie his poor neck up in smelly fan
a chill to his other ailments, poor
youngster, but the doctor says he'll
be all right in a few days Meantime
I've lost a thousand dollar order to
do over room in order to hold his
hand-a piece of bad luck which
amuses me, for it would so please our
Norris City friends
Darling child, you must come for
We both need you. Being the mother
of an ailing child and business woman
sharp enough to support that child,
are two occupations that do not mix.
If one does justice to either. I'm half
dead myself too-and not competent
housekeeper in all this town. Darling,
I'd love to have you come just to keep
an eye on frankie the rest of this win
ter-I'l have a housekeeper installed
when you arrive, so the only work will
be the child
''I'll tuck $50 in here in a postal
order that will pay your fare"
Directions about trains followed.
Then
Wire me the time you arrive and
I'll meet you. Only come at once. I'm
sure the farm can dispense with you,
and I'm certain you can persuade your
aunt to part with you for awhile. Don't
be alarmed about what l say as to
looking after frankie. He won't need
much of that. | only want someone
here to keep an eve on things, you
won't have any work. it will be a rest
for you and We'll visit the entire win
ter"
Put like this, the whole thing sound
ed most alluring. Besides, there was a
postal order for more money than Dora
had possessed for some time There
was no eXcuse-and she wanted to go
TITS my one chance!" she told her
father. i've wanted to get away
perhaps when she doesn't need me,
can find a position in the city. But
what will you do?"
Jim's face suddenly relaxed into a
heavenly smile
I'll beat it the day after for South
America" he cried.
He looked suddenly like man re
leased from prison. Dora, who was
essentially sweet and domestic, could
understand this great caafing against
domesticity, without in the least shar
ing it. Jim had been on the farm
for nearly two years now. After his
long wandering in Europe he was con
tent to stay fairly near her for some
time.
Dora had no desire to rough it as
he had, though the happiest time o
her life had been the few months she
did go gypsying with him through thu
warm south. She liked it when she
was started, what she lacked was init
ative. If her fathers spirit urged he
forward, her mothers timidity held he
back
Wouldn't you rather go with me
now we've decided to break oul
chains?" he asked-knowing her an
swer.
NO, The one thing in the world
I'd rather do than anything else, il
to stay with Mrs. Gates for awhile.
don't care if it is being a nurse, though
he says it isn't, she would be so won
lcrful to live with
And the excitement made her cheek
a bit pink and her eyes bright.
Five minutes of happiness had
curious effect on her. Her hollov
cheeks seemed to fill out, her Who'll
nervous face relaxed and she locke
10 instead of looking like an old-youn
woman.
"Oh, you don't want TO CO." Aun
Maude objected when Dora got up he
{ courage to drive in town, cash tn