The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-05-06
After Ten Years
BY MARION RUBINcAM
AN EFFECT SPOILED
CHAPTER AZ.

Mllllo LrlumpneQ Tor some time. she
went over and over the story.
so I just walked into the bank
and asked to see the president, and
they ushered me into his office as,soon
as I gave my name"-this was use
less Formally, for everyone of course
knew the Buchanan's, and Mile, since
Humphreys disappearance, had been
the towns pet attraction
II told him I had to have money,
and thought my future was in the
East. | said, of course, that Hunph-
rey had left me without any resources
but the house. which was in my name,
and which he couldn't touch, and l
wanted to sell it.
"He said a forced sale never was a
good thing, but l said l didn't think
I'd ever need money as much as now,
and he agreed to see what he could
do. Of course, everyone knows we
have got one of the best houses in
town"
Mile was going to make a clean
sweep while she was about it. The
announcement of the sale of the house
brought a flock of interested friends
about at once.
You are not going to leave us?"
Cora exclaimed. genuine concern in
her tones. "Why Millie, you have
always lived here-what shall we do
without your"
"Oh-forget mel" Mile answered
airily. very busy at her desk sorting
and throwing away papers.
"But-we've known each other since
we were three years old" Cora almost
wept. People don't forget friends as
old as that"
''Well-I1l come back when l have
made my fortune. Patty will be sure
to marry someone fine, with her looks
!. and her talent" Mile ratified on.
Proof of her better feelings was
that she had discarded her dull clothes
and was dressed now in blue silk
she had always adored, and held it
back as best"
It was Millie who began selling fur
niture right and left to friends and
acquaintances. 1t was Mrs. Mum in
New York, who, when she heard Pat
tvs family were coming, wired that
she had taken a tiny apartment for
them And it was Patty who found
out the cost of shipping household
goods. and decided that it was cheaper
tc, send things than to buy new.
Gu of the chaos of moving, packing
and planning, a little order gradually
came. Goods were shipped off, Mrs.
Parke went to visit sister living in
another county, having decided in her
fantastic mind that she had pulled
up stakes" forever, and there was
never any coming back
But | don't complain" she repeat
ed my daughters are my daughters,
and my duty is to look after them.
I'm an old woman and I don't like
change. I'm going where there's not
a familiar face"
Indeed, she was grieving, for all
her world was within the limits of the
little town that, in the days of her
youth had been tiny village.
why are you going?" Cora asked,
one afternoon. 1t was a few days be-
fore their departure. and they were
living in Cora's since their own house
had been emptied of goods. I'll miss
you so"
81 just can't go on here" Millie said.
Everyone has been so kind and good
4 ! and sympathetic-but they all know
~ I'm deserted woman, they all know
my husbands left me"
Poor Mile" Cora sympathiZed.
You've had a hard time of it."
And ! don't know whether Hum
phrey is alive or dead. He's never
let me know, he's never tried once to
relieve my anxiety. And l have just
come to feel that l can't stand the
sight of familiar objects anymore-the
house we lived in so happily for SO
many years"
1t was a fascinating subject and Mil
lie enlarged upon it at length. She
found suddenly to play the loving and
despairing wife was new and delight.
full pastime. She did miss Humphrey
sometimes, too, and she was honestly
worried about him. So she began cap
italiZing on this.
Then Patty came in one afternoon
with a letter.
This is good news" she said, and