The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-10
THE FIRST ARRIVAL
ChaDter 106

The road than ran to the farmhouse
came from the distant town of Horn
brook, which was on a small railway
line. Three miles or SO from the town
it reached a fairly steep hill, with a
collection of houses. The place was
so small it had no name, the houses
all belonged to farms, and happened
to be built near each other There
was not even a store, nor a church
the church was some distance down
the road.
The road curved to make the ascent
of the hill easier, and passed the Tai
bot farm. The house itself was built
above the road-with stone steps be-
tween two low gate posts climbing to
a path which led to the porch. The
slope from lawn to road was interrupt
ed by brick wall. This replaced a
bank, which used to wash away every
year.
No one would have recognized the
house for the barren dingy place 1t
used to be. Yet structurally it was
the same. But Mrs. Talbot, when she
came back from the city, had had 1t
painted white outside-it was weather
boarded-and the shutters dark green.
She had had some of the fancy ginger
bread wooden decorations removed.
And the following year she planned to
build on a conservatory, and side
porch-the house was too high and
| narrow for good looks.
The visitor had gone. Jordan sat on
| the porch, filling his pipe and looking
over the fields, where the shadows
were lengthening as the sun sank low
F.! in the west. The tea things were TAX
en- away, and Mrs. Talbot picked up
| some needlework, to keep her hands
/ busy while she talked.
YOU'D better drive in to meet Jane
| and Donald" she said Jim and
! George can manage the milking with.
out you. I'm having hot dinner to-
night after they come-cold food isn't
nice when you're tired from railway
trip"
Jordan protested. His mind still
was with the details of his work.
you haven't seen them for three
years" Mrs. Talbot said gently. Run
along. I'm going to fill the house with
flowers. 1t was too hot today to picl
/ the roses
And Jordan went
i Mrs. Talbot began gathering flowers
James old room was to be theirs. She
remembered that when Donald wal
there last Jane had given up her room
to him. She remembered the blue tie
! Donald had forgotten in the hurry o
packing to leave, and how Jane wore
it with her tailored waist and stared
from the window. trying not to cry.
She filled great bowls full of roses
, and placed them on the old Fashioned
bureau, the table, and a jar of then
on the floor. Then, satisfied, she look
ed over the room.
What difference plain gray pape
made in the room--it seemed large
and cool. The windows had plail
muslin curtains and over them flower
ed cretonne, and the old-fashione
chairs looked gay with their cretonn
cushions. The room was ovely-th
J lovelier because of it's old-time furn
! ture. Then she put on dress sh
always felt was too young for her, bu
= that was so becoming she had to wea
? it. She made the dessert for Dime
: and went out on the porch as tn
y rumble of wheels brought the frs
!, arrivals.
Jane was the first to reach tn
4 porch.
. 1t was after dinner before converse
IN settled down to anything like o.
! Ger Jane was enthusiastic about til
+ house.
e Don, what luxury to have a whit
t. tiled bathroom and hot water whe
= you turn the faucet" she exclaime,
$ But never mind, Mother, they al
building us real home while we al
away"
Mrs. Talbot wanted to know abel
it.
Well the camp is getting so big no
that they'll have to rename it on
make a city out of it,
big enough to have suburbs" Do
/; aid put in. Donald was lounging i
a hammock at the end of the pore
> He had changed to white flannels an