The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-12-01
Chapters From a
Woman s Life
A LovABLE INVALID.
BY JANE PHELPS


Claire Gordon invited me to go
down to Long Island with her to call
on a sick friend. And altho Mrs.
Page objected, didn't think it looked
well for two women to motor about
the country, and so on. shut my ears
and went. after telling Jennie would
be at home for dinner, and that Claire
would stay with US.
I'll be back by the time Walter is,
L said, but if we should be a little
late tell him where I've gone. He
knows Claire is an expert driver"
Mrs. Page shifted. Had it been any
one but Claire, she wuold have said
more; objected more strongly.
1t was a lovely day and with every
mile we put behind US my spirits rose,
It's SO good to get away-to forget
ones troubles and Worries" 1 said to
Claire, mot that mine are very serious.
but I have been kept pretty close at
home since Mrs. Page came"
You're an angel to her! Walter
doesn't know half the unpleasant
hours she causes you, I'll bet" Claire
answered.
You win! But don't let's talk
about her. I want to forget every
thing disagreeable today"
We called on Claire's i'll friend,
dear little lady. whose sweet patience
with long and painful illness made
me ashamed of myself, made me feel I
never would complain again.
We chatted with her for half an
hour, then left promising to come soon
again. AS 1 babe her goodbye, Mrs.
Eldredge said to me:
'It has been delightful to meet you
Mrs. Page, Meeting new people gives
me something to think of, adds inter-
when we were ONCE more in the car
said to Claire:
Doesn't it make you feel as if you
were somewhat small to ever worry
r1,.1, MFG H.
redge, that just meeting a stranger
means interest in life? We have so
many interests, think so little of
them.''
Mrs EIdredge hasn't walked in
over five years and 1 never have seen
her different than she was today.
She's so grateful for company, for
visit from someone from the world
from which she is shut out. She was
very popular, very wealthy. She had
a terrible fall, and. may. never walk
again. But 1 never have heard COM
plant from her lips Claire told me,
then we talked of other things.
I'm hungry, Doreen, suppose we
stop at a little road house 1 know and
get a bite? It's only 3 O'Clock, and
Wen have plenty of time.
ct believe I am hungry, too; this
bracing air I guess" l replied:
She ran the car into the driveway
of an attractive building set some dis
lance back from the road, the porch
covered with rambler roses, Towering
shrubs and gay beds of brilliant col
ored blossomgs on the spacious lawn
AS she parked her car beside three
or four others, gave a start. Surely
the further roadster was Walters!
Then L smiled at my foolish thought.
There were other roadsters of the same
make, the same color.
A number of tables on the porch
were occupied as we mounted the
steps. At one directly in our line or
vision sat Walter and Helen Halstrom.
Claire saw them at the same moment
did. She grabbed my arm and whis--
pered:
"Brace up, Doreen. Don't let them
know you carei Talk. laugh. Say
something
had felt myself growing pale and
my knees felt weak. But Claire's
voice, her quick appreciation of what
I had to do braced me and said some
thing to her. then pretended to have
just seen Walter and Helen. I went
directly to them, followed by Claire:
Hello, Waiter. .., HowIde-do -, Miss
ing place? Claire told me I'd enthuse
over it"
walter locked as if he didn't quite
know what to say or do; but ne was
Il man of the world and quickly col
lected himself and raising talked with
Grace while asked Helen If she had
entirely recovered.
you'll sit down with us?" he said,
turning to me[
and want just a sandwich, Claire has
to get back" I told him. and Claire
agreed that we would be more quickly
served by ourselves. We took a table
near them. and chattec while we ate
sandwich and drank cup of tea. |
Then we babe them goodbye, Walter
declaring he'd beat US home even tho |
they had not yet been served.