The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-02-02
A CONSPIRACY

Mrs. Talbot felt that if she could
once separate Amy from the daily con-
tact with the people she knew in the
city, that, as she expressed it, some
thing might be done with her. She
was not particularly hopeful. she felt
she mad succeeded in settling James
sHalr, but was not likely to in the
case of Luther or Amy.
But is was chance,
And then there was another idea
which led her to send a note to Dick.
asking him to see her next day when
Amy was not there
DICK came-plainly worried, think
ing Mrs. Talbot had bad news for him
Worry sat badly on his chubby fea-
lures. Dicks face was the sort that
should be smiling always, his earnest
sleepy green eyes squirting little as
ne smiled Dick-and all his type
often carry aching hearts under a
phlegmatic exterior-and no one cred
its them with emouonalism
Luther's vacation starts Monday"
she began abruptly, 'and we're going
pack TO the farm for three weeks
Amys going tool think you'd better
take your vacation now and be there
Dick never said "can't"-at least no
one had ever heard him. He was al
ways good-naturedly willing to try. He
saw the advantage also of being with
Amy when he had clear field.
l only get week, aud that's in
late September" he said, but I'll man
age tiff / have to resign"
And he did-though he only man
-
buying another mans vacation from
hlm-Wiring to his father for enough
money to bribe the other man TO do
away with his two weeks rest. Then,
somehow, he persuaded his firm to al
low the transfer of vacations-to the
amusement of his chief, when he calm.
iy confessed he wanted the time to
WOO a girl.
The family arrived in at Hornbrook
on the usual train, which, as usual. was
half AT hour or more behind schedule
The familiar hired man and the ia
miliar team OF horses was waiting
The man confessing sheepishly he was
father OF boy, born the night be-
fore
Il feel almost as though I'd never
been away" Mrs. Talbot said to Luth-
cr, as they started along the long road
home. Yet it's been almost year
since / left-more than year since
Amy left
Il don't feel as though Id ever been
away Amy flung back from the front
seat. where she rode with the driver
Think of all that's happened this last
year'"
Luther was silent-thinking of just
this
In that year Claire had left him. and
now wanted to make the separation
eternal Luther looked back on his
life, as something past and over-a
book that was finished There was
nothing ahead that made him want TO
look forward-only work, since he
must make money to live. and must
see his young sister over the little
time between now and when she should
marry.
Amy looked forward always-in her
more serious moment. Usually she
was entirely absorbed in the present.
queer mixture of earnestness and
tTivolity. In this last year she had
learned many things, made many new
friends, gone long way on the ambi-
tious road she had set out upon.
With her prettiness, her willingness
10 work, her talent-where might she
not be in another year?
As for the mother. she was thinking
neither Of past nor future | did not
matter 10 the children whether or not
Jordan would be glad to see them. the
father had ceased to count in any way
in their lives. But it mattered enor-
mously to Amy Talbot.
Would he be furious, and denounce
hem in the queer bitter way he used