The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-02-14
MRS. TALBOT TRIES
CHAPTER IS

Luther went off to his Office, leaving
his mother sitting before an untouched
cup of coffee, with the discarded news
paper tossed aside for Amy's perusal
later in the morning.
Claire's letter was in Luther's pocket
that was so Amy would not see it
and recognizing her writing, begin to
ask questions. There was not the sym
pathy between Luther and his critical
little sister that existed between Luth-
er and Jane.
Mrs. Talbot was thinking. Even
though she still frowned, as she con-
centrated on her problem, her forehead
was not as deeply lined as it once was
all the time. Her cheeks had filled
in a trif1e; her skin was fresher in tex
ture; her hands, resting on the table,
lay lax. they did not knot themselves
into fists.
Claire would be alone that afternoon.
And Luther was not going.
II she went, what would she say to
this pretty, petulant girl? Once before
she had tried to heal the breech, and
she had failed She would try again
but all she wanted to do now was to
understand Claire's point of view
She had no idea what she would say,
came from Amy's room, the eternally
blue clad figure trailed down the hall
and Amy's sleepy voice called hello
through the dining-room door.
Mrs Talbot decided.
Claire received her in a discourag-
ingly hostile manner. She was dressed
for the street in a trim little black
satin frock, the careless style so much
in vogue that winter, a garment ap-
parently cut from a single piece of
material with sleeves only as long as
the width of the material allowed.
Mrs. Talbot knew enough TO know
that simplicity is deception, and that
this dress which seemed to have cost
nothing at all, was probably the most
expensive in Claire's whole wardrobe
Il though the telephone boy made a
mistake when he said Mrs. Talbot,
Claire remarked rudely. Il wanted
Luther to come. Did he send you?"
NO and he won't come-he's afraid
of YOU"
Claire's pretty lip curled, her eyes
were triumphant. A woman loves tC
think a man is afraid of her, Claire
thought she would have her way now
Il can't do anything for you," Mrs
Talbot went on. I've done my best
I've tried to make him consent to &
divorce
You, But you don't believe in it,
Il don't. But we can't have the worlC
as we want it. Jane was right wher
she said that. The trouble isn't thai
they make divorce too easy, they make
marriage too easy. If there had beer
as many difficulties in the way of YOU
marriage with Luther as there will bt
in the way of your divorce from him
you'd have appreciated him more wheI
YOU got him. Just as you'll appreciate
being free when you get free"
"On that theory, Luther will appre
ciate being free too-if he ever con
sents to take steps toward freedom
"Luther's case is different
Il suppose you mean he appreciate
me more as a wife now that he doesn'
live with me-,
Yes the mother answered uneA
pectedly. "Luther's been mostly t
blame in this affair" Claire looked a
her wide eyed. She could not accus
Luther of faults-for here all his fault
we're admitted beforehand, 1t was n
use even enumerating them, her Who'll
argument was taken away from her.
Mrs Talbot went on.
You've often told me various ref
{ sons why you could not live with Lutf
err He was jealous of other FRIEND
ships-yes, that's wrong. In an ideS