The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-07-10
SMALL TROUBLES
Chapter 1o1


her theory that every married life, to-
be quite happy, should have some
trouble in it.
When Mrs. Mum came home, Paul
repeated the idea to her. still laugh
ing about it. Mrs. Mum. settling her
self on the couch in her favorite
lounging position, answered:
Patty is quite right Paul, that
shows how lightly you've gone over
the surface of life
Paul was sitting on the floor on the
bearskin now, his back to the fire and
his arms hugging his knees. He man
aged to smoke in spite of this atti-
tude
so the best thing you can do for
me is to wish me troubled" he said.
his dark eyes dancing with mischief
Undoubtedly" Mrs. Mum an
swered, quite unperturbed.
But Patty says she likes me
spoiled! If you reform mellow can
/ tell-she might find someone more
attractive-a movie actor, perhaps
even a tenor."
Don't talk nonsense" the girl
scolded gently.
able frame of mind and wanted to
talk. She was always happiest when
she could SIT by the fire, with the boy
on one side of her and the girl on the
other, and make herself the heart and
center of their group. NO, Patty
wouldn't. She'll be the adoring wife
and the adoring mother to the end of
her days She'll think her husband
the finest and hpr obi16roy1 tho 81
est in the world"
And You mean" put in Paul, who
would not be quite serious, that if l
had a little trouble now and then
lost my job and half starved, say, or
had to live in walk-up in the Bronx
that ! would turn into model hus-
band?'
ooh, you'll be right" Mrs. Mum
dismissed him lightly. you and Pat
ty are as nearly an ideal com animation
other pillow behind her head and went
on.
Your only fault is youth, Paul, and
heaven knows that's an enviable fault
You've always had everything, un
doubtedly you always will You've
really a great deal of ability" paul
from the rug, mde a comic attempt to
bowl.
you have superb self-assurance
You expect success, therefore, you at
tract it-and it comes easily. The ap
pie fairly falls into your hand.
Patty, as contrast, plays rather Z
passive part-too passive. But wher
any trouble does come as, for instance
the financial breakup more than :
year ago, she's ready to work her way
out in an admirable. steady, if not en-
tirely brilliant, fashion. I'm not sure
but what her little past troubles have
not made her even sweeter and nicer.
And she smiled upon her little adopt
ed daughter in the tenderest way.
There's only the chance that toc
much success and happiness nigh
make you shallow, Paul. That's VIVA
Patty meant"
But" the boy objected. There
Millicent and-what's his name
Humphrey. They seem 20 have gone
through nothing but trouble lately
anyway. And it doesn't seem to have
made them happier"
He grinhed triumphantly. Milliet
troubles had been taken with a Ger
tain amount of seriousness by thes'
two, and yet they were always hal
way jest too.
Mrs. Mum was not to be arguet
down. ..
After all, it SINNERS down to
question OF ones temperament" sh
decided I'm afraid that-forgive me
Patty, for saying this, but l must a
long as we are being so frank-Ir
afraid that Mile is-well shallow
Patty has depths that neither you no
|, Paul have ever explored. Tria
end trouble can have no effect but a
irritating one upon certain sorts O
people. But Patty is not that sor
Neither are YOU
And she patted the cushion benin
her head. as though she had adjuste
everything to her satisfaction.
There was a little silence, Will
both young people sat and though
Mrs. Mum went on, after a time.
Il fancy that Mile grew so sha
low, because of a very carefree life
that when trouble came she had nou
Ing in her character to fight it.
beware, Paul! She did have ever!
thing a woman in her position coul
want-what was coed income fc
her town. what was a leading soci;
position for her town. a husband thu
agreed anna bly, 10 everything she sal
and did It was a care-free. but a
empty life. That's why everythln
smashed. When any strain came :
she had no reserve strength of cha
acter. She had no children, whlc
was a pity"
A bit later she went on. seriously
Financially, you two will nevf
have any trouble. But that's not @
erything. You've all the real lii
ahead of you-you have to adjust yor
own temperaments to each othe
\ that's a complex process. You'll hay
the pain and the joy of having chi