The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-01-20
THREE PROBLEMS.
Chapter ga.

But, doing something useful"
meant to make puddings and scrub |
floors, as Claire saw it, She glanced
at her pretty white handsome Of
her best points-and the nails tina.
were Hilbert shape and pink and al
ways beautifully kept and shiny.
Dish washing meant the end of the
nails. Sweeping meant CRIME on her
smooth white fingers! Claire knew
too well how to be ornamental TO be,
or want to be, useful.
You can sew" Mrs Talbot an
swered these objections. You can
makeover clothes; that's more than
some women"
But | can't sew we'll enough to
wear the sort of clothes / have TO
wear" Claire closed that avenue oil
usefulness"
Mrs. Talbot looked at the loose soft
gown of blue chiffon, embroidered
with silver threads that merged TO
heavy design around the hem, and that
showed the alluring roundness OF her
white arms and the soft curve OF her
shoulder
Suddenly she wondered how Clare
afforded these things. The luxurlously
er's doing-but the gown was new.
Claire pressed 4 little pearl butto1
that rested in a piece of beautltul
enamel work, and after time a
maid appeared. She spoke soft French
TO Claire. and reappeared with great
silver tray, on which was a collectloi
of powder-blue china and cleaning
silver-a tea service that was the last
word in expensiveness.
Luther had not afforded this!
The last thing was a silver Kettle
that sat over an alcohol lamp. Clare
was going to make tea herself, uslng
the silver pot and a special orahd Oh
tea which she scooped with NINA
lure shovel from a silver tea caddy.
This piece of frivolity annoyed Mrs.
Talbot. She never approved OF AFTER
noon tea. To her three meals a Gay
were necessary to sustain life, Ihey
should be made as appetiLing as pos
sihle no one loved more to stand III
kitchen and make and stew lhan
she-but this silly meal OF tea anu
sandwiches, and inch or two square
and tiny cakes covered with fancy
icing-and so much fuss ana tlnle
spent over II!
Meals should be eaten around a
table with all the family present
Why, she could not say-only lney
always were eaten that way In her
time and her mothers. @,
NO. thanks, | don't want any,
she said sitting stonily erect. Anu
as we don't seem TO be gettlhg any
where. I'll be going
But | want you to persuade LII
Their to let me go free Clare salu'
abandoning her last attempt to Keep
things on a friendly level, and putting
down the tea cup.
And have people think Luther
could ever look at any other woman
but his own wife,"
'I'Il go to Reno" Claire SAID. II
do anything-Luther VIII consent II
you approve. TO-
Approve! Approve of divorce! It's
wicked It's wicked. You're wicked
to want it,"
Passion came out again. Mrs. Tai
bot was trembling all over.
IT'S only because you've influenced
Luther so. He's more old-fashloneo
than ever" Claire burst out. It's your
fault that I'm tied to him. It's your
fault he's so impossible. It's your
fault I'm so unhappy"
She dropped back in her chair, hei
pretty face twisted with anger.
My fault" Mrs. Talbot cried. MY
fault one of my children is keeping tC
the straight path! It's your fault, al
my troubles. You've put wicked idea!
into Amy's head-she won't even lool
at Dick anymore. It's your tault-al
YOUR fault that I'm so unhappy"
She, too, dropped into a chair, ant
tears came again for the second time
that afternoon. And Claire began Il
cry. too. And the two women sa
there. facing each other against TIT
cooling cups of tea, while the ne
.rInntod hottie sizzled and huhhlel