Chapter 1

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_Title:_ High Fences
_Date of first publication:_ 1930
_Author:_ Grace S. Richmond (1866-1959)
_Date first posted:_ Mar. 5, 2015
_Date last updated:_ Mar. 5, 2015
Faded Page eBook #20150318

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[Illustration]

HIGH FENCES

By

GRACE S. RICHMOND

DOUBLEDAY, DORAN & COMPANY, INC.
GARDEN CITY 1930 NEW YORK

COPYRIGHT, 1930
BY GRACE S. RICHMOND
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES AT
THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS
GARDEN CITY, N. Y.

CONTENTS
I

DAVID _goes reluctantly whither he would not. His entrance into the
story is therefore not voluntary, and he may turn out hard to deal with.
But once in, he’s here to stay, because he’s that sort_.

II

ROSS, _with even greater reluctance than David, and with much more
rebellion, presents herself at a dinner that is just a matter of duty to
her–at first. She’s had a hard day at her typewriter, and wanted to go
to bed instead of making herself agreeable. Life often presents that
complication_.

III

DAVID _begins to wonder why he hated so to come to this dinner. It seems
to have redeeming features. The success of dinners really always depends
upon whom one sits next, doesn’t it_?

IV

DAVID _discovers how mistaken one can be. It just shows that one should
always take a chance on going where one doesn’t wish to go–especially a
writer, with a notebook concealed somewhere about him_.

V

DAVID _would like to take up the argument for the defense, but wisely
refrains. When women are on the warpath men are safer in the deep
woods_.

VI

VISITS _to hospitals may be depressing, but what matter, if one can keep
up a patient’s courage by going? Quite frequently one brings away from
such visits more than one takes_.

VII

IT’S _a long walk to take under an umbrella, but how else can one attain
a semblance of seclusion in the very center of the pedestrian traffic?
Of course there are taxicabs, but if one wishes real excitement,
umbrellas offer better chances_.

VIII

ONE _of the tricks by which the Big Tricks are turned. It requires a
flying pencil and a notebook as receptive as a human being. Not all
notebooks are like that_.

IX

A GUEST _coming to the country falls almost instantly asleep. She had
always known that there was nothing in the country to keep one awake_.

X

MORE _sleep. Merciful heavens!–is that what she came for? Precisely,
though she didn’t know it_.

XI

A TOWN-BRED _writer views a country-bred writer’s attic workshop. She is
unable to understand how chips can fly in such a spot. Too many views
from the windows. She knows that real work can only be accomplished in
small dark rooms, with artificial lights_.

XII

ASTONISHING, _how much fun may be had in the country, and at a dance
with people who mostly never have seen the Big Town. Who ever supposed
country people could dance so that one would care to join them_?

XIII

AFTER _all, a borrowed notebook and pencil go into action up here in the
country. There actually is something to record–something that has come
right down out of the Blue_!

XIV

WELL! _The country proves positively dangerous! High explosives are
stored there, which let go unexpectedly. The train can’t bear us back
too fast to the town and safety_.

XV

THE _town meets Ross at the station. What a glorious place to get back
to. Why did she ever leave it? This is the place to be, in the very
center of things. No doubt of it_.

XVI

MISS HESTER _plays a difficult part with superb poise. She gives sound
advice, moreover, but refuses to take any. In spite of this latter
indictment, what a woman she is_!

XVII

DAVID’S _plans are knocked into a cocked hat, as plans frequently are.
Yet cocked hats have had a great place in history, so why rebel_?

XVIII

A GOOD _hearty quarrel is something not to be expected between host and
guest. But it seems to have been inevitable. When two persons find
fences too high between them, they can at least make faces at each other
through the knot-holes_!

XIX

NOW _we are in difficulties indeed. The wires are short-circuited, with
the usual result–no power. What is to be done_?

XX

ROSS’S _notebook functions again. Everything is all right now. The
disturbing elements are eliminated. We go on as usual_.

XXI

THE _attic workshop is also a busy place, and the chips fly merrily. The
unexpected visit of a charming young person is delightful, but after all
a mere interruption. The sounds of the sandpaper and plane are heard
again even as she goes down the stairs_.

XXII

BOOKSHOPS–_and books. One of these is taken home and read until two in
the morning–a mere tale about the country though it is. Yet the reading
of it has a devastating effect_.

XXIII

PLAY-MAKING _in a hospital, which would seem no place for a play. Yet
one is staged, and its audience appreciates it to the full. There is
even a dramatic critic present_.

XXIV

JUST _a brief encounter, but upsetting to resolves not to be upset.
These things will happen_.

XXV

ANOTHER _hospital, but no play-making here. How to go on_!

XXVI

MUCH _discussion of books lately out, and a report is made upon the
author of one of them. It seems that all authors are not frumps–and how
strange that is! Remarkable how David is able to preserve his attitude
of entire detachment_.

XXVII

WILL _Ross go to the country again–again?–for business reasons, this
time? And stay four interminable months? How can it be thought of?
Still, she thinks of it_.

XXVIII

OTHER _people’s opinions, dissuasions, attempts to decide questions of
moment which one can only decide for oneself. Why will they put in their
oars? But they always do_.

XXIX

DAVID _and Susan attempt to spend a day together, as of old. The only
trouble is that their ideas as to how to enjoy a holiday have by now
become dissimilar_.

XXX

DAVID _notes that substitutions cannot always be made to substitute.
Everybody has to find that out, sooner or later_.

XXXI

SUSAN _plays a high card which seems to have been up her sleeve all the
time. David is amazed at her, but what can he do? Certainly he can’t put
her out of the game_.

XXXII