The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-23
"A CASE
OF ATAWSM

Inere was 10 be a japanese luncheon on
the wide veranda of the more pretentious
dwelling across the way. Mutitudes of
bright little paper lanterns, like paper
beads We're being strung from pillar to pill
lar. and many bright pillows were stacked
upon the broad railing. The woman by the
window casually watched the preparations
she rocked and sewed. The dapper little
cOlored man in his dapper little white coat
darted hither and thither looking for new
places in which to hang his exhaustless
supply of little lanterns; the trim, white
capped maid fitted i'm and out, arranging
the cunning little tables, putting screens
about. pushing and hauling and lacking up
such bewildering quantities of queer fans.
Suddenly, the sound of the door behind her
opening softly caused the woman by the
window to start guiltily. But the sight of
the new conner caused her to settle back as
quickly. with sigh of relief.
Oh she sighed, lis that you, LizZy?
You nearly made my heart jump out then,
you gave me such fright
The newcomer, trinity dressed and rath-
pretty little woman, delightfully."- fresh in
her white pique shirtwaist suit, paused in
establishment as she caught sight of the
woman by the window.
Mary" she said, accusingly, sis some
dead and I've not heard about it? Or,
perhaps, the world is coming to an end,
and you've overlooked mentioning the fact
to me. What is it. Mary? Can help?'' she
looked in perplexed concern from the untidy
head of the toiler to the topsy-turvy room.
The woman by the window only laughed
goodnaturedly. as she spread out her supply
of socks in her lap. Evidently she was not
embarrassed by the others establishment.
''Shoo. Lizzy," she said, don't you try
to worry me, because I'm trying to be
above a worrying frame of mind. If you've
not finished with your category, you might
go on and ask about my state of mind. Being
out of it, / should think, would be the first
thing that would suggest itself to one. Yes?'
and she looked up mischievously from the
peninsulated hole she was darning. "Pshaw,
now! Not things wrong. Pray can't be
untidy if / want to? II / had foreseen
your coming / would have locked the door.
Then you couldn't have come up, my dear.
and my reputation might have been saved.
But here you are. and 1 suppose it's an ex-
PLANTATION you want" She rocked comfort
ably.
well, L suppose you've heard the news
that Aunt Milly went home last night The
dear old lady's been with us five good
weeks, poking into my affairs and closets,
managing everything she took a notion to
on the simple strength of being company
and Bobs relation. Poor LADY, She never
knew how thankful she ought to be that
she's not mine instead of Bob's. Honest,
Lizzy, when / got up this morning and re-
allied that our strained relations had re-
turned to more congenial note paper-that
she had gone, actually-the relief got on my
nerves. felt unstrung, out of sorts gener-
ally-and-and just let co.
She looked queerly at the other. You
never have to do thing like that, do you.
Lizzy? You never get all wound
up so tight that you've got to let
go'-or-or break? Lizzy, I wonder how it
comes that you've never yet found out how
fortunate you are"
The other drew her smart little chin in
above the collar of the white pique. MARY
she said, you must give me a moment in
which to forgive you. You don't realize what
you've done this morning. You've shat
tered an ideal. Yes, Mary. Here I've lauded
to the maids, till your name is like a second
conscience to them in the matter of dark
corners and dust-haunted carvings. I've
told them how, with one maid, your house
always looks better kept than the three of
them can keep mine. Mary, I should have
said that room looking as this one does at
this moment would give you nervous pros
tration."
"Twould." answered the other cheerfully,
yesterday or tomorrow. You see, Lzzy.
you had no business coming up without
knocking. It's your own fault. You can just
blame yourself for having caught me in one
of my let go spells'
For answer, the other pushed a heap Of
old dresses out of the most promising rock
ing chair, and seated herself comfortably.
IF you don't see fit to ask me to sit down
and hear this thing out" she said. with
resignation, II suppose I do know you well
enough TO make myself at home without
Really. Mary. what ails you? You're not a
bit like yourself
"Atavism, suppose" answered the wom-
an by the window, rcflectivey.
Then she went on vigorously, do you
know. Lizzy, I've simply been a martyr to
herself'1 shouldn't say that. either be-
cause the earliest possible training made
the trait grow into part of myself. Actually,
Lizzy, 1 believe mother began with me
when / was in long clothes; taught me how
to squirm so not TO muss my slips, and
asked me TO refrain from mislaying my
rattles and rubber rings. You think that's
silly, don't you? My dear, 1 was never more
in earnest in my life My earliest memories
are saturated with a superfine essence OF
'neatness.'
MY little picture books must be in my
hands. or in their place on the particular
shelf mother assigned them My dresses
must De brushed speckless and hung up In
nice up and down folds. my stockings neatly
darned- An untidy drawer meant from ten
To twenty minutes extra practice on the
piano, dirty hands or finger nails hall
hour. And, my dear, with my love fol