The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-01

light colored clay sticking to It, as II 1t had Just
been dug up in the back yard, yet it stood
small pedestal Mrs Woodss drawing room
nanelpiece. susy had often wondered why had been
singled for this honor To-day, having leisure and
opportunity, she wondered more than ever
She had come to play house" with Emmy Woods,
but had found her in the hands of the visiting
stress After unpleasant three quarters of hour,
Mrs. Woods had politely dismissed Susy, telling her not
bang the street door after her. and the visitor had
departed with feeling of deep resentment.
With dull Saturday afternoon stretching in gray
before her. Susy had crawled isessly down the
stairs letting her slide along the smooth mahogany
banister until she had paused just before the open
drawing door. 1t then. she stood peering
into the shaded hused place that the little bottle
had begun to interest her curiously.
Why should it be up there, enthroned pedestal?
1t seemed her irrtatingly stuck up, if it sneered
down the Dresden shepherd and his lass and the
stuffed canary under glass that kept looking
at it most worshpfully, as if it wanted to chirp:
Cast but glance thine humble servant, 0
Kng!"
1t was odd too, that Mrs. Woods should put the bot
tie there for every to look and haze it
cleaned Susy remembered that the first time she had
itoh, very long time ago, maybe as long six
months-it had been very dirty, and dirty it had
NAMED The result of her reflections criticism Of
Mrs Woods housekeeper. and decision to her
pentup surplus activity in cleaning the impudent-
looking bottle
piece a rep-covered armchair Very guardedy, fixed
smile of anticipation her face Susy took the
bottle from its high place and lifting the point of her
apron prepared to give it thorough brushing. But
her uneasy feet had pressed the armchair backward
and she balance. She fell against the mantel
piece and her clasp loosened the bottle With a
dainty, tnklng crash it broke into splnters.
The suddenness of the disaster hypnotzed her into
inacon, and for moment she could only stare at the
prsnnatic hued wreck With realization of her mis-
At IS 49, ~oIe
eyes made her cringe. She pushed the chair back to
its place. stole from the and the previous direc
ton to "leave the house quietly" was obeyed with
fanatcal exacness. No mouse crept out on a mid
night accommodating expedition with slken stealth
than did Susy Gilvarry from the Woods home.
What was to be done? She must tell her mother, of
course and her mother would go and tell Mrs Woods,
making polite apologies for her child after the
of the Big People, and Mrs. Woods, no matter how
furious she might be inside would also, following the
law. smile and say did not matter in the least
and that Mrs. Gilvarry must not think of such triae
again.
Susy was, however, trembling and very awed when
she reached her home but few doors away.
Ellen admitted her, her expression sulky because her
cheek was swollen
ooh, it's you. Miss Susy is it," she grumbled
"You forgot to wipe your feet again, too How often
will Peter have to wash the steps, I'd like to know?
Susy did not seem to hear With preoccupied
preston she began climbing energetically to her
mothers ROOM 1t was empty. Neither was Margaret.
the nurse, in the sewingroom. stitching as usual
There no of her sister Genevieve, whom she
had left in the back yard digging with her spade
The library vacant, too. The whole house
depressingly still
sense of personal injury began initiate Susy, par
tcularly when she realized that this being Saturday
afternoon her father had left his Office early-in fact
that the smell of his after luncheon cigar still in the
library, though he himself had vanished Where were
they all? Why she left alone in the world and
time when she badly needed around her a
breast SILVER up aans: she confessed her fault
She hurried to the Kitchen but cook, who gener-
ally welcomed her with oooky had other interests
to-day her was visiting her. and cook talking
him in happy, excited way with the big green but
tery bow which she reserved for great pas
tered her breast. Ellen cleaning silver in the
laundry, her cheek wrapped in small shawl.
where is everybody Ellen?" Susy asked in an in
jured voice.
"Out," said Ellen thckly.
"But whereof
"Drivin'"
Time was needed for the bitterness born of this reply
to have its full effect
Mama and papa took Genevieve-and didn't take
me?"
Don't bother me- Miss Susy" said Ellen "NIe face
is ready to walk OFF with the pain an feet are
in knees
"Driving?" susy fatered but mama knew was
at Emmy Woods's. Maybe they drove there after
left she continued in miserable yet hopeful speculation
Perhaps they'll come back for I'll put my
Roman sash to be ready"
They won't, then' said Ellen, in,patience and suf
ferng making her brutality honest I'm thinkn' you,
said you might go into Mrs. Woodss so they
could take Miss Genevieve without you raisin your
ructions'
Susy stared at her. The rising retreated before
cold. dead feeling that in subtle way al
awakening to new hurniliating point Of view.
Sure they'll take you-next time" said Ellen care
lessly.