The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-12-06

I She had passed tr1umphantly from
the kitchen fudge" and homemade
butterscotch period of girls exis-
tence into the realm of Iharrons glaces.
Luck favored her astonishingly in
her efforts to escape the rigors Of
school discipline. Just when she was
| forbidden to leave Miss Warnings to
spend nights and Sundays at Mrs.
| Owens, her mother came to town and
opportunity (for Nfarian) fell Ill, at the
| Whitcomb. Mrs. Bassett was cruising
languidly toward the sombre coasts Of
neurasthenia, and though she was I'M
der the supervision Of a trained nurse,
Marian made her mothers illness an
excuse for moving down to the hotel to
take care of her. Her father, in and
out of the city caring for his multiply
ing interests, objected mildly but &C
quiesced, which was simpler and more
comfortable than opposing her.
Having escaped from school and
established herself at the Whitcomb,
Marian summoned Harwood to the
hotel on the f1imsiest pretexts, many
Of the mmost ingeniously plausible.
Mrs. Bassett was going to a sana
| torium as soon as she was able to
move; but for three weeks Marian
was on Harwood's hands. Her bland
airs OF proprtetorship amused him
when they did not annoy him, and
when he ventured to demonstrate with
/ her for her unnecessary abandonment
Of school to take care of her mother.
her pretty mOue had mitigated his i'm
/ patience. She knew the value Of her
I prettiness. Dan was a young man
and Marian was not without roman
tic longings. Just what passed be-
tween her and her mother Harwood
could not know, but the hand that
/ ruled indulgently in health had GER
| tainly not gained strength in sickness.
This was in January when the
theaters were offering an unusual va
riety of attractions. Dan had been
obliged TO refuse-more harshly than
I was agreeable-to take Marian to see
1 a French farce that had been widely
advertised by its indecency. Her cool
announcement that she had read Il in
( French did not seem to Harwood to
make an educational matter Of It; but
( he was obliged finally to compromise
with her on another play.
That evening when they reached
( their seats Dan observed that Allen
/ Thatcher sat Immediately IN front OF
them. He turned and nodded to Dan
and his eyes took in Marian. In
moment she murmured an inquiry as
to who the young man was; and Har-
wood was aware thereafter that Mar
ian divided her attention between Al
len and the stage Allen turned once
or twice in the entr'actes with some
comment on the play, and Marian
was pleased with his profile; mora
over he bore q name with which she
had long been familiar. AS tho cur
tain fell she whispered to Harwood.-
You must introduce me to Mr..
Thatcher.-please- His father and
papa are friends. and I've heard so
much about the family that I just
have to know him"
"No"' he said fatty.
But Marian knew a trick or two.
She loitered by her seat adjusting
her wrap with unnecessary delibera-
ton. Allen. wishing to arrange an
appointment with Dan for luncheon
the next day. waited for him 20 come
into the aisle. Dan had not the
slightest idea Of introducing his
charge to Allen or to any one elss,
and he stepped IN front OF her to get
rid Of his friend with the fewest words
/ possible. But Marian so disposed
herself at his elbow that he could
not without awkwardness refuse her.
l. She murmured Aliens name cor
/ daily, leveling her eyes at him srnil-
! ingly.
i've often heard Mr.. Harwood
/ speak Of you. Mr.. Thatcher! He has
a great way of speaking Of his
/ friendsr
Allen was not a forthputting per-
I son, and Dams manner was not en-
! couraging; but the trio remained to.
/ gether necessarily through the aisle
to the foyer.
Marian took advantage of their
slow exit to discuss the play AMI with
/ entire sophistication, expressing as
| constituent that Allen was Iukewarm
in his praise OF It. He could not
agree with her that the leading WON
an was beautiful but she laughed
when he remarked, with his droll in
I donation, that the star reminded him
Z Of a dressed-up mannildn in a cloth
| ing store window.
THAT is Just the kind Of thing
| imagined you would say. My aunt,
Mrs. Owen, says that you always say
something different"
ooh. Aunt SaIlyl She's the grand
est Of women. I wish she were nv
aunt. I have aunts could trade for
/ her"
At the door Allen paused. Marian,
running on blithely. gave him no op-
! portunity to make his adieux.
/ "Oh. aren't you going our way?"
she demanded, in a tone Of invitation.
Yes; come along; it's only a step
/ TO the hotel where Miss Bassett is
/ staying" said Harwood, finding that
/ they blocked the entrance and not
/ seeing his way to abandoning Allen
on the spot When they reached the
/ hotel. Dan, who had left the CONVEX
sation TO Marian and Allen. hreathed
/ a sigh that his responsibility was at
an end. But Dan had not fully
| gagged the measure Of Marian's dar-
/ ing.
Wont you please wait a minute.
Mr.. HARDWOOD, until see II poor mama
needs anything. You know we all rely
on you so. III be back IN Just
moment"
$50 that's Morton Bassett's daugh-
ter" observed Allen when Marian had
/ huttered into the elevator. "Yor must
have a lot of fun taking her --oout:
ebats v,,,1cb mara er-o,s-p-t,r +I,a1 Lo5