The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-12-23
CHAPTER XIV

~ Atc2lEELLE moved 10 TIC CAPITAL
that winter, arriving with the pha-
laux Of legislators in January. and
establishing themselves in q furnished
house Opportunely vacated by the Ros-
worths, who were taking the GIediter-
ranean trip. Bassett had been careful
70 announce To the people of Fraser
vile that the removal was only tenn
porary, and that he and his family
would return in the spring, but Ma
rian held private opinions quite at
variance with her fathers published
statements.
1t should be said that 1farian's ar
rival had not gone UNDECIDED. The so.
ctety columns of the capital welcomed
her and the Advertiser reproduced
her photograph in a picture has. she
began at once to be among those in
cluded IN all manner of functions.
Allen danced cheerfully to her p' -uc
and she still telephoned to Harwood
when she thought Of ways of using
him. Mrs. Owen had declared her
intention Of giving a party to In
troduCe Marion to the society OF the
capital Sally Owen had not given a
party since AIRS. BaSsett's coming
out, but she brought the same en-
ergy and thoroughness to bear upon
& social affair that characterized her
business undertakings. In preparing
the list Gu itself a task and in the
discussion Of details. il was necessary
Of course TO consult AIarian.-one usu-
ally heard Marian's views whether one
consulted her or not,-but she and
her aunt were on the best Of terms.
and Mrs. Owen was sincerely anxious
TO satisfy her in every particular. On
half a dozen evenings Allen or Dan
brought Sylvia to the Delaware st.
house to meet Marian and plan the
coming event. No one would have
imagined, from the zest with which
Sylvia discussed such deep questions
as the employment Of musicians, the
decorating Of the hall, the German
favors and the refreshments, that she
had been at work all day in a school
room that had been built before ven
tilation was invented
When Sylvia was busy. she was
the busiest of mortals. but when she
threw herself heart and soul into
play. T. was with the completest de
tschment. She accomplished wonder
ful things in the way Of work after
school hours il she received warning
that either Of her faithful knights
meditated a descent upon her. Dur
frS these councils Of war to plan
1Iarian's belated debut, Sylvia might
SNOWFALL Allen or Dan or both Of
them all the way from Elizabeth
House to Mrs Owens door, and then
appear demureIy before that amiable
soul. with cheeks aglow and dark
eyes flashing, and Mrs. Owen would
say: This school-teachinE amt good
for you, Sylvia; il seems TO be break
frg down your health" That was a
lively qu5rtette-Sylvia, Marian, Allen
and Dan:
Dan, now duly sworn to serve me
State faithfully as q legislator, had
been placed on several important COM
Tnittees, and a busy winter stretched
before him. Morton Bsssett's hand
lay heavily upon the Legislature; the
young man had never realized until
ne took his seat in the lower house
how firmly Bassett Sripped the COM
monWealth. Every Commits appoint
rnent in both houses had TO be ap-
proved by the Senator from Fraser.
Dams selection as chairman Of the
committee on Corpartions both pleased
and annoyed him. lie would have
liked to believe himself honestly
chosen by the Speaker on the score Of
fitness; but ne knew we'll enough
that there were older men, veteran
legislators. more familiar with the
States needs and dangers, who had
a better right to the honor.
Miss Ba9set's debut was fixed for
Washingtou's Birthday. and n Mrs.
OWENS house had no ballroom except
one of those tioored attics on which
our people persist IN bestowiuS that
ambitious titlel, she decided that the
Proylaeum alone would serve.
II was a real winter night. with q
snowstorm and the jansle Of sleih-
bells outside. The possibilities of a
han famed for its many brilliant en-
tertainments had never been more
fully realized than on this night Of
Marian Bassett's presentation. The
stage was screened in q rose-hUng lat
tee that had denuded the conserva-
tories Of Newcastle and Richmond,
the fireplace was a bank Of roses. and
the walls were festooned in ever
greens. Nor should we overlook a
profile of the father of his
country IN white carnations on A
green background, with all the effect
Of a marble bas-relief-a fitting en-
bellishment for the balcony-done by
the florist from Aliens design and IN
der Aliens critical eye.
In the receiving ne, established in
one Of the lower parlors. were AIRS. Ow-
en-, Mr.. and Mrs. Morton Bassett, the
Governor and his wife Ghe happened
just then to be a Republican,. Colonel
and Mrs. Winning (retired army PEG
ple), and the pick of the last October's
brides and their young husbands.
Mrs. Bassett prided herself on know
ing who's who in her native State and
even she was satisfied that the gather
ing was representative. The list"
had not been submitted for her ap.
proval: If it had been she might have
deleted certain names and substituted
others. She was unable. for example,
to justify the presence of the senior
Thatcher. though her husband assured
her in a tone of magnanimity that it
was all right; and she had never adj
mired Colonel Ramsay. though to ne
sure nearly every one else did. Was
not the Colonel handsome, courteous,
genial, eloquent, worthy Of all adnaira-
kion2 Mrs. Owen had chosen q few