The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-11-25

how easily Sylvia learned to dance. |
Marian taught her few steps on the |
first rainy day at the Bassett house; |
and thereafter no one would have
doubted that Sylvia had been to dane |
ing school with the boys and girls
she met at the casino parties. Marian
was the most popular girl in the
summer colony and Sylvia admired
her ungrudgingly. In all outdoor
sports Marian excelled. She dived
from a springboard like a boy; she
padded a canoe tirelessly and with
inimitable grace; and it was a joy
to see her at the tennis court, where
her ninbleness of foot and the GER
tainty Of her stroke made her easily
first in all competitions. At the
casino, after a hard round Of tennis,
and while waiting for cakes and lem
onade to be served, she would ham.
mer ragtime on the piano or sing the
latest lyrical offerings of Broadway.
She taught Sylvia how to arrange
her hair in the latest fashion promul-
gated by Vogue; she instructed her
in the refined art OF manicuring ac-
cording to the method of the best
ing how wonderfully Marian could
improve hat by the slightest read.
justments Of ribbon and feather.
Mrs. Bassett kept lamenting to Pro.
lessor Kelton her husbands protracted
delay in Colorado. He was interested
in a mining property there and was
waiting for the installation of new
machinery, but she expected to hear
that Pc had left for Indiana at any
time, and he was coming direct to
Waupegan for long stay. Mrs. Owen
was busy with the Waupegan farm
and with direction of her farms else
where On the veranda of her house
one might frequently hear her voice
raised at the telephone as she gave
orders to the men in charge Of her
properties in central and southern In
diana. Her hearing was perfect and
she derived the greatest satisfaction
from telephoning. She sold stock or
produce on these distant estates with
the market page of the Courier
propped on the telephone desk before
her, and explained her transactions
zestfuliy to Professor Kelton and Syl-
via. She communicated frequently
with the superintendent of her horse
farm at Lexington about the string"
she expected to send forth to triumph
nual Stud Register lay beside the
Bible on the Hving-room table; and
the Western Horseman mingled ami.
cably with the regationalist in
the newspaper rack.
The presence Of the old professor
ana his granddaughter at Waupegan
continued to puzzle Mrs. Bassett. Mrs.
Owen clearly admired Sylvia, and Syl-
via was charming girl-there was
no gainsaying that
y She felt that her husband would be
displeased if anything occurred to
thwart the hand Of destiny that had
so clearly pointed to Marian and
BIackford as the natural beneflciaries
Of the estate which Mrs. Owen by due
process of nature must relinquish. In
all her calculations for the future Mrs.
Ovens fortune was an integer.
Mrs. Bassett received a letter from
her husband on Saturday morning in
the second week of Sylvia's stay. It,
progress from the mining camp in the
mountains had been slow and the boat
that delivered the letter brought also
a telegram announcing Bassett's az
rival in Chicago, so that he was even
now on his way to Waupeean. As
Mrs. Bassett poudered this intelligence
Sylvia appeared at the veranda steps
to inquire for Marian.
"She hasn't come down yet, Sylvia.
You girls had a pretty lively day yes
terday and I told Marian she had
better sleep a while longer"
I'VE certainly have the finest times
in the world" replied Sylvia. 1T
doesn't seem possible that I've been
here nearly two weeks"
I'm glad you're going to stay
longer. Aunt Sally told me yesterday
il was arranged"
1--WE really didn't expect to stay
more than two weeks; but Mrs. Owen
made it seem very easy to do So.
"Oh. you needn't be afraid of out
staying your welcome. It's not Aunt
Sally's way to bore herself. II She
didn't like you very much she wouldn't
have you here at all; Aunt Sally's al
ways right straight out from the
shoulder"
Marian has done everything to
give me a good time. I want you to
know I appreciated 1t. I have never
known girls; Marian is really the first
girl I have ever known. and she has
taught me ever so many things"
Marian is a dear" murmured Mrs,
She was murmurouS person, whose
speech was marked by curious ris-
ing infection, that turned most of
her statements into interrogatories.
To Sylvia this habit seemed alto
gether wonderful and elegant.
Suppose we take a walk along the
lake path, Sylvia. We can pretend
we're looking for wild flowers to have
an excuse. I'll leave word for Marian
to follow"
They set off along the path to-
gether. Mrs. Bassett had never !
seemed friendier. and Sylvia was
fattered by this mark of kindness.
When they came presently to a |
rustic seat Mrs. Bassett suggested |
that they rest there and watch the |
lake, which had always its mild ex-
You haven't known Aunt Sally a |
great while, 1 judge. Sylvia? OF |
course you haven't known any one a !
great while"'
mo: never saw her but once be- |
fore this visit. That was when grand |
father took me to see her in Indian |
apolis a year ago. She and grand |