The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-02-09

NoiU ulIn OF ner plans Tor the morrow.
He objected vehemently.
"Oh. but Alice has probably asked
him by this time" Mrs. Adams said.
1T really must be done, Virgil you
don't want him to think She ashamed
Of US. do your
We'll, go ahead, but just let me
stay away" he begged. "Of course
I expect to undergo a kind of talk
with him, when he gets ready to say
something to US about Alice, but I
DO hate to have to sit through a fash
ionable dinner"
"Why. it isn't going to bother you"
she said; 'just one young man as a
guest"
Yes, I know; but you want to have
all this fancy cookin'; and see well
enough you're going to get that old
dress suit out of the cedar chest in
the attic, and try to make me put it
on me"
Il DO think you better, Virgil"
Il hope the moths have got in IT,"
he said. Last time wore it was to
the banquet. and it was pretty old
ing it to the banquet so much, be-
cause that was what you might call
quite an occasion" He spoke with
some reminiscent complacency; the
banquet" an affair now five years
past. having provided the one time
in his life when he had been so dis
ttnguished among his fellow citizens
as to receive an invitation to be pres
ent, with some seven hundred others,
at the annual eating and speech-mak-
ing Of the city's Chamber Of Com
merce. Anyhow, as you say. I
think It would look foolish of me to
wear a dress suit for just one young
man." he went on protesting. feebly.
What's the use OF all so much how.
dy-do, anyway? You don't expect
him TO believe we put on all that
style every night. do you? Is that
what you're after7"
Well. we want him TO think we
live nicely" she admitted
$50 that's it2" he said, ENORMOUSLY,
You want him to think that's our
regular gait. do you? Well. he'll
know better about me, no matter how
you fix me up, because he saw me in
my regular SUIT the evening she in
troduced me TO him, and he could tell
anyway I'm not one of these moving
picture sporting that's always
got dress suit on. Besides, you and
Alice certainly have some idea he'll
come again. haven't you? If they
get things settled between EN- he'll
be around the house and to meals
most any time, won't ne? You don't
hardly expect to put on style all the
time, I guess. Well, he'll see then
that this kind OF thing was all show
off and bluff, won't he? What about
it?"
"Ch. well. by that time" She
left the sentence unfinished, as = alb
senty. You could let US have a
little money for tomorrow, couldn't
you, honey?"
"Oh, I reckon, I reckon" he mum
bled- "A girl ike Alice is some com
fort; she don't come around acting as
if she'd commit suicide If she didn't
get three hundred and fifty dollars in
the next five minutes. I expect
can spare i've or six dollars for your
show-off if I got to"
However, she finally obtained fifteen
before his bedtime; and the next morn
ing went to market" after breakfast
leeving Alice to make the beds. Wal.
ter had not yet come downstairs. You
had better call him" Mrs. Adams. said.
as she departed with a big basket on
her arm. Il expect he's pretty sleepy;
he was out so late last night I didn't
hear him come in. though I kept
awake till after midnight, listening for
him. Tel him he'll be late to work
If he doesn't hurry; and see tina, he
drinks his coffee, even IL he hasn't
time for anything else. And when Ma
lena comes, get her started I'm the
kitchen; show her where everything
is" She waved her hand, as she set
out for a corner where the cars
stopped. ''Everything'u be lovely.
Don't forget about Walter"
Nevertheless. Alice forgot about
Walter for q few minutes. She closed
the door. went into the "Iving-room"
absently, and stared vaguely at one
Of the old brown plush rochng-chairs
there. Upon her forehead were the
little shadows Of an apprehensive
reverie, and her thoughts overlapped
one another in q fretful tumble
What will be think? These old chairs
they're hideous. I'll scrub those
soot-streaks on the columns; 1t won't
do any good though. That long crack
in the COMMUNICATING can help It.
What win he think Of papa? I hope
mana won't talk TOO much When
he thinks of Mildred's house. or Of
Hendetta's, or any Of 'ern, beside
this She said she'd buy plenty Of
ing could be done about these hor-
rible chairs; can't take 'em up in the
attic--a rooms got to have chairs!
Might have rented some. No; II he
ever comes again he'd see they weren't
here. IF he ever comes again'-oh,
oh. IL won't be that badi But it won't
be what he expects. I'm responsible
for what he expects; he expects Just
what the airs I've put on have made
him expect. What did I want to pose
so to him for-as If papa were a
wealthy man and all that?- What win
he think? The photograph of the Co
losseum's a rather good thing, though
1t helps some-as if we'd bought It in
Rome perhOps. I hope he'll think so;
he believes I've been abroad. OF course.
The other night he said, You remem-
ber the feeling you get in the Sainte-
Chapelle'-There' another lie of mine,
nos saying I didn't remember because
I'd never been there. What makes
40 TDar.a CT