The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-01-13
GO ON WITH THE STORY

q little talk with you. 1 didn't mean
TO start any-your mother won't
Nov, papa." Alice spoke cheer
fully again, and smiled upon him. I
want you to quit worrying! Every
things going to be all right and no.
body's going to bother you any more
about anything. Youu seer
She carried her smile out into the
hail, but after she had closed the door
her face was all pity; and her mother,
waiting for her in the opposite room,
spoke sympathetically.
Whats the matter, Alice? What
did he say that's upset you?"
Wait a minute. mama" Alice
found a handkerchief, used it for
eyes and suffused nose, gulped, then
SUDDENLY and desoIateIy sat upon the
bed. Poor, poor, poor papa? she
whispered.
'Why?" Mrs. Adams inquired, mild
". Whats the matter with him?
Sometimes you act as if he weren't
getting we'll. What's he been talking
about?"
''AIama-well, 7 think I'm pretty
selfish. oh. doy'
Did he say you were?"
Papa? No. indeed! What I mean
is, maybe we're both a little selfish
to try to make him go out and hunt
around for something new"
Mrs. Adams looked thoughtful
ooh, that's what he was up tor
Mama, I think we ought to give
It I'D. I didn't dream it had really
hurt him"
We'll. doesn't he hurt us?'
Never that I know of, mama"
''I don't mean by saying things, -
Mrs. Adams explained, impatiently.
There are more ways than that Of
hurting people. When a man sticks
70 a salary that doesn't provide for
his family, isn't that hurting them?"
ooh, it provides for US well
enough. mama We have what we
need-if 7 weren't so extravagant. Oh,
I know ann
But at this admission her mother
cried out sharply.
" 'Extravagant" You haven't one
tenth of what the other girls you
90 with have. And you cant have
what you ought to as long as he
doesn't get out of that horrible place.
Us, but what's that?"
"I don't think we ought to try any
more to change him"
You dOn't2" Mrs. Adams came and
stood before her. Listen, Alice: Your
fathers asleep; that's his trouble, and
he's got to be walked up. He doesn I
know that things have changed. When
you and Walter were little children
we did have enOugh-at least il
seemed TO be about as much as most
Of the people we knew. But the town
isn't what it was in those days, and
times aren't what they We're then, and
these fearful prices aren't the old
prices. Everything else but your
father has changed, and all the time
he's stood still. He doesn't know it;
he thinks because they've given him a
hundred dollars more every two years
he's quite a prosperous man, And he
thinks that because his children cost
him more than he and I cost our par
ents he gives them-enOugh"
but Walter" Alice faItered.
Walter doesn't cost him anything at
al any more" And she concluded, in
a sticken voice. It's all-mer'
Why shouldn't it be-" her mother
cried You're young-you're just at
the time when your life should be
fullest CT good things and happiness.
Yet what DO you get?"
AlIces lip QUivered; she was not IN
susceptible to such an appeal, but she
contrived the sembldnce Of a protest
81 don't have such \ bad tine-not a
r0od deal OF the time, anyhow. I've
Eo5 Z coed many Of the things other
girls have"
you have?" Mrs. Adams was
piteously satiricaL ct suppose you've
got d limousine to go to that dance
tonight? 1 suppose you've only got to
call a florist and tell him to send you
some orchids? I suppose you've
But Alice interrupted this list. Ap
parently in a single instant all emo
ton left her, and she became business
like as one IN the midst of trifies re
minded Of really serious matters. She
got up from the bed and went to the
dresses. "Oh, see here" she said
brislly. 1--WE decided to wear my
white organdie If you could put IN a
new lining for me. I'm afraid it'll
take you nearly all afternoon"
Shs brought forth the dress, dis
played It upon the bed, and Mrs.
Adams examined It attentively.
DO YOU think you could get II
done, Eama?"
II don't see why not" Mrs. Ad.
ans answered, passing a thoughtful
hand over the fabric. 'It oughtn't to
take more than four or FIVE hours"
It's a shame TO have you sit at the
machine that long" Alice said alb
sently. adding: "And I'm sure we
ought to let papa alone. Let's just
give It up. mama"
Mrs. Adams continued her thought
ful examination Of the dress. did
you buy the chiffon and ribbon,
AHoe2'
Yes. I'm sur9 we oughtn't to talk
TO him about it any more, mama"
Well, we'll see"
Lets both agree that Wen never
say another single word to him about
It," said Alice. It'll be a great deal
better II we just let him make up his
mind for himself"
With this, having more Immediately
practical questions before them, they
dropped the subject, to bend their en-
tire attention upon the dress; and
when the lunch-gong sounded down
sfafrs Alice yy-3g still SketcbiO0 renafr