The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-02-21


learn how to live till we're about
ready to die, it certainly seems to me
dang tough!'
Then 1 wouldn't brood on such a
notion. papa" she said.
'Brood?' Nor' he returned. "a
just kind O. null 1t over" He
chuckled again, sighed, and then, not
looking at her, he said, THAT Mr..
RusselI-your mother tells me he
lasn't been here again-not since
mo" she said, quietly, as Adams
paused. He never came again"
well, but maybe
NO" she said. There isn't any
maybe told him good-by that
night, papa. 1t was before he knew
about Walter-I told you"
We'll, we'll" Adams said. Young
people are entitled to their own pri-
vacy: 1 don't want to pry." He emp
tied his pipe into a Clipped saucer on
the table beside him, laid the pipe
aside, and reverted to a former topic.
Speaking of dying"
well. but we WEREN'T Alice pro-
tested.
Yes, about not knowing how to
1--we till you're through nving-and
then maybe notv' he said. chuckling
at his own determined pessimism. "I
see I'm pretty old because I talk this
way-I remember my grandmother
saying things a good deal like all what
I'm saying now; I used to hear her
at It when I was a young feIlow-she
was a right gloomy old lady, remem.
Der. Well. anyhow, 1t reminds me: I
want to get on my feet again as soon
as I can; I got to look around and
find something to go into"
Alice shook her head gently. But.
papa. he told you"
Never mind throwing that dang
doctor up at mer' Adams interrupted.
peevishly. He said I'd be good for
some kind Of light job-if I could find
just the right thing Where there
wouldn't be either any physical or
mental strain he said. Wen I got
to find something like that. Anyway
I'll feel better IL 1 can just get out
looking for it,
But, papa, I'm afraid you won't
find 1t, and you'll be disappointed"
''Well. I want to hunt around and
see, anyhow"
Alice patted his hand. You must
just be contented, papa. Everything s
going to be all right, and you mustn' {
get to worrying about doing anything.
We own this house-its all clear-and
you've taken care Of mama and me
all our lives; now rs our turn"
NO, sir" he said. querulously. II
don't Ike the idea of being the land
Iady's husband around a boarding
house; It goes against my gizzard.
know; makes out the bills for his
wife Sunday mornings-works with a
screw-driver on somebody's bureau
drawer sOmetimes-'tends the furnace
maybe-one the boarders gives him
a cigar now and then. That's a fine
life TO look forward to- No. sir;
don't want to finish as a landlady's
husband
Alice looked grave; for she knew
the sketch was but too accurately
prophetic in every probability. But
papa" she said, to console him, don't
you think maybe there isn't such a
thing as a finish after all. You say
perhaps we don't learn to live till we
debut maybe that's how it is after
we die. too-just learning some more,
the way we do here, and maybe
through trouble again. even after that"
"Oh. it might be-" he sighed. Il ex-
pect So"
We'll, then" she said. whats the
use Of talking about a 'fnish| We do
keep looking ahead to things as If
they'd finish something. but when we
get to them, they don't finish any
thing. They're.1ust part of going on.
III tell you'll looked ahead all sum
mer to something was afraid Of, and
I said to myself, Well, If that hap
pens, I'm f1nishedr But 1t wasn't so,
papa. 1t did happen. and nothing's
finished; I'm going on. just the same
only" She stopped and blushed.
only what?" he asked.
well" She blushed more deep
", then jumped up, and. standing be-
fore him, caught both his hands in
hers. We'll, don't you think, since
we do have to go on, we ought at
least to have learned some sense about
how to do it?"
He lOked up at her ador1ngly.
What I think" he said, and his
voice trembled;-"I think you're the
smartest girl in the world, wouldn't
trade you for the whole ht-and-boodle
of emf
But as this folly Of his threatened to
make her fearful. she kissed him hast
lily, and went forth upon her errand.
Since the night of the tragic-comic
dinner she had not seen Russell. nor
caught even the remOtest chance
glimpse Of him; and it was curious
that she should encounter him as she
went upon such an errand as now en-
gagged her. At a corner. not far from
that tobacconist's shop she had Just
left when he overlook her and walked
with her for the first time, she met
him today. He turned the corner,
coming toward her, and they were
face to face: whereupon that engaging
face of Russell's was instantly red
dened. but Alice's remained serene.
She stopped short. though; and so
did he; then she smiled brightly as
she put out her hand.
why. Mr.. Russell"'
I'm so-I'm so glad to have this
this chance" he stammered. I've
wanted to tell you-it's just that 60
ing irtO a new undertaking-this bust
ness 1ife-One doesn't get to do a great
many things he'd like to. I hope you
will let me call again some time, if
can"
Eyes. 1o!" she said cordially. and