The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-01-11
CHAPTER III

CHAPTER III
Mrs. Adams had remained In Alice's
room, but her mood seemed to have
changed during her daughters little
more than momentary absence.
What did he say?" she asked
quickly, and her tone was hopeful.
''Say?" Alice repeated, impatiently.
why, nothing. I didn't let him.
Really. mamma, I think the best thing
for you to do would be to just keep out
Of his room. because I don't believe
you can go in there and not talk to
him about it, and if you do talk Wen
never get him to do the right thing.
Never
The mothers response was a griev-
ing silence; she turned from her
daughter and walked to the door.
Now, for goodness sake Alice
cried. Don't so making tragedy out
of my offering YOU little practical
advicer'
I'm not" Mrs. Adams guIped,
hating. I'm just-just going to dust
the downstairs. Alice" And with her
face still averted, she went out into
the little hallway, closing the door be
hind her. \ moment later she could
be heard descending the stairs, the
sound Of her footsteps carrying some
how an effect Of resignation.
Alice listened. sighed and, breath
ing the words, "Oh, murder," turned
to cheerier matters. She put on a
little apple-green turban with a dim
gold band round it. and then, having
shrouded the tUrban i'm a white veil,
which she kept pushed up above her
forehead, she got herself into tan
coat Of soft cloth fashioned with "a
Eish severity. After that. having
studied herself gravely III long
glass. she took from one Of the draw
ers OF her dressing-table a black
leather card-case cornered in silver
fligree, but found 1t empty.
She opened another drawer wherein
were two white pastebOard boxes Of
cards. the one set showing simply
Miss Adams" the other engraved in
Gothic characters. Miss Alys futile
Adams" The latter belonged to
Alice's "Alys" period-most girls go
through it; and Alice must have felt
that she had graduated. for, after
frowning thoughtfully at the exhibit
this morning, she took the box with
its contents, and let the white shower
fall from her fingers into the waste
basket beside her small desk. She
replenished the card-case from the
Miss Adams" box; then, having found
a pair of fresh white gloves, she
tucked an ivory-topped Malacca walk
ing-stick under her arm and set
forth.
She went down the stairs. button
ing her gloves and still wearing the
frown with which she had put "Alys"
finally out Of her life. She descended
slowly, and paused On the lowest step.
looking about her with an expression
that needed but a slight deepening
to betoken bitterness. Its connection
with her dropped "Alys" forever was
slight however.
The small frame house, about fif-
teen years old was already inclining
to become a new colonial relic. The
Adamses had built it, moving into it
from the Queen Anne" house they
had rented until they took this step
in fashion. But fifteen years is
long time to stand still in the mid
land country, even for a house, and
this one was lightly made, though
the Adamses had not realized how
flimsiIy until they had lived in it for
some time solid, compact, and con
venient" were the instructions TO the
architect; and he had made it com
pact successfully. Alice, pausing at
the foot of the stairway was at the
same time fairly in the 'iving-room.
81 -o~ar1+for, hoNrr-onr, AIao
''living-room'' and the hall was a de
marcation suggested to willing imagi-
nations by pair of wooden columns
painted white. These columns, pine
under the paint, were bruised and
Clipped at the base; one of them
showed a crack that threatened to
become a split; the Hardwood floor
had become uneven; and in a corner
the walls apparently failed Of solid
ity, where the wallpaper had declined
to accompany some staggerings of the
plaster beneath it.
The furniture was in great part n
accumulation begun with the wedding
gifts: though some of it was older,
two large patent rocking-chairs and
foot-stool having belonged TO Mrs.
Adams mother in the days Of hard
brown plush and veneer. For decora-
ton there were pictures and vases.
Mrs. Adams had always been fond Of
vases. she said. and every year her
husbands Christmas present to her
was d vase of one sort or another
whatever the clerk showed him,
marked at about twelve or fourteen
dollars. The pictures were some of
them etchings framed in gilt;