The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-01-18
ssENTING cheerfulIy, I

favored gentleman about so. As these
two walked slowly away, in the direc
ton of the dancing floor, they left ii
not to be doubted that they were on
excellent terms with each other
Mildred was evidently willing to make
their progress even slower, for she
halted momentarily. once or twice
and her upward glanCes to her tall
companions face We're Of a gentle, al
most bIushing Difference. Never be
fore had Alice seen anything like this
in her friends manner
How queerr' she murmured.
What's que % Bowling inquired
as they sat down.
Who was that man7"
Haven't you met him?"
7 never saw him before. Who is
hep
Why. it's this Arthur Russell"
What Arthur Russell? never
heard Of him"
Mr.. Bowling was puzzled. Why,
that's funny. Only the last time I saw
you, you were telling me how awfully
well you knew Mildred Palmer"
Why. certainly L do Alice in.
formed him. She's my most intimate
friend"
That's what makes Il seem so
funny YOU haven't heard anything
about this Russell, because every
body says even If she isn't engaged to
him right now. she most likely will be
before very long. I must say It looks
good deal that way to me. myself"
What nonsense," Alice exclaimed.
She's never even mentioned him to
me-"
The young man glanced at her du-
biously and passed a finger over the
tiny prong that dashingly composed
the whole substance Of his moustache.
We'll. you see, Mildred is pretty re-
served he remarked. This Russell
is some kind Of cousin of the Palmer
family. I understand"
He is?'
"Yes-second or third or something
the girls say. You see, my sister Ella
hasn't got much to do at home. and
don't read anything. or sew, or play
solitaire. you see; and she hears about
pretty much everything that goes on
you see. Well, Ella says a lot OF the
girls have been talking about Mildred
and this Arthur Russell for quite a
while back, you see. They were all
wondering what he was going to look
like, you see; because he only got here
Yesterday; and that proves she must
have been talking to some Of EN-, or
else how"
Alice laughed airily, but the pretty
soUnd ended abruptly with an audible
intake Of breath. "Of course, while
Mildred is my most intimate friend,
she said, Il don't mean she tells me
everything-and naturally she has
other friends besides. What else did
your sister say she told them about
this Mr.. Russell?"
Well, it seems he's very well off
ut least Henrietta Lamb told Ella he
was. Ella says"
Alice interrupted again. with in
creased irritability. "Oh. never mind
what Ella says, Let's find something
better to talk about than Mr.. Russell"
We'll. I'm willing" Mr.. Bowling as
scented, ruefully. What you want tC
talk about?"
responsive; she sat leaning back, ST
lent. her arms along the arms Of he1
chair. and her eyes. moist and bright
fixed upon a wide doorway where the
dancers fuctuated. She was dis
qUieted by more than Mildreds re
serve, though reserve so marked haC
certainly the significance of a warn
ing that Alice's definition, my most
intimate friend" lacked sanction. In
direct notice to this effect could not
well have been more emphatic, but
the sting of it was left for later mo
ment. Something else preoccupiet
Alice: she had just been surprised by
an odd experience. At first sight OF
this Mr.. Arthur Russell. she had said
TO herself instantly, in words as defin
ite as II she spoke them aloud, though
they seemed more like words spoken
to her by some unknown person with
i'm her: There. That's exactly the
kind Of looking man I'd like tC
marry
In the eyes Of the restless and the
longing. Providence often appears Il
be worse than inscrutabIe: an unre
liable Omnipotence given to haphaz
ard WITNESSES in dealing with its owl
creatures, choosing at random some
among them to be rent with tragic
deprivations and others to be petteC
with blessing upon blessing. II
Alice's eyes, Mildred had been blessed
enough; something ought to be left
over by this time, for another girl
The final touch to the heaping per
lection Of Christmas-in-everyt fol-
Mildred was that this Mr.. Arthur
Russell. good-looking, kind-looking
graceful, the perfect fiance, should be
also every well off," OF course
These rich always married one an
other. And while the Mildreds danced
with their Arthur Russells the best
an outsider could do for herself was
TO sit with Frank Dowling-the one
last course left her that was better
than dancing with him.
We'll, what do you want to talk
about?" he inquired.
Nothing" she said. Suppose we
Just sit. Frank" But a moment
later she remembered something, and
with a sudden animation, began tc
prattIe. She pointed to the musicians
down the corridor. "Oh, look at them
Look at the leader! Aren't they
funny? Some one told me they're called
Jazz Louie and his half-breed bunch.
Isn't that just crazy? Don't you love
1t ? Do watch them, Frank"
She continued TO chatter, and. while
thus keeping his glance away from