The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-02-15

if they intended to do something with
them.
Alice's talk was little more than
cheerful sound, but, to fill desolate
interval, served its purpose; and her
mother supported her with every
faithful cooing8 of applausive laugh
ter. What a funny thing weather
is the girl ran on. Yesterday 1t
was cool-angels had charge of it
and today they had an engagement
somewhere else, so the devil saw his
chance and started to move the equa- |
tor to the north pole; but by the time |
ne got half way he thought OF some |
thing else he wanted to do, and went
off. and left the equator here, right |
on top of us! 1 wish he'd come back |
and get itr'
why, Alice, dearr' her mother
cried fondly. What an imagination!
Not Il very pious one, I'm afraid Mr.. |
Russell might think, though Here |
she gave Gertrude a hidden signal to
remove the soup; but, as there was no !
response, she had to make the signal |
more conspicuous. Gertrude was lean
ing against the wall, her chin moving |
like a slow pendulum, her streaked
eyes fixed mutinously upon Russell. |
Mrs Adams nodded several times, In |
creasing the emphasis of her gesture, /
while Alice talked briskly, hut the |
brooding waitress continued to brood /
4" faint snap of the fingers failed to
disturb her; nor was a covert Kissing |
whisper Of avail, and Mrs. Adams was |
beginning to show signs of strain /
when her daughter relieved her.
Imagine our trying to eat anything |
so hot as soup on a night Ike this |
Alice laughed What could have |
been in the cooks mind not to give |
US something iced and jellied instead? |
Of course it's because she's equatorial, |
herself, originally, and only feels at
home when MIR. Satan moves it north"
She looked round at Gertrude, who
stood behind her. do take this dread /
full soup away
Thus directly addressed, Gertrude /
yielded her attention, though un-
willingly, and as if she decided only /
oy a hairs breadth not to revolt, in.
stead. However she finally set her !
self in slow motion; but overlooked the
supposed head of the table, seeming
to be unaware Of the sweltering little
man who sat there. AS she disap
peared toward the kitchen with but
three of the cups upon her tray, he
turned to look plaintively after her,
and ventured an attempt to recall her. |
Here" he said, in low voice.
Here. you"'
What is it, VirgiI?" his wife asked |
What's her name?'
Mrs. Adams gave him a glance OF /
sudden panic, and, seeing that the /
guest Of the evening was not looking
at her. but down at the white cloth
before him. she frowned hard and
shook her head
Unfortunately Alice was not Observ-
ing her mother. and asked innocently,
What's whose name. papa?'
why, this young darby woman"
he explained. she left mine"
Never mind" Alice laughed.
There's hope for you, papa. She
hasn't gone forever"
Il don't know about that" he said,
not content with this impulsive as
sUrance. "She looked like she IS"
And his remark, considered as a pre-
diction, had begun 20 seem warranted
before Gertrude's return with china
preliminary to the next stage Of the
banquet
Alice proved herself equal to the
long gap, and ratified on through II
with spirit richly jlrstifying her
racther's praise of her as always
ready to smooth things over; for
here was more than long delay to be
smoothed over. She smoothed over
her father and mother for Russell;
and she smOothed over him for them,
though he did not know it, ana re-
NAMED unaware of what he owed her.
With all this, throughout her pratt
things, the girls bright eyes kept seek
ing his with an eager gayety. which
but little yelled both Interrogation and
entreaty-as Il she asked: rs it too
much for you2 Can't you bear It?
Won't you please bear It? I would
for you. Won't you give me a sign
that it's all right?'
He looked at her but feetingly, and
seemed to suffer from the heat, in
spite of every manly effort not to
wipe his brow too often. HE color,
after rising when he greeted Alice and
her father. had departed. leaving him
again MOSTLY pallid; a condition arts
ing from discomfort, no doubt, but,
considered as a decoration, almost po-
eticaTy becoming to him Not less
becoming was the faint, kindly smile,
which showed his wish to express
amusement and approval; and yet 1t
was a smile rather strained and
plaintive, as if he. like Adams, could
only do the best he could.
He pleased Adams, who thought him
a fine young man. and decidedly the
ouietest that Alice had ever shown to
her family. In her fathers opinion
this was no small merit, and 1t was to
Russells credit, too, that he showed
embarrassment upon this first init
mate presentation; here was an apph-
cant with both reserve and modesty.
$50 far, he seems to be first rate-a
mighty fine young man." Adams
thought, and, prompted by no wish to
part from Alice but by "reminiscences
of apparent candidates less pleasing,
he added, "At last.'
Alice's Hveliness never tagged. Her
smoothing over of things was an al
most continuous performance, and had
to be. Yet, while she chartered
- - L