The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-04-17
SANDY S A..s snfs ss acn MIcEHlT'

fore they knew the breath of their
own distinctive lives; and in whose
thought they would always remain
an intrinsic. organic part OF her be-
ing. She felt intimately, like the
beating Of her own pulse, this bond.
1t was severed now. She lay quiet
and smiling. She. would smile OH
ultimately removed from all their
petty strife.
Sandy snuffed a waning candle,
closing her eyes. II couldn't do it.
even If she sat up now and begged
it."
She walked with her uncle, Bob
Mcneil,
And in the newspaper was an &C
count of the funeral with this line:
"MI. Ben Murillo was not in atten'
dance, as he is confined to his home
with an attack Of 'flu.'
1t was the last but one OF Sandy's
encounters with her husband-the
last but for the one CHASTITY finish.
Her father said no more. Yet she
was allowed subtly to feel that they
all thought her callous and her grief
feigned. She had played the traitor
she had refused what was in
manner her mothers dying wish.
She ignored this attitude, taking
refuge in her old brazen indiffer-
ence. But she was crushed.
The whole house had an empty.
desoate air. With Isabel gone,
there seemed no reason for keeping
the big, roomy old place--no rea-
son for serving three meals a day,
for washing towels and mending
socks.
Alice became melancholy. She
went about with red lids and in
pair of old house slippers much too
large. She looked no more destitute
than she felt She would be expected
to stay on here taking her mother $
place: living out the remainder OF
her mothers life; caring for her
mothers husand as though she.
Alice. at 80. had no flaming thought
no wild wish of her own
One afternoon--a blustery, April
day Sandy came quietly up the
stairs. she heard her oldest sister.
Madeline, talking-talking about
her She stopped and listened.
Her three sisters were in the big
front room-the mothers room.
They were sorting out Isabels
clothes and her few trinkcts.
They sat at n table before the old
marble martel In the quaint rire
placed fromed with iron molding the
logs cracked
Madeline said well. what does
she think she's going to do, I won
der? Surely he can't expectto stay
on here mooching on poor papa.
With all the bills he has to pay
now"
Alice. curling her lip: I'm sure
she's welcome as far as I'm con
cerned. Mmillo seems to be about
tho only man she couldn't work.
You wouldn't find dad forking over
500 and telling me TO get myself
some clothes. would you?"
You don't mean to say she paid
500 for that coat?"
Eighty for the coat and $50 for
the dress. The poor kid hasn't got a
rag
Eighty dollars for that coat and
not a scrap of fur on it, She must
be insane
Sandy sped in like a flash: Sup
pose | am insane Maddy? What's
II TO you? II my father wishes me
to have a coat what's 1t to you? AZ.
ter six months working on twelve
hour-a day shift here guess I've
learned 500 worth of clothes. Don't
forget | gave up my job where !
earned ny own keep and came down
here because my father asked It.
And don't forget that I've worked
night and day here and saved the
price Of trained nurse'
Machines eyes 'Tdened wi b hor.
rur, Tears rushed to them. she be.
gan to sob: you want to he paid
for taking caro- of your mother? Oh.
poor mamma, oh, If she could hear
you say that
Sandy stood before them blanched
and shaking II don't want to be
paid for it. No one could pay me
for it. m not goins 10 he called a
moocher. You. bringing your kids
in here by the dozens for breakfas.
lunch and diuner-making a regular
slave Of Alice--calling me q
mooCher,'
Essie put set of old tortoise
shell jewelry in brown leather box.
she said. frightened: How would
mamma fcei If she thought we we're
iQUarreling already? Quarreling over
who took care of her and If they
got paid for IT,"
They were ell crying now.
But a few days later Sandy went
through the living room where her
| father sat smoking. She wore the
! now coat He said to her. WHY
didn't you get coat with fur on 1t,
Sandy"
| "Oh, I'd rather have good line end
good material than lot of shoddy
! fur"
"Humph--isnt $50 big price for
a coat like that?'
She knew that Madeline had
talked with her father.
oh, don't know" she answered