The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-07-13

| II wish you'd look at me when you
talk to me, Mary Rose" he
answered.
Il couldn't talk to YOU, If
| did," Her breath caught in her
throat as she said it. He got up
and came around the desk to. her,
put one Of his hard brown hands
under her chin, and lifted her. face
up toward his own.
This Is a torment to me-having
| you here, and not being able to
take you in my arms" he said to-
| her between teeth that were clenched
I've never wanted anything in my
! life, the way want you. You're
everything want"
Months afterward she remembered
what he said to her that afternoon.
She held it,rclose and warm against
her heart-her memory of that day
when she thought that her heart
was breaking.
That night when she got home
supper was ready in the kitchen.
The meat balls frying on the stove
filled the warm air with rich smell
of beef and onions. Baked potatoes
were visible in Nhe oven with its
open door, and the. salad stood in
yellow bowl on top of the ice box.
But her mother and FlosSie were
not in sight. AS Mary Rose opened
the swing door and went into the
dining" room she could hear their
voices from upstairs. In her moth
er's big, shabby bedroom she found
them with their neighbor, Aunt Hen
ny Blair.
The three women stood beside the
bed, looking down at something that
was spread upon it. Mary Rose
looked, too, and her eyes opened
wide with amazement.
For upon the bed lay, not the black
coat, but the pale gray one, trimmed
with silver braid.
why, NUNS! How did you hap
pen to buy that coat?" she asked
For the coat, with its bell eleeves
and short, full skirt, was far too
youthful a garment for Mrs. Mid
dleton.
Her mother gave a nervous little
laugh. And even before she spoke
Mary Rose knew what had hap
pencil
We'll after l. looked at the black
coat again-it didn't seem quite as
nice as it did at first" she faltered.
80 1 decided not to buy a coat Just
yet-and I lent Flossie the money
YOU gave me to buy this one. She
looked so lovely in it. Now, don't
be cross. Mary Rose! She's going to
pay me backn
Without word. Mary Rose turned
on her heel and went out of the
room, She knew that she couldn't
say what she had to say while
Aunt Kenny Blair was in the house.
Aunt Henry knew too much about
Flossie, as it was!
But presently when she heard her
go down the front steps and cross
the lawn to her own house, she
went downstairs. Flossie, was in
the living room playing "A Perfect
Day. on the piano and singing it
with all her might and main.
"You should sing "A Perfect Day"
Navy Rose told her. Its been a
perfect day for you, all right, all
right! I should think you'd have
been ashamed to take that coat, and
let Mother go without one-when
you know how she needs oner'
Flossie laughed, as she went on
land you come to the end Of peer
feet da-ay-Ys Then her hands came
down on the keys with crashing
discord
"Yu'd never have lent me the
money, yourself, if you'd died for
itr' she said in high triumph 1T
makes me laugh to think how I put
one over on you. Miss Smarty! I
heard what you said to Mother this
morning about my borrowing that
money for pair of shoes
Borrowing" Mary Rose repeated
scornfully. why, you just stole
that money! You'll never pay it
back, as long as you live. And you
know it! l suppose there's a pig in
every family, and you're the pig in
this one!''
Flossie stared at her, open
mouthed. 1t was so unlike Mary
Rose to have an outburst like this
She had expected her to be a little,
unpleasant about the coat, but not
insultirfs
Don't think you're going to get
away with thisr' Mary Rose went
on, because you're not! I'm going
to take it back to the store in the
morning, and send out the black one
to mother! They'll change them, for
me-"
Yes, unless I wear it tonight
Flossie came back at her.
"I'll see that you don't" Mary
Rose was out Of the room like a
flash. She ran upstairs, and put the
pale gray coat back into it's box and
locked it up in the hall closet. She
hid the key under the hall mating
Then she went down to supper.
But F1ossie was not at the table.
n