The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-10-12

task of preparing an egg-nog for her
mother.
It's me. Faith" Cherry's excite
ment.thrilled voice came over the
wire. I've just picked out the most
gorgeous wallpaper you ever saw Al
Park & Sons, They're going to send
it out special this afternoon"
AT Park So Faith echoed dis
mayed. why. Cherry, now in the
world could you afford to buy even
one roll there? They're the swank-
est place in town"
Hold your horses" Cherry
laughed. Il had lunch with Mr..
Cluny and when l told him l had to
go shopping for wallpaper, he insist
ed on coming along, and he had It
charged to him Isn't he a ducky
darling? He's standing right here
by me now, looking as pleased as
Punch with himself"
"Oh, Cherry" Faith walled de-
spairingly You know you should
not accept things from him."
why not?" Cherry asked pertly.
Don't crouch, darling. Won't we
have a peach Of a time sloshing
paste about? They're sending enough
cheesecloth, too. 1 thought we ought
to rip off all those layers of old
paper and do the job up right. Don't
you think SOP"
Il suppose so. Faith said helpless
ly. I'll do all I can this afternoon,
but l promised Aunt Hattie I'd help
her with her black and white wolfe.
She's to be here at .. Oh! Here she
is now. Goodby."
Faith felt as If her feet were
weighted with lead, as if her heart
had turned to stone in her breast,
as she walked slowly into the dining
room. where her aunt's voice was
raised in staccato greeting of her
sister-in-law. Where was Cherry's
headstrong determination to marry
a rich old man leading her and the
whole Lane family?
Any fool could prophesy that she
would not content herself with the
love Of an old man, no matter how
rich he was. What were they all
thinking of to allow her to do it?
Faith stood in the doorway for a
minute. her somber brown eyes
fixed upon her mother, seated at the
window her complaining, signing
voice droning on monotonously Of
her ailments. The girl felt, for a
moment. that she hated her mother
the woman who for years had done
nothing for her family but rule them
with the tyranny Of tears and the
threat Of death by heart failure.
Then pity for her mother rose up in
her throat, and she was ashamed.
After all, who could blame her
mother for loving Cherry with idola.
trous worship? Wasn't Cherry the
spice of her dull, d.scontented, sick
ness-ridden life?
Hello. Faith Pity you can't
speak to a bod, 80 Aunt Hattie de-
posted her packages with a bang
upon the dining table. Whats this
I hear about you giving that nice
Pruitt fellow the gate?"
1T don't know, Aunt Hattie, ="
Faith smiled affectionately at her
aunt. What do you hear?"
10Y told the kids at school and
that little Cutie boy told me that
he'd proposed and you'd turned him
down. Well, what 1 say Is, there
amt no fool like young fool. Guess
Turned him over to Cherry. reckon.
Just like you! Hear she's sportin a
diamond big enough to choke a pig"
Faith made frantic gestures to ST.
lence her aunt, frowning toward her
mother to indicate that she had not
yet been told of Cherry's engage
ment
Don't believe all you hear. Hat
tie" Mrs. Lane shook her head dole
fully. IF Cherry'd been engaged to
anybody she'd a-toli her own moth
er. l reckon"
"Of course she would, Mother"
Faith breathed quick sigh Of relief.
"She's just telephoned me that she's
sending out some wallpaper for the
living room and dining room. Do
you know how-to make wallpaper
paste, Aunt Hattie?"
Think ] was born Yesterday"
Aunt Hattie shifted disdainfUlly. TN
mix the stuff and get it on to boil,
while you peel them walls. But 1t
looks to me like this brown oatmears
good enough for anybody"
Her head bound in a towel, her
dress almost hid1en lnder a soiled
old bungalow apron. Faith was slash
ing at the living room walls with a
pairing knife when the 1oorbell rang.
Without descending from the step
ladder she shouted a Come inr' ex-
pecting to see the delivery man from
Park & Sons Interior Decorating
Company
You look like the goddess OF
wrathw George Fruits voice
laughed at her from the doorway.
Whats the idea?'
Good heavens. Georgei This is a
fine time Of day to make a CALI
Faith flushed with annoyance and
embarrassment. "We're papering-
or getting ready to-"
I'm the best little paper hanger
in twelve counties" George Pruitt
grinned at her. Il papered my stu
dio in New York, and it was the talk
of the town-absolutely The cub
s~4- =