The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-10-27

At o'clock, just a few minutes at
ter the last of the afternoons nine
callers had taken a reluctant depart
ure, the Cluny limousine rolled noise
lessly to a stop at the curb before
the Lane home, and Cherry descend
ed like a proud, small queen. The
uniformed chauffeur followed her
up the path to the house, his arms
piled high with parcels, including a
gayly colored handbook from the most
exclusive hat shop in the city.
On Cherry's lovely, childish face
there was an almost comical dignity
and condescension, as she. directed
the chauffeur in disposing of the
packages and in dismissing him with
grand nonchalance. But when he
had marched away, Faith was dis
tressed to see the small, vivid face
cloud over with ,)etulence, the golden
eyes filled with tears.
What's the matter, honey?" Faith
sat down on the davenport and put
her arms about her sister.
ooh, I'm tired out" Cherry dashed
hand. Shopping all afternoon, with
that nosy old man right at my elbow
every minute! Couldn't get darn
thing exactly like l wanted 1t. He's
so scared I'll look young in my trous-
seau things! If he had his way. I'd
dress in black 'traihng down to my
ankles"
1T seems to me he'd be rather
afraid it would cause gossip, his go
ing about with you to shop" Faith
deprecated.
"Oh, little does he care. He talks
right out lou1 about our getting
married, And sometimes l think if
he says ah" again, I'll murder him.
Something a little-ah-more digni-
fed ." she mimicked bitterly. II
didn't mind it so much, when 1 was
taking dictation from him, because
his eternal 'ah' gave me a chance to
catch up with my notes. But now"
why, dear, aren't you working
for him any longer" Faith asked in
amaZement.
''Not since Wednesday" Cherry
confessed dispiritedly. II didn't say
anything about it because of Dad.
and l thought l could get a lot of
shopping done. And the old fool
wanted me to lunch with him every
day. You know what he did? He
told Mr.. Neff, his partner. you know,
that we were engaged, and by Tues
day it was all over the office. Then
he said it wouldn't be 'ah-dignified'
for me to 'ah work for him. since
we were engaged. But he's going
right on paying me my salary, for
pin money, as he calls IT.
But you can't shop every day and
all day." Faith was dismayed. "And
Dad will find it out somehow. oh,
Cherry, you're just getting deeper
and deeper into this thing, Did you
know he'd been interviewed about
his engagement for The Times.
Well, they got hold of It somehow,
and the society editor called up
Mother today and said Mr.. Cluny
had confirmed the rumor, and they
could get details from her,"
my Cod" Cherry jumped up and
beat her curly head with a clinched
fist. What in the world did she
say?"
Gave them the announcement"
Faith confessed drearily. Ard there
were seven neighbors here, all just
bursting with curiosity. They ate up
all the raisin cookies and the marble
cake I'd made for Sunday, and
whole loaf of my bread"
"Now I'm in for itr' Cherry moan
ed. II didn't want it to get out till
a few days before the wedding. I'd
counted on having a date every sin
gle, solitary night between now and
Thanksgiving day.. and now I sup
pose every boy that I go with will
ditch me because I'm engaged to
that silly old fool"
Cherry, Cherry" Faith seized the
girl and held her hands in a crush
ing grip. 'It isn't old Mr.. Cluny
that's the fool. It's you-you! don't
understand you. Hating him, despis-
ing him, calling him ugly names, and
vet letting him buy you hundreds OF
dollars worth of clothes and planning
to marry him in November Are you
crazy. honey? Don't you know you're
simply wrecking your life-w:th your
eyes open?"
oh, don't start that again. Cher
ry writhed out of Faiths grasp and
flung herself upon the piano bench.
She was suddenly a frightened lit
tie girl again. full lower lip caught
between her round pearly teeth. hes
golden eyes wide with terror. cts
too late. isn't it. Faith? Gosh. Tn
the papers. Wonder what they'll
saw"
December and May romance I
suppose" Faiths lips curled in bit.
ter cvnicism.
Later. when Faith was dishing up
supper in the kitchen. Cherry wan
dered in disconso1ate again ''what
are YOU doing to night, Faith-any-
Thing special?''
'Bob's coming over. George Pruitt
called up. Int 7 already had a date
with Bob Why?"
HAS ob--said-anvthing yet?"
Cherry wps strangeiv dNfcult. crum-
hin" thin three-corna~ed slice Of
Fai-h's ho-oe-made bread between
C.