The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-07-21


never tosbe, at home on the nights
when Mary Rose came to, read tc
his mother!
AT haltpAst five Flossie was all
dressed. Her hair was curled in, a
nunared golden rings on her little
head, Her cheeks were scarlet with
ro,age and excitement, and her white
shoulders rose like snow above the
low neck of the befowered pink
| dress. VA
With her short skirts and long
pink silk encased legs she looked like
a paf2ter's dream Of a.ballet dancer
"She may be my daughter, but
she's the prettiest girl I've ever seen
in my life!' Mrs. Middleton said to
Mary Rose, as they stood in the bay
window of the brown house and
watched Flossie climb into Sans
"Wheezer."
And to think that she's going to
marry tina. no-account boy, there?'
she snorted, tossing her head angrily
in the direction of Sam. "A girl like
that'who could marry anybody on
earth that she wanted to marry!
And she picks out that nit-wit"
Mary Rose went out into the hall
and looked at the clock.
Twenty winutes to six! I must
go or I'll be late" she said, and put
on her hat AS she kissed her moth
err good-by, the telephone rang.
Itrwas Tom Fitzroy.
I'm phoning from the drug store
down at the corner" he said. II
thought if you aren't busy I'd run
up for a minute. We haven't seen
each other for a. coon's age"
How would you like to take me
for drive instead?" she asked. 81
was just leaving the house,
} "See you in ten seconds" and she
hung up.
IN two or three minutes she heard
the dull rumble of his car, as it tore
up the street. She ran out to him.
"All dressed up-and where-do we
go?" she cried gayly as She climbed
in beside him and snuggled under
the racoon rug. II have only twen-
ty minutes or So"
He took out his watch and looked
at it. ''Where do you have 10 be at
six o'clock" he asked. looking hard
at her. Dinner date with some
man? Because il you have one. III
be iarned if I'll drive you to it,"
She laughed and shook her head.
mo, indeed! I'm going to have din
ner with an old lady, and read ITO
her about Becky Sharp. afterward -
she answered. II newer go anywhere
with any man any more, Tom"
He started the car. 1.-The old lady
happens to be the mother of the man
work for she went on serenely.
II think you said your mother knows
John Manners mother?"
She saw his jaw set in a hard line,
but he made no comment.
You needn't be jealous of him.
Tom," she said presently. &Ie's go,
ing to marry that Miss HING of
his, and he's all wrapped up in her. {"
But even then, he made no sign
that he'd heard her. He kept his
eyes forward, and in five minutes
they were standing before the high,
narrow house where John Manners
lived.
What time will you be ready to
leave here?" he asked grimly, as he
helped her out of the car.
"At nine"
"Ill call for you"
"Oh, please don't bother" Mary
Rose begged him. I'D Just love to
walk home, really. need the air
-"
"Ill call for you," he said again
and drove away.
At nine o'clock when she opened
the door of the house and stepped
out, the first thing she saw was his
car parked across the street. He
got out Of it and came toward her.
"Johnny-on-the-spot," he called,
and Mary Rose sighed in her secret
soul. Johnny" was what Manners
mother called him.
I'm going to drive you home to
our house for about twenty minutes, -
Tom said, as he started the car,
while go over to the hospital and
take a look at a fellow / operated
on this afternoon. Then I'll come
back and get you. It's too cold for
you to sit around outdoors tonight"
| She laid her hand on his arm. "Oh,
no, Tom, please take me straight
home she pleaded. Mothers alone
and fought TO do some mending."
But he drove on. Sometimes Tom
was stubborn with the stubbornness
that all good natured men some
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