The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-08-06


insects-mosquitoes and things.
yknow," he would say, opening a
parcel and pulling out an arrange.
ment of plated straws. II thought
it would make a nice fan for you,
Flossie."
Once he brought a first aid" kit,
and presented it to Sam with great
solemnity. This will come in handy,
when Flossie throws plates at you,
or beats you over the head with a
rolling PIN" he told the bridge.
groom.
Flossie rushed to her husband and
threw her arms around him. Don't
you dare to say that I'd ever hurt
my precious love-" she cried, patting
hi mtenderly. My booful man, that
buys his Flossie everything she
wants."
Sam laughed grimly, and scratched
his head. II wonder if she'll love
me like this. went she's spent all
the coin / had saved up for that
house" he said Tom and Mary
Rose. IT'S just about gone. now!''
well, we had to have beds to
sleep on. and tables to eat on, didn't
we?' Flossie asked him, her blue
eyes swapping with sudden anger.
And don't talk as if I'd squandered
a fortune! All you had to start
with was three thousand dollars. and
what's three thousand dollars? A
mere nothing
Mary Rose caught her breath as
she looked around her.
Three thousand dollars for the
Chinese rugs, the painted tea-wagon.
the too-colorful lamp shades and the
too elaborate tabl ecloth of tilet lace!
For these gimcracks Flossie had
spent Sans savings of the last six
years!
IF only they make her happy"
Mary Rose thought prayerfully.
$50 that she'll stay at home and
behave herselff'
She had always thought that her
worries about Flossie would cease
when she married. But here she was,
worrying just as much about Flossie,
the wife, as ever she had worried
about Flossie, the f1irt and the flap
perl Married to Sam, she would
have more time on her hands than
even before.
And, as Grandma Middleton used
to say: Satan fihds some mischief
still for idle hands to dor'
Two or three days later. Mary
Rose had reason to suspicion that
F'lossie had all ready found that mis-.
chief
She had spent an afternoons going
the rounds, of the offices where a
private secretary was wanted, and
had dropped in at Flossies little fiat
with cake she had bought for the
newlyweds' evening meal.
AS she came up the stairs, she
could hear F'lossie's light, slivery
voice through the paneled door.
She seemed to be talking on the
telephone.
"Good-by!" she said hastily, and
changed down the receiver as Mary
Rose stepped into the tiny hallway
with it's Moorish lantern and red
silk portieres. Her face was flushed.
and her eyes bright and humid with
excitement.
IT was just thanking Mr.. Dexter
for the coffee service he sent us for
a weddiig gift. 1t came today" she
said to Mary Rose, with ner rcus.
Eighty little laugh. Come along and
see it."
She dragged her into the dining
|, room, where the whole sideboard
seemed to- be a-glitter with
Hilary Dexter's magnificent wedding
} present.
ut makes everything else in the
room look tawdry and cheap doesn't
it?" she asked, her ripe mouth
dropping with dissatisfaction. I've
Just been telling Tex So"
You shouldn't say things like
that Floss. dear, Mary Rose in.
terrupted her. "All your things are
lovely. I think this little fat is the
prettiest place I've ever seen"
, But F'lossie shook her blond head
"Oh, no. it isn't" she whined, ITS
cheap and it looks cheap. I liked it
while was fixing it up. But I'm
awfully sick Of it, now. My. but l
wish I'd never left the Dexter Com.
pany."
And without any warning she
burst into a storm of tears that
hshook her from head to foot. She
ran out of the gay little dining rom
and Mary Rose heard her bed creak
under her weight, as she threw her.
self upon it, She followed her into
the bedroom, with it's two blue-green
painted beds and it's rose-shaded
, lights.
F1ossie was sprawled on the lace
edged cover of her own bed, crying
. noisily and sobbing out broken SEN
. fences that her Sista could nnlv