The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-09-25

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you, honey? IL just couldn't bear
to miss it, and you don't like parties
much anyway. oh, there's a car
now! I wonder IL it's Chester or
George? George said he was going
to come early for you, before the
other guests arrived, didn't he?"
IF it's George Pruitt, / can't see
him, looking like thisv' Faith lifted
corner Of her kitchen apron, which
she had not had time to remove, and
wiped her eyes. Tell him I'm sorry
to miss the party. l don't suppose
he'll mind" she added, with tinge
Of bitterness.
1t was George Pruitt, and Faith,
her hand to her throat, listened at
the closed door between dining room
and diving room as Cherry's subdued
voice explained.
And Faiths awfully sorry she
can't come, George. 1 wanted to
stay with darling Muggy, but Faith
says I'm so little l couldn't lift
Muggy If she needed turning over in
bed or anything like that. Faiths
such a big strong girl, you know.
Isn't it awful to be little and good
for.nothing like me?'
"And l planned this party for
her." George Fruits words sent
the blood into Faiths cheeks. But,
oh, why couldn't it have been Bob
Hathaway who had so quickly and
unaccountably taken a real liking to
her? In her humbleness, Faith did
not dare use the words, fallen in
love"
When at last George Pruitt had
gone and Chester Hart had come in
mis- roadster and taken Cherry away
with him, Faith reflled the ice bag
and placed it gently on her sleeping
mothers forehead. Then she slipped
noiselessly out OF the room, to her
own bedroom. when she flung her
arms about the pretty new maize
chiffon, with its great, silk-petaled
crimson flower, and gave herself up
to grief.
AT half past ten she heard a car
stop at the curb, but she did not
leave her vigil at her mothers bed
side. Two minutes later her father
came tiptoeing to the door, beckon-
Ing Faith to join him in the hall.
Its young Hathaway, Faith. He
wants to see you-come from the
party specially to bring you some
Of the refreshments. Pretty white
Of him, eh?"
Tell him I'll be Outright away"
Faith gasped, her eyes widening
with incredulous joy. TALK to him
till I change my dress, Dad. Moth
er's sleeping"
Obeying sudden, mad impulse to
make the most Of this moment
vouchsafed her by fate, Faith
stripped off her bungalow apron,
unitarian white slip and underwear,
and, with hands that trembled with
haste and eagerness, arrayed her
body in her best silk combinations,
a dainty pink crepe de chine cos
tune slip, given her as a Chistmas
gift by Aunt Hattie, and over all the
soft, cloudy maize chiffon dress she
had finished that day.
She breathed a prayer that he
failed to notice that her black satin
pumps were breaking in the creases.
Into the cleaning loop of smooth
brown hair on the nape of her neck
she stuck a high Spanish comb,
studded with imitation emeralds.
1t made her look queenly, she told
her reflection in the mirror, holding
her head with new pride. Darling
into Cherrys bedroom, she rum
mayed in the top dresser drawer and
found a lipstick that Cherry had dis
carded because 1t was too dark for
her complexion. Stretching her lips
as she had so often seen Cherry do,
Faith emphasized the natural Gu
pids bow Of her lips with the rich
crimson. The result was startling.
The warm pallor Of her cheeks,
dusky at the cheekbones with nat.
ural color, was immeasurably heigh-
tened by the vivid splash of color
on the lips. Red-brown lights sprang
to life in her great eyes, which
looked serene in spite Of her excite
ment, and a sheen glimmered on the
smooth bands Of hair drawn like a
satin cap about her ears.
Please, God, make him see me
now-now that Cherry isn't here to
dazzle him. Cherry isn't good for
hi In hof
give my life to serve him, to make
him happy" Although she had only
uttered the words in her rapidly
beating heart she flushed suddenly,
richly, as if she had let her secret
out into jeering world.
She found him in the living room,
a hamper upon his knees. And at
sight of his face she forgot the in
nocent scheme which had made her
dress herself to attract him. He
was very pale under the tan of his
lean cheeks, and his mouth looked
tight and twisted with pain. His
blue eyes looked at her blankly, as
If they had been wrenched from
some dreadful vision. He rose slow
ly, setting the hamper carefully on
the wide arm Of the old wicker
chair.
George wanted to come himself,
but he could hardly get away.
asked to be allowed to come, and I've
brought our supper with me. George
packed the hamper himself, and I
think he put in enough to feed an
orphanage, judging by the weight of
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