The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-08-14
Business Kisses /"
BIZ BEATRICE BURTON
Author of"Gloria, The Flapper Wife"
The names in this story are purely
xeTr1ng to any particular person. pAece
CHAPTER LXII

ferr1ng to any particular person. piece
CHAPTER Lx1I
a week or so later Mary Rose
told, DR.. Fitzroy that she had de-
cided not to live with them.
II can't" she explained to him. i
have my own mother to look after.
But will you let me do this-will
you let me work in your Office for
a couple of months until pull my
self together"
For Toms death had been much
more of a shock to her than 1t had
seemed at the time. Sometimes
now, when she tried to talk to peo-
pie, she would suddenly and with
out warning burst into tears.
But as January came to an end
and February passed Mary Rose be-
gan to feel more sure of herself
rs The days in DR.. Fitzroys crowd
ed office were interesting and she
was so busy that she had no time
to think and to brood. And that
was a very good thing for her.
Once a week, usually on Sunday
nights, she went to the Fitzroys' big
lonely house to>>have supper with
them.
She was there, with her mother,
on the first Sunday afternoon in
March when Doris HING dropped in
to see Mrs, Fitzroy. The two, who
belonged to the same bridge playing
set, had become rather good friends.
think you know-Mrs. FitA
roy" Toms mother said to her,
when she brought Doris into the
room.
ST knew her as Miss Middleton"
the other girl said stiffly. She did
not take the hand that Mary Rose
held out in greeting, but turned
quickly and said, How do you dor"
to Mrs. Middleton.
The four women sat down again
before the fire.
II camo in to say good-by to
you. I'm going to Europe for
year" Doris told Mrs. Fitzroy.
How very, very lovelyr' Mrs.
F1tzroy murmured in her soft, beau.
THU voice, smiling sweetly. But
there was a puzzled look in her eyes
and Mary Rose knew that she was
wondering the same thing that she
herself was wondering.
II she was going to marry John
Manners In June, how could she be
going to Europe for a year? Z
She looked sharply at Doris fresh
colored face with Its bright blue eyes
and clear1cut features. And she saw
that the smile on 1t was fixed and
set.
1t was as If Doris had made I'D
her mind to smile and never to stop
smiling no matter whether she felt
like 1t or not.
Yes, I'm going back to France"
she was saying to Mrs. Fitzroy In a
voice that sounded too bright and
cheerful-almost strained In its
cheerfulness.
I've never been really happy do
ing anything but work, in the Red
Cross. l honestly think I was cut
out to be nurse" she went on.
Mary Rose looked at her fragile
clothes, her slim ankles and wrists
and the frail loneliness of her face.
She did not look as II nature had
ever intended her to be a nurse.
She looked as II nature had never
intended her to ne anything but
what she was-a lily Of the field,
who toiled not nor spun, and went
about arrayed more spendidly than
Solomon in all his glory or Sheba
in all Of hers,
The suit that she wore now was
fawn-colored thing Of fine broad
cloth trimmed with pale fox fur, and
she wore a plain little straw hat Of
the same color~on her ash blonde
hair.
Looks like a brides going away
suit" was Mary Roses inner com.
ment, And I'll bet a cooky that's
what she bought 1t for, too"'
But If her clothes were like treas
ures from a trousseau chest, Doris
face was anything but the happy
face of a'bride.to.b In spite of her
high color, there were violet rings
under her eyes and a droop to her
mouth when 1t was In repose.
When she got up to go Mrs. Fite
roy followed hen into the han and
closed the library door behind her.
"That's the girl John Manners is
going to marry" Mary, Rose said in
low tone to her mother.
Mrs. Middleton gave one Of hef
tiny shorts. well I can't see that
. she looks very happy over it!' she
cried, pouring herself another cup Of
Mrs, Fitzroy's Ming Cha tea. and
biting into a ladyflnger.
Suddenly she set both Of them
down. "Why, you're crazy Mary