The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-10-05
CHAPTER w

table cyclone. Sonia made no effort
to pacify him. Instead, she turned
to her mother.
"This is your fault, mother.
knew he'd act like this"
your mother had nothing to dc
with it," her father interrupted. Il
overheard some boys talking in the
store today. A fine thing for men
to be Sinking around about my
daughter! If you weren't so big I'd
give you a thrashing right now
I'm surprised you don't anyway
Sonia said, coldly. She knew how
her insolence could hurt.
What do you mean doing a thing
like that? Where do you think it
will get you? Don't you realize how
people talk?"
He turned on his wife, too.
"Have you talked to her? Has
she offered any explanation to you?
There isn't any explanation to
make, father" said Sonia quietly
''It just happened, that's all. L went
after my handkerchief and Joe shut
the door and kissed me-
"And you stand there and admit
it?" You should hang your head
with shame-are you sure that's al
there was to it?"
Sonia burst out crying.
IT think you're dreadful. Every
one suspects me of something awful
I didn't do anything. I'm going
away and never come back"
Her father melted instantly.
Come here, Sonia. Here, honey
Your dad doesn't think there was
anything bad to it. Only 1 can't
stand having people say things
about my baby"
"You said things, too"
1T didn't mean them, honey" He
patted her shoulder II know you
didn't mean any harm. You mustn't
let the boys kiss you, that's ALL
Sonia, opening one eye over his
shoulder, saw an inscrutable smile or
her mothers face. Why did hei
mother look like that whenever hei
father petted her? But she allowed
herself to be comforted in his arms
until gradually the crisis passed an(
peace reigned again.
Several days later Sonia an
nounced her intention of spending
the day with her sister. Her mothel
offered no objection, so Sonia Sc
forth.
AS she wandered down the sum!
street, she was busily rehearsint
the events of the last week. Sh'
had been kissed, proposed to, ant
advised by three different seriou:
males. not including her father.
''What is it about me men like?
she was thinking, with the i'm
personality Of an artist. Il never
flatter them. 1 am not beautiful
But they do like me. It's because
I'm a mystery. They see things II
me I don't have" She grinned
naughty. LET 'em see. The more
they imagine the better they ike
it. Sweet fools"
She pushed the straight black hail
from her eyes. There was a swift
ness about her least motion, a
winged precision that gave meaning
to her slightest action.
cat least" she concluded, Il am
not aimless, spineless, apologize
Thank God for that
AS she opened the door of her
CHI I'd he
baby screaming. Sonia walked
through to the kitchen where Marta
was almost bursting her tiny lungs
with angry cries.
"Well, what's the matter with
your" asked Sonia, rescuing the
little derelict from the bottom OF
the buggy.
The baby's wet mouth dug fran
tically about her neck.
Hungry. aren't you? Oh, Vera!'
There was no answer but the door
to the basement stood open. Sonia
started down with the baby oVel
her shoulder Vera sat sobbing
half way down the stairs. Garbage
was scattered about her. Sonia was
startled at the white face lifted tc
hers.
what in the worlds the mat
ter?''
ooh, the COMPOUNDED paper around
the garbage broke when I was just
tearing my hair to get the kitchen
cleaned so 1 could battle the baby
before her 2 o'clock feeding.
haven't touched the ironing yet ant
my back is just breaking"
Sonia said, composedly: "Youi
child seems to need food"
Vera took the baby while Sonia
collected the garbage.
''Some mess" she muttered, kick
ing at the cat.
Eyes, isn't it?" Vera answered
without spirit.
"Say,' Sonia demanded suspicious
ly, whats eating you anyway"
Vera brushed the untidy hail
from her eyes an Unanswered, irri
tably.
I'm going to have another baby
That's all. And when 1 told Pau
last night do you know what hi
did? Stared at me as if I were
crazy, said Good Lord and walked
out the door,"
Sonia was dumbfounded. Vera
must be terribly low to confide in hel
like this.
Gosh, I'm sorry, Vera Isn't Their,
anything you can do?'
Certainly not" snapped her sis
ter. Nothing but have it. AnC
that with precious little sympathy
from my husband Take it from
BtsmiO1lS !
N,.;cL rolief from main RAW ~