The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-10-25
BY Anne Austin


urday to baking. silver polishing,
mirror-polishing, floor waxing and
marketing, so that the whole house
from kitchen pantry to parlor should
be spick and span for Sunday.
Faith followed the tradition slav-
ishly. though she sometimes rebelled
at baking innumerable loaves OF
bread for an Unsuitable family, when
bakers bread actually cost less and
it's purchase would have given her
many precious hours of freedom.
On the Saturday following Mr..
Cluny's ceremonious visit for the
/ purpose of asking Cherry's parents
for her hand in marriage, Faith went
doggedly on with the traditional sat
urday's work, though her heart was
heavy with foreboding. Every nook
and Granny of the shabby little Myr-
tie St. house was fragrant with
the spicy odors of new baked yeast
bread, ham roasted with cloves and
cinnamon bark, marble" cake, choc-
olate layer cake. raisin-nut cookies.
mince pies and vegetable soup.
For the last named, all the left
over vegetables of the week. kept
sweet and fresh in covered Mason
jars in the ice box, were thrown into
the big iron kettle. to be used as the
main meal for Saturday night sup
per. as an important part II every
meal during the coming week, or as
I IL "a.
little waste in the Lane kitchen.
Faith was rubbing evaporated
milk over the rich crust of the last
mince pie. just before popping It in
to the oven-the film of cream to be
transformed i'm the baking into a
rich. crackly glaze over the entire
crust of the lordly pie-when the
door bell rang.
You answer il. JOY" Faith spoke
to her little sister, who was lick.
cake had been mixed. Here, wipe
your face. You've got cake batter
on the tip OF your nose and under
your left eye. Piggy. If it's a
canvasser, tell him the lady of the
house Isn't in, and won't be"
The mince pie had joined it's twin
in the oven, and Faith was just turn
ing the beautifully brown spice cake
out of its round pan upon n folded
tea towel, when Joy returned.
"Oh. Lordy. Guess who it is"
JOY whispered. her sharp little gray
eyes protruding with a queer mix
ture Of horror and self-importance.
THE school principal-Miss Pea
body"
"Show her in here" Faiths heat
flushed face darkened with annoy
ance. Mothers special custard Is
in the double boiler, and l have to
watch it every minute" AS Joy
seemed to be on the point of fright
ened flight out of the back door.
Faith whirled upon her. do as l
tell you, Joy Lane. And if you've
been up to any devilment at school,
I'll spank you, I'll bet you know
why she's Gomez
Honest. l don't" JOY turned
slowly back toward the dining room.
Gee, she's an old hellcat! Well.
gosh. that's not cussin'! And that's
just what She is"
When JOY returned 10 the kitchen
she was leading the way for a very
tall ana very large and very impos-
ing woman Of middle age. a woman
who looked as if she seldom smiled,
but whose cold. blue eyes were now
beaming cordially behind thiclI-lensed
glasses.
Surely you're not Mrs. Lane, Joys
mother? You look so very young"
she extended a large. firm hand,
which Faith clasped after wiping her
own hands free Of ffour.
I'm Faith Lane. joys sister" she
explained. TN sorry to have to re-
ceive you in here, but you've caught
me in the midst of my Saturday bak-
ing. JOY bring Miss Peabody a chair
from the dining room"
what marvellous loaves of bread"
Miss Peabody's active eyes were
darting ereedlly over the kitchen
table, every inch OF which was COW
cred with great brown loaves, crisp
Parker House rolls and fat raisin
buns. I'm so sorry you were not
able to come to the Parent Teachers
meeting yesterday, Miss Lane. This
is my first visit here. you know. I've
been principal of the Upton School in
Marlboro for fifteen years"
Marlboro" Faith repeated. at a
loss for words.
Yes, I'm a first cousin Of Mr.. Sey.
mour-Mr. Ralph Cluny's son.in-law,
you know. / made my home with
the Allbrights. Joy-what a dear
child she is,-tells us some rather
astonishing news. Miss Lane. Or
maybe it's was just child's magma
ton running riot. We all know how
children are. 1t really isn't lying.
you know-just a vivid, creative i'm
agination seeking expression. You
are familiar with the new child psy-
chology, I presumed"
Miss Peabody was talking very
fast, and very brightly, but there
was a hard edge of curiosity and a
determination to have it satisfied
that made her voice not half so
pleasant in Faiths ears as its owner
imagined it.
do you mind telling me just what
JOY has been saying?" Faith was
glad of the necessity to stir the corn