The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-10-26
Saint and Simmer

BIZ ANNE AUSTIN

By o'clock that Saturday.
Faith realized the thoroughness with
which JOY had played town cror.
Neighbors for blocks up and down
Myrtle St.-neighbors who had long
since grown weary of Mrs. Lanes
recital of her symptoms and all
ments and had ceased to call-came
singly and in groups Of two and
three, ostensibly TO pay a neigh
borly visit, but in reality to confirm
the amazing report that the Myrtle
street fiapper beauty was engaged to
be married to a rich old nan, nearly
four times her age.
The austere Miss Peabody,
principal of joys school, had been
but the vanguard of the curious. Old
Mrs. Talbot, who lived next door on
the left. and who had been nursing
a grudge against Mrs. Lane for more
than two years, arrived first. rustling
served for weddings, funerals and
church services.
"How's you Ma. Faith? 1 declare,
l'time does hyi I been tryin' to get
over for a month O. Sundays, but
something always comes up to keep
me home. I brought her jar o. my
new picalilli that l put up Wednes-
day. l always think of your Ma
when I put up picalilli. Poor thing!
She taught me how to make 1t, but
[ guess she won't put up any more
b~-.~1r
Mrs. Asbell and Mrs. Purdy
ar. core Mrs. Talbot had
finished her greetings. Faith ac.
cepted their gifts of grape jelly and
blueberry jam for the invalid with
embarrassed thanks. then hurried
away to tell her mother the astonish-
ing news. II seemed a shame to
arouse her from her deep afternoon
sleep.
''Joy's been tattling at school and
all up and down the street." Faith
whispered breathlessly, as her moth
er stared at her in bewilderment.
"How in the world am going to get
all my Sunday work done? DO you
feel like tackling them. Mother?
They're all swelled up with
curiosity"
"Well. Cherry's been raised on
Myrtle St, and I don't see nothin'
out of the way in our old neighbors
takin' an interest in her bein' en-
gagged to get married. Are they all
dressed up? My land! 1 amt got a
thing to wear, I guess I'll put on
that blue dotted foulard Just hand
me my new shoes, Faith. They pinch
my feet something terrible. but-oh,
Lord! There's a runner in the only
decent pari of black silk stockings 1
got to my name! Just catch it up for
me. Faith. There's a needle and
black thread struck in the end of that
dresser scarf"
Ten minutes later. when Mrs.
Lane, putting from her exertions but
her broad red face abeam with pleas
ure and welcome, waddled her slow
way into the living room, she found
five neighbors instead of three, Mrs.
Parsons and Mrs. Blivens having ar
rived while Faith was assisting her
mother to dress.
"Just thought we'd drop in and see
how you are. Martha" Mrs. Asbell
spoke for herself and Mrs. Purdy.
'I'd been figgerin' up and thought
this must be your birthday-remem-
Der that surprise party we gave you
when you first moved to Myrtle ST.?
Let's see-that must be ten-no
eleven years ago! Lordy, but times
does fiy!''
MY birthday amt till the first of
November, but 7 must say you come
pretty close to IT," Mrs. Lane was
deeply gratified. "And here Faith
thought all you girls had come to ask
about Cherry. Eleven years! II
don't seem possible we been here
that long. But I guess you're right
We bought this house in the fall OF
10, and here 1t is 1926 already
Cherry was just baby. about as
old as Joy is now. And now she's
goin' on 10 and all grown up--in her
own estimation, and thinkin' about
gettin' married"
Married. Mrs. Purdy exclaimed
with an admirable affection Of sur
prise. "Well. I can't hardly say as
I'm surprised. The belle of Myrtle
St.. that's what we call her And
boys as thick as flies about her since
she was IA year old. Who's the
lucky young fellow. Martha?"
The five visiting neighbors ex