The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-09-12


Nancy, she's recognized you at last.
Feeling quite faint from the shock
Of this announcement, Nancy sank
into chair and drew out the let
ter.
The Gage name was the one thing
for which Amanda felt grateful to
her husband. Although certainly
there was nothing aristocratic about
the heavy, red-faced Silas.
A man of few words, those
weighted with a biting sarcasm.
which often made Ms wife and
daughter tremble, he lived apart
from them in a world of his own
creation.
The black sheep of the Gage FAM
lily had married Amanda Hawkins
for her velvety black eyes and
flushed provocativeness, never sus-
pecting that her shrewd ambition
to "be somebody" had led her to
haunt these attractions before him,
determined to win only the highest
stakes.
His family had considered the
marriage further indication of his
erring tendencies. They were "nicep
to Amanda, but she was given to
understand that she would never
belong"
Even the birth of Nancy. named
for. her grandmother, failed to
bridge the chaSm between the dis
tinguished members of one of Vir-
ginia's Oldest families and the
daughter of the town ne'er-do-well
Amanda proved to be a capable
wife. Her house was clean. She
was a good cook. But her CONVEX
sation was so filled with resent
ment of the mean things" his
family did to her that Silas Gage
often pushed away from the table
in disgust.
After Nancy was born he decided
to move. They left their own State
and come to California, where no
one knew what it meant to be a
Gage or cared.
This had been the bitterest trial
of Amandas life She was forced
to live in the wrong end of town
while her husband worked in a fac
tory. Machinery seemed to be his
only interest. He fitted up a shop
in corner of the yard and spent
all his leisure time tinkering.
Neither his wife's protest nor her
pleading tears had any effect on
him. So her passionate lodgings
had been poured into Nancy's lit
tie ears long before she was old
enough to understand.
At gears Nancy was not allowed
to play with children on her own
street. Day after day she sat on
her front steps, watching the antics
Of the neighborhood with wistful
eyes. But she was too proud to ad-
nit the reason for her aloofness.
Il don't want to play" was her
repeated excuse when invited to
join them.
She could not have told when
that early furtive longing had
changed to a sense of superiority
and distaste.
But at 10 she was walking home
from school, alone, lifting her head,
arrogantly. as she passed the groups
of other little girls. arm-in-arm.
Their Judges and whisperings we're
not unnoticed.
Nancy Gage is stuck up. She
thinks she's smart"
But these things did not hurt
her. Already she had learned to
despise their opinion.
Mother" Nancy said, suddenly,
do you suppose father will let me
go?"
Amanda's frown admitted that
She, too, was worried over this pos
sibility. But her voice was shrill
with determination as she answered.
He has to. Nancy. If he never does
another thing for you as long as
he lives, he has to do this"
Contrary to their expectations,
Silas made no objection.
When will school be out?" he
asked, gruffly.
I'm six weeks, father"
He folded the letter and handed 4.
back to Nancy.
"All right. I guess I can man.
age it,"
But he turned on his wife, who
was towering, nervously, behind his
chair.
For Gods sake, LIGHT I SUP
pose you're feeling damned smart
about this. aren't your"
Why. no, Silas. I'm glad. of
course"
well. don't Think you had any,
thing to do with it," he asserted,
darby.
His surly manner could not
dampen Nancy's spirits. He had
said she could go. and he would keep
MS promise. In six weeks she was
to leave this impossible situation.
And who knew? Perhaps she would
never have to come back.
She departed in all the glory of
Amanda's ruffles and flounces. For
days the sewing machine in the din
ing room had stitched and tucked.
Nancys new steamer trunk was
packed to the brim with dresses.
Il want you to have plenty of
clothes" Amanda declared triumph
antly. They'll probably expect you
to come without anything"
Nancy knew the moment she
faced her grandmother that most of
I