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

these clothes were never to be I'M
A gracious, gentle little lady, with
snow-white hair and wide, dark
eyes.
MY deah." she said simply. come
and kiss me-"
Her soft cheek, was spicily fra
grant. Her hands were white and
slender. She wore dainty, high
heeled shoes, on feet which were
several sizes smaller than her
granddaughter.
Yet Nancy, gazing with passionate
admiration, saw instantly that in
both face and figure she closely re-
sembled this Dresden china shep-
herdess. This DOLL, of a grand
motherl
The two unmarried daughters,
Aunt Carolina and Auntie Jane,
f1utteyed like faded butterflies about
their mother. They had come to the
station to meet Nancy, and they
were unvaryingly, increasingly kind.
But never during the entire sum-
mer did they register with her very
strongly. Her affection and admir-
alton were so entirely centered on
Grandmother Gage.
The second morning she came
into Nancys bedroom.
Wouldn't you like to show me
your clothes, Nancy? There will be
a great many parties while you're
here. and if you need anything :"
Her sentence trailed off, unfin-
ished. She was evidently prepared
to see that her granddaughter had
the proper clothes. Nancy faced the
older woman frankly.
IT have a trunk full Of dresses,
Grandmother But they're all wrong.
I don't know why exactly. They
just don't look right"
Grandmother Gage nodded gently.
ct understand. Would you rather
not show them to me?"
Nancy shook her head. Tears
burned in her throat as she thought
of the hours of tireless labor those
clothes represented. 1t was disloyal
even to admit that they were
wrong" She couldn't drag them
out for her grandmother's dis
approval.
"Nevah mind. You needn't. Aunt
Caroline and I will make a list of
the things you need. It's to be my
birthday gift"
The dresses bought under the
aunts' supervision were surprisingly
few. But they had the marvellous
quality of giving Nancy poise.
For the first time in her life she
felt correctly attired for the &C.
casion. Indeed. the plain little frocks
and hats we're so simple that she
might have appeared in them any
where.
And now Nancy knew what it was
to enter a room and Immediately
become the center of an interested
group. TIL Gage family lived sim
ply on a limited income, but their
position in the sleepy old southern
city was unquestioned. Nancy was
accepted by young people whose
parents had known the family for
years.
Come here, my deahl I went to
school with your fathahl" was like
mama to the girls starved pride.
The summer was one long round of
picnics, dances and drives. Naturally
gay and vivacious, Nancy discovered
that she had qualities of leadership.
What was more important. she
learned why her former desperate
efforts to win attention had been a
mistake. She could see now that the
most effective weapons for storming
the citadel of the socially elect are
a community of interests, background
and a certain smiling indifference to
the effect one is having.
ut is not necessary" confided
Grandmother Gage, "for a lady evan
to call attention to that fact"
Her grandmother helped, Of course.
She may have suspected the storm
OF doubts and misgivii gs which were
sweeping the girls mi, d.
Always be yourself, Nancy, what
evan youah circumstances" she said
at one time gently.
Her suggestions. dropped APP
parently at random, fell on fertile
SOIL. Nancy studied the old Gage
home, trying to decide what was the