The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-03-17
CHAPTER III

! q BECAUSE she was leaving the or
GS phanage for a temporary new
home on the Carson farm, Sally was
permitted to take her regular Sat-
urday night bath that afternoon. In
spite of her terror Of the future,
the girl who had never known any
home but a State orphan asylum
felt a thrill of adventure as she
splashed in a painted tin tub,
gloriously alone, unhurried by
clamorous girls waiting just out
side the little cubicle.
The cold water-therc was no hot
water for bathing from April first
to October f1rst-made her skin
glow and tingle. AS she dried her.
self on ragged Wisp OF grayiSh-
white Turkish toweling, Sally sur
veyed her slim, white body with shy
pride. Shorn of the orphanage uni
form she might have been any
pretty young girl budding into
womanhood, so slim and rounded
and pinky-white she was.
IT guess I'm kinda pretty" Sally
whispered to herself, as she thrust
her face close to the small, wavery
mirror that could not quite succeed
in destroying her virginia. lowell
ness. Sweet sixteen and-never
been kissed" she smiled to herself,
then bent forward and gravely lead
her pink, deliciously curved lips
against the mirrored ones.
Then, in a panic les5 she be too
late to see kind Miss Pond, she
jerked on the rest of her clothing.
Dear Sally, how sweet you look!'
Miss Pond claSped her hands In ad-
miration as Sally slipped, breath
less, into the locker-room that con-
tanned the clothes of all the girls
of her dormitory.
Did you bring the card that tells
all about me- and my mother?''
Sally brushed the compliment aside
and demanded in an eager whisper.
mo, dearie, I was afraid Mrs.
Stone might want it to make ar
entry about Mr.. Carson's taking you
for the summer, but I copied The
data. You go ahead with your
packing while I tell you what
found out" Miss Pond answered
nervously, but her pale gray eyes
were sparkling with pleasure in her
mild little escapade.
Sally unlocked her own particu-
lar locker with the key that always
hung on a string about her neck,
but almost Immediately she whirled
upon Miss Pond, her eyes imploring.
1T won't take me minute to pack,
Miss Pond. Please go right on and
tell mel"
well, Sally, I'm afraid there
isn't much to Iell.' Miss Pond
smoothed a folded bit Of paper
apologetical. 1.-The record says you
were brought here May 9, 1912. just
IL years ago, by woman who said
you were her daughter. She gave
your birthday as June 2, 1908, and
her name as Mrs. Nora Ford, a
widow, aged %"
"Oh, she's youngw Sally breathed
ecstatically. Then her face clouded,
as her nimble brain did quick sum
in mental arithmetic. But she'd be
40 now, wouldn't she? Forty seems
awfully old"
Forty is comparatively young,
Sally!" Miss Pond, who was looking
regretfully back upon 40 herself,
said rather tartly. But let me
hurry on. She gave poverty and ILL
ness as her reasons for asking the
State to take care of you. She said
| your father was dead"
"Oh, poor mother!" A shadow
fitted across SallXs delicate face;
quick tears for the dead father and
Che ill, poverty stricken mother
filmed her blue eyes.
1.-The State accepted you provi-
sionally, and shortly afterward sent
an investigator to check up on her
story" Miss Pond went on. "The
investigator found that the woman,
Mrs. Ford, had left the city-it was
Stanton, 80 miles from here-and
that no one knew where she had
gone. From that day to this we
have had no word from the woman
who brought you here She was a
mystery in Stanton, and has re-
manned a mystery until now. I'm
sorry, Sally, that I can't tell you
more"
"Oh!" Sally's sharp cry was
charged with such pain and disap-
pointment that Miss Pond took one
of the little clenched fists between
her own thin hands, not noticing
that the slip of paper fluttered to
the floor. "She didn't write to
know how I was, didn't care whether
I lived or died! I wish I hadn't
asked! I thought maybe there was
somebody, someone who loved me-
-" Remember she was sick and
poor, Sally. Maybe she went to q
hospital suddenly ano-and died
But there was no report in any pa
pers Of the State of her death,
Miss Pond added conscientiously
lyon mustn't grieve, Sally. You're
nearly grown now. You'll be leaV-
ing us when you are 10, unless yor
want to stay on as an assistant
matron or as teacher"
"Oh, no, moi" Sally cried. ct
I'll pack now, Miss Pond. Anc
thank you million times for tell.
ing me, even if it did hurt"
In her distress Miss Pond trottec
out of the locker-room without {
thought for the bit Of paper OF