The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-30
co ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER VII
MRS. THORNE. engroSSed in

was buster than the brides mother.
She monogrammed Tad's hand
kerchiefs and pajamas, and debated
endlesSly on the problem of a real
mice wedding gift"
Almost every day she made the
weary round of shops and stores,
pricing silver and glass, rugs and
china-comparin values all the way
from Copley Square to Scollay.
Finally, in an antique shop on
Charles ST., she compromised on
an ancient secretary and a high boy
with bullying front.
''But, Mother" demonstrated Sy-
bill. valerie doesn't like old things"
Mrs. Thorne bristled defensiveiy.
"They're extraordinarily fine pieces"
she said, "arid there's nothing could
be in better taste than antiques"
Craig had chosen a silver cock
tail set: tray, and a mammoth
shaker and many goblets. Poor
Craig-he tried so hard to be one
of the family.
SYPHILIS heart went out to him,
when he discussed with Valerie the
advantages of a wedding breakfast
as against a buffet luncheon, very
solemnly, like wise old uncle.
He listened patiently to Mrs.
Thorne. who was henning curtains
for Valerie's kitchen. Did he think
yellow checked gingham would be
cut. or would he like plain white,
banded with delft blue?
The blue would match any ordi-
nary linoleum best, of course, but
then, wouldn't the yellow afford a
pleasing contrast?
Craig was confdant and lackey
for the lot of them. He ran errands
for Valerie, made reservations and
bought tickets for Tad. Mrs Thorne,
when she took to weeping, found his
shoulder always accessible. Even
Mrs. West sought his advice.
u II
CRAIG was to be Tad's best man,
~ and Valerie's cousin, Bertha
Onts, was to be maid of honor She
was dark, and rather florida little
greasy looking, Sybil thought, with
straight, oily hair and small eyes.
An admirable contrast for Valerle'S
blond beauty.
Bertha was so dull she made
Valerie positively radiant, and more
exquisite than ever. Sybil had heard
that beautiful girls sometimes chose
ugly friends, in order to seem more
beautiful themselves, but never be-
fore had she lent any credence to
the notion.
It was to be a very simple cere-
nony at st. Margaret's -the-Sea.
the little stone chapel where
Valerie's grandmother had been
married fifty years before.
Not that there was anything SEN
timentaI about the Vests, but only
that st. Margaret's afforded such an
admirable solution. 1t was mucn
smarter than it had been in the
DAYS of Valerie's grandmother, and
the rector was very High Church.
1t was quite the thing to be
churchy about a marriage Jazz
weddings were distinctly passe. Dig
nifty had become a sacramental
thing, and Valerie, who six months
before had contemplated carrying
a swagger stick to the altar, ltched
now for sublinity.
St. Margaret'S was austere. 1t
was. indeed, the very place for
'little family wedding" There
seemed to be nothing even family
disrespectful to the memory OF Mr..
Thorne about getting married at
St Margaret's. A city church, OF
course. would have been different.
Tad was beginning to wonder II
he had ever really known Valerie
before. Her conversation was en-
tirely explanatory. She was either
"simply furious" or thrilled to
death" She "despised" things or
"adored" them, knowing no half
way emotions.
you'll be a wreck by the time
I get YOU" he told her gently, when
she came to him one evening from
the dressmakers exhausted and IN
tears.
"Caveman!'' she retorted, AID he
knew she had misunderstood.
VALERIE was not as innocent as
Y Tad had thought. She discussed
their married life with great deal
of modern frankness.
IT don't propose to have any chill
dren for at least five years" she told
him.
"All right, baby" he agreed.
"And if should ever stop caring
for you, wouldn't live with you
for a single minute" she went on.
"That wouldn't be anything short
of legalized-"
Valerie"
7, stopped her sternly. Il don't
like to hear you talking like that
baby. You're my little girl, and I'm
crazy about you. I guess that
doesn't leave you anything to worry
about, does it?"
"Oh, WE'LL" She dismissed the
subject with elaborate nonchalance.
"You can't ever tell what's going
to happen these days. It's just as
we'll to understand each other"
"Where'd you get all these
ideas?'5' he persisted. What's got
into you, Valerie?"
ooh, I suppose I've changed" she
conceded. "One does, yc'l know"
VALERIE had forgotten to bring
Y a gift from Paris for her maid
of honor, and Tad had driven her
down to find something. He cruised