The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-10-19
CHAPTER XLvIII


and Tad have grown away from me
and I'm such a lonely old woman
I'll miss Teddy more than any Of
you"
She put her hands to her face
and silent tears stole between hel
poor, thin fingers. Then Sybil was
on her knees, with her face in heI
mothers lap, sobbing as though hel
heart would break. Valerie came
and sat on the arm of her chair tc
stroke her slim shoulders lovingly
and Tad dropped a kiss on heI
bowed head.
Mother, DEAR" whispered Va
lerie, "we'll never let you be lonely
again"
She caught Tad'S tear immed
glance, and raised her eyebrows in
terrogatively.
'All right" he nodded.
Mother, dear, listen. You're go
ing to have another little grand
child. I'm going to have a baby!
Honestly-ip three more months. I
think I've been so smart to keep it
a secret. We meant not to tell you
for little while yet. The longer
we waited the cleverer I felt. But
now, you poor dear, I want you to
stop your crying, and tell Tad and
me you're glad. TadS son! Aren't
you thrilled, mother and Sib-Sib,
dear-can't you be glad too? An
other little baby-to make life bear
able now that Teddy's gone. Oh,
please tell me you're glad!"
Tad! Is it true?"
They turned to him together,
Sybil and her mother. And their
surprise was so genuine, that Valerie
laughed aloud.
We'll, like that! OF course it's
true. Don't you suppose I know"
Then they laughed-the two
women who never expected to smNe
again-and, throwing their arms
about Valerie, kissed her
"Oh, my dear!" Ibreathed Sybil,
and, catching sob with her teeth,
bit her lips. II think it's wonderful,
VAL" she cried. And I never even
suspected. 1 never was so surprised
in all my life. Three months . d.
why, Vail"
Mrs. Thorne was counting quiet
ly on her fingers.
"June-that'S lovely" she whis-
pered through her tears. Tad, I'm
so glad.
She kissed him tenderly.
II guess I've something to live
for after all. Your baby"
Her hands dropped idly in her
lap, and she fell to musing.
"Tad was a lovely baby, Valerie.
Such q fine, healthy boy. And he
never gave me a minutes worry.
Sybil was fuSSy.-but falkland
sake's alive. I often said you'd
never know there was a baby in
the house. Teddy was good baby,
too. Remember when he was cut
ting those first teeth? The poor
little tyke. =. -"
Sybil slipped quietly from the
room. A few minutes later Tad
found her at the telephone.
CYBIL had worn q black frock
Oto Teddy's funeral, and on her
shoulder a bunch fthe anemones
she had scattered on his casket. She
sat on d high-backed Spanish chair
that she had dragged to the table
on which the telephone stood, and
Sc rested her head YEARLY against
the shield of red and gold that
ornamented its tall carved back.
On the table tall candles cast a
wan light on a bowl of white roses
that diffused the heavy odor that
comes with funerals, and a profu-
sion of cut flowers.
She sat with her back to Tad, but
he caught a glimpse of her pale
face in the mirror. And he thought
she looked like a penitential little
saint in her black dress, with the
candles Pickering, and the breath
of mournful sweetness all about her.
She was talking listleSSly, her
lips removed from the transmitter.
you expect him shortly? This
is Sybil Tllorne. Please tell him
want to see him. Tell him to
wait for me-"
She hung up the receiver, and
turned to Tad.
Craig is getting in from New
York this afternoon" she said,
"and there's something I want to
ask him. I'm going to drive in
town now. Please don't ask me not
to, Tad. I will be all right"
"I'll take you in," he offered.
"No, I'd rather go alone. You
stay with mother and Val"
II WILL" he agreed, eff you'll
promise to be back by dinner time"
Il promise. And Tad-will you
do me a favor? Will you put
Teddy'S high chair beside my place
again? 1 don't want his things up
in the attic. I'd like to keep them
around, until-until we have an
other baby Teddy"
She bent to her overshoes.
I'm not crying for me-" she de-
clared in a muffled little voice.
"It'S for you and Val-because I'm
so glad for you"
Tad put his arms clumSily about
her. God bless you," he whispered.
Nov don't be nice to me-" she
warned him-"or I'll cry"
= 4 y
CRAIG was idly scanning closing
~ stock reports when Sybil, with
out knocking, slipped quietly into
the room. She was pale as the