The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-07-02
R]LWAL]gM5|IV
9 1929 ~ NEA SERVICE INC.

| had the faintest hope. he would
never have married again. And so
he married me. Curtis, because he
| thought you both needed me
Curtis nodded forlornly. Il told
him to, he admitted slowly. And
I was awful glad when you came to
live with US. But now my real
[ mothers come back. - He vas
obviously wrestling with the prob
/ lem. Mans heart ached with pity
as she watched him. Finally he
drew q deep, quivering breath, then
blurted out: Mother said Id have
I to choose between you and her,
Nan. DID she mean you'd go and
she'd come back, if If l said
SOP"
Mans impulse-the quick de-
mand OF her pride-Was 10 stake
everything then and there on the
boys choice She couldn't stay
where she was not wanted. But as
The hot little fingers gripped her
hand they sent an imperative mes
sage to her brain. The boy was
feverish. In one brief visit Iris had
done that to him, by feeding him
all the chocolates he could stuff.
Biting her tongue to hold back
too haSty answer the girl stud
led the child, placing mental pic
ture of him as he had been a year
ago beside the boy he had become
since she had been in charge of his
life
The Curtis Of a year ago had been
thin. anemic. neurOtic; lonely, visit
fully unhappy. violent of temper.
The product Of more than six years
of Iris Morgan's mothering. In less
than one year she-Nan-had
changed that Curtis into sturdy
healthy. happy, obedient little 10y,
beautifully adjusted to school and
home life. Did she have the right
to abandon him now? Him. and
the father who mad needed her just
rs sorely and profited as obviously
under her care?
NERY slowly and carefully she
Y answered: mo, Curtis. Your
mother didn't mean that you could
choose whether I went away and
she came back. I am your fathers
wife now, you know, and unless he
wants me to go, I must stay and
and make you both as happy as I
possibly can"
Iy.or 4I1o
syllable out very long. Then, very
slowly: I'm glad I don't have to
choose, Nan, 'cause-'cause I want
you and mother both. II father
wants you to stay, can see mother
lots anyway, can't I. Nan? I think
she'd feel bad if I didn't" he ex-
planned. as if fearful of hurting
Mans feelings.
Tears gushed into the girls eyes.
Blinking at them, she stopped swift
ly and kissed him with a flerceness
that embarrassed, while it pleased
him.
you do love Nan, don't you,
darling?" she begged, pride COM
Oletely routed for the moment.
Sure 1 dol" Curtis answered,
with masculine bruSQueness. And
love my mother, too. I guess I
love you both nearly the same. A
kid has to love his own mother the
best. don't he'll mean, doesn't
hep"
The child's preoccupation with
grammar in face Of the tremendous
issues involved struck Nan as ire
sistibly funny. She was laughing
almost Historically as she tucked
the covers about him and gave him
q goodnight kiss.
Good night. Nan" he murnured,
suddenly droWsy. Listen, Nan! If
you we're my real mother, Id love
you best-lots the best. But"
ConscientiouSness, loyalty and
grieved bewilderment gave up the
battle then, routed by sleep.
Nan stood looking down upon him
for long minute, and there was no
laughter in her heart or eyes. Then
she tiptoed from the room, her load
of despair q little lighter. That
naive confession of Curtis had