The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-12-02
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
PAGE14
OUT OUR WAY
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CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
EDNA and her mother had dined
u at home alone. When they
arose from the table Mrs. Rogers
said:
Edna, dear, I want to have a talk
with you. Will you come to my
room?"
Edna followed her mother Won
ueringly up the stairs and seated
herself in a low rocking chair near
an open window in the combination
sitting dressing room that adjoined
Mrs. Rogers bedroom.
It was early evening and the sun,
still several degrees above the hori-
ION sent a golden flood into the
coZily furnished room, Mrs. Rogers
slowly paced the floor several times.
Finally her lips met in a decision
and she drew a chair to EdnaS
knee and sank into it. She looked
fondly at Edna, but still she did
not speak
Mother, dear, what is it?" the
girl cried in alarm.
Il have set myself a hard task"
she replied. Il have something
10 tell you that will shock you
something that may hurt you, some
thing that may even turn you
against me-"
mo, MOI" Edna protested. "You
know that nothing, nothing could
turn me against you"
mo, was wrong; you are of a
newer, kindlier generation, and
then, too, you-you are yourself.
Edna, when was a young girl
younger than you, only IS years old
Il made one terrible mistep that,
but for the help of two lovely.
sanity women, would have ruined
my entire life.
''You know very little of my peo-
pie. They moved to the far west,
and my father and mother died
there not long after you were born.
~We were very poor. Father was
a carpenter and the wages of car
penter in a small town in those
days we're very small. with frequent
periods of unemployment. And We
we're large family, of which I was
the Oldest.
I'VE lived in Lebanon. Automo-
bsles had not then come into gen.
eral use and Lebanon was much
more Isolated than it is now. You
may have noticed and wondered
chat on our auto trips always have
contrived that our route never took
usrthrough Lebanon.
The town holds too many pain
gul memories. / had only two years
Of high school and at 16. after I
had taught myself the operation of
q typewriter, / went to work in the
office OF a man named Crimell. who
conducted a small farm supplies
agency. The wages were small. but
they were a great help at home.
Mr.. Crinell was a tall. broad
shouldered, handsome man of early
middle age. He was married. the
father OF several children, was a
steady chrch-goer and teacher of
n Sunday school class, of which I
Was a member.
1T was at Sunday school that I
became we'll acquainted with him.
He seemed interested in me in a
fatherly way and paid me little COM
plimentS that flattered my romantic
girlish heart. When he learned that
was looking for work, he offered
me position and I gladly accepted.
MY parents were delighted, too
Mr.. Crimell was such good man,
would be we'll protected in his
employ How little they knewl
Edna, that man in reality was a
two-faced devil, but 1 didn't find
it out until too late. I looked up
TO him. trusted him as the respect
able pillar Of society he pretended
to be.
He was a persuasive talker and
he was able TO play upon my mso-
phisticated mind and emotions as
a master artist upon the keys of a
piano. I hung upon his every word
as disciple at the feet of seer.
"Cleverly. skillfully. fiendishly, as
I see II now, he gained complete
domination of me. At first gen.
tie pressure of the hand. light kiss
on cheek or forehead. which I ac-
cepted as mere fatherly gestures.
Then he enlisted my sympathy
with the old story of S cold, unap-
preciative and nagging w1fe-a
loyeleSs home. And I, little fool that
I was. easily fell into the role of
comforter and consider and felt viz
tuously exalted in being singled out
for his confidence.
eThe inevitable happened-our
intimacy passed the bounds of coz
vention. ! was young ignorant,
enc tional. easily led; he was cum
ming. clever and INSCRIPTIONS under
3 mask Of pious probity. 2