The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-11-04
CHAPTER NINE
MERCEDES RIVERTON had
wi lived in the horderIand Of DOW

MERCEDES RIVERTON had
1V1 lived in the borderland of pow
erty up to the time she became self
supporting. Her father was a plod-
ding factory worker whose small
wages barely provided the necessi-
ties of life for his family: her
mother was nervous, complaining,
discontented household drudge,
whose entire vision was clouded by
the always present need of making
both ends meet.
Mercy had been denied those lit
tie luXurieS that mean so much to
the selfconscious, adolescent girl.
She felt strongly her social and eco
nomIc status in contrast with that
of her SchoolmateS. They were bet
ter dressed, they always had little
spending money for sodas or an &C
casional visit to the movies.
Even these we're denied Mercedes
by the more pressing home need of
salt pork and cabbage on washday
and a possible beef roast on Sunday.
Were poor, but we're respecta-
ble." her father would say Smugly
when Mercy gave voice to her dis
satisfaction. Anyway, 1 amt no
bootlegger. I amt got no money,
but I amt afraid to look any cop
in the eye and tell him to go to
hell"
Respectable" Mercy would re-
tort pasSionately, "if this is being
respectable, I'd rather you'd be a
bootlegger with more money and
less responsibility. It's a crime to
be poor, that's what it isl 1 want
70 be rich, rich, RICH! You just
watch, I'm going to have money
and nice clothes and good times
and 1 don't care how I get theml''
Mercy. Mercy!" her mother would
reprove her, you hadn't ought to
talk to your Pa that way" but she
secretly sympathized with Mercy in
the girls desire for a broader life.
Jerry Riverton would retire into his
shell and mentally wash his hands
of his troublesome womenfolk.
Such was the environment in
which Mercedes Riverton grew to
young womanhood. Philosophers
advance the theory that privation
and sacrifice in early life make for
good character. That may be so If
sacrifice becomes a habit of mind
and thus is voluntary, but in Mercy's
case every enforced sacrifice brought
inner If not outward rebellion.
Self-willed Mercy's strong desire
to be and to do as the Jonesss had
little patience with any principle or
precept that would thwart her ambi-
ton. Her conception of an ideal
life was full indulgence in all those
things which had been denied her
rich food. expensive clothing, lux
urious surroundings, gay parties
and ceaSelesS, pleasure bent activity.
WHEN Mercy, after a night
wv school business course. had
found employment. she realized she
had not yet attained her goal. True,
she had her own money to spend,
and for a time she was happy in
being able to dress as we'll as other
girls Of her limited acquaintance.
But that was only an interlude
in her day of discomfort. She want
ed finer clothes than her money
could buy: she wanted the gay times
Of her dreams, the companionship
Of folk who spent life and money
lavishly and counted not the cost.
Through her employment. she
came in contact with men and wom-
en- who enjoyed all Of these deSir-
able things. 1t was thus she met
Andy Masters Andy's breezy "col-
legiate" manners and his free-hand-
ed way Of spending money made him
in her eyes an incarnation of the
god Of wealth and pleasure at whose
altar she long had worshiped.
Andy. IN turn. was captivated by
the pertly pretty little stenographer
HIS vanity was touched by her very
evident interest. Here was . new