The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-10-11
= AUTHOp OF "PAsA ROMANCE

+ I'm going to find out about that
gypsy
The girl sank into one Of the
orange and green chairs beneath a
parasol ard said she would wait I'M
til her grandmother's return.
A waitress stopped at the table
and Celia ordered a frosted choc-
olate. She slipped the beverage
slowly, thinking how pleasant the
afternoon might have been if Lisi
and her gay crowd had been there.
The Duncan family's social stand
ing was satisfactory, Mrs. Parsons
had said. 1t was queer about So
ciety.
1t was not long before she saw
Mrs. Mitchell coming toward her.
There was a triumphant briskness
in the elderly woman's manner.
why, she's wonderful" she ex-
claimed as she reached the girl
Celia, she told me everything"
you mean the fortune teller?"
Mrs Mitchell nodded, then be-
gan to detail the remarkable occur
rences of past, present and future
which had been revealed to her.
She was convinced the gypsy was
the seventh daughter of a seventh
daughter. She said the reading"
had been amazing.
Celia listened thoughtfully.
It's funny. she finished with me
so quickly, isn't it?" she asked.
MY dear, that worries mel"
The girl laughed carelessly, "Oh,
of course, there's nothing to it. I'm
not going to become superstitiops
over a little thing like that"
Mrs. Mitchell answered guardedly.
Several times during their drive
home she eyed the. girl covertly.
She appeared to be uncomfortable
in her granddaughter's presence.
When Celia repeated the incident
to her father at the dinner table
he scoffed.
The important event of that day
was yet to come. Tod Jordan tele-
phoned. Celia was able to talk to
him privately on the telephone in
the library. The sound of his voice
set her pulse beating more rapily.
Cant you come for a driver" he
begged. when am I going to see
you?"
At that particular moment Celia
would have given almost anything
in the world to drive with Jordan,
but she knew her grandmother's
views.
She could not possibly introduce
young man whose parentage nei-
Their her father nor grandmother
knew and say, We're going off for
the evening"
| CHE told him it would have to be
- some other time. Jordan ap-
peared keenly disappointed. He said
he had tried repeatedly to reach
her.
The conversation grew more per-
sonal The girl was afraid some
one might overhear. Suddenly she
remembered Isis luncheon en-
gagement" But that would be de-
ceiving her father. No, she could
not do that.
She told Jordan to call her next
day. She would try to have some
thing planned Tod Jordan's low
good night, dearest" was a haunt
ing memory. -
Celia was not prepared for her
fathers announcement the next
afternoon. Mitchell called her to
him.
Know what day this is. Celia?"
he asked.
She looked at him round-eyed.
Sunday, why?"
That isn't what I mean Day
of the month Know what day
Wednesday viii be?"
She wrinkled her forehead.
No use pretending. .T>guess you
know all right. How old will you
be?@
Celia laughed, Its my birth
day! Honestly, 1 hadn't thought
about it. III be 1877
That's right. Regular young
lady, Well, we're going to cele-
brate. I've asked Evelyn to take
charge and we're going to give you
birthday party to remember"
"Oh. how wonderful"
Glad you like the idea. Have
to have new dress and some
trinketS, I suppose. Mother will
see to that. 1 wanted to surprise
you, but decided it would be better
this way
Celia tried to say how pleased
she was The words stuck in her
throat. 1t was hard to express
sentiment before John Mitchell.
When Jordan telephoned she told
him about the birthday party and
said she would see him there. OF
course Evelyn would invite him
Next day Celia and her grand
mother went shopping They called
at Charlotte's establishment, a
house in the east fifties which was
so unattractive it must obviously be
exclusive
Charlotte paid Mrs Mitchell great
difference.