The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-09-27
CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"A AIRS. THOMAS WORTHING-
WI TON MITCHELL bent over a
desk writing. She heard the light
tap on the side of the open door,
looked up and beckoned to Celia to
enter. Then she continued to write
Mrs. Mitchell's sitting room was
at the front of the house. on the
second floor It was much larger
than Celia's room.
The rug on the floor was from a
Persian loom, and the furniture
was elaborate in a style much ad-
mwed III the last decades of the
nineteenth century.
A fireplace with marble mantel
and a large mirror above conferred
one wall At the left was door,
which Celia decided led into Mrs.
MitchelTs bedroom.
With a staccato flourish the
woman laid aside her pen.
Now, then" she said in her sharp
voice. good morning, Celia. Come
NEARER and sit down.
Though the white-haired woman
scorned glasses. it was evident her
eyesight was impaired, for she had
a way of leaning forward and mar
rowing her eyes when speaking.
Good morning, grandmother,
the girl answered primly. She
arose, moving to a chair beside the
large oak desk at which Mrs Mitch
ell sat.
Sleep well?" the woman asked.
"Oh, yes! I really didn't mean to
stay in bed so late. I felt dread
fully to have missed breakfast"
"Humph-it's no matter! Always
have breakfast served in my room.
and your father doesn't take any
thing except coffee.
"Aline mas orders to bring you
breakfast at $50 each morning.
That's a good sensible hour. Makes
servants restless to be having meal
times changed around"
She said it so sternly that Celia
hastened to agree that a tray at
9 80 each morning would be entirely
satisfactory.
Mrs. Mitchell sat back in her
chair
Now that you're here" she said
to the girl, what are you going to
do?n
e. Why. THAT isl"
The elder woman nodded her
head with an I told you so" express
sion.
You don't know!" she said, en-
phasizing each word. It's a great
responsibility to have a young girl
like you in the house. DO you
realize that?
L don't mind telling you 1 hest
lated when your father first talked
about bringing you here. But you're
a Mitchell and I hope I know my
duty when I see it! Now, then, the
question is-what are you going to
do?"
Celias eyes widened.
Why, you see I haven't made any
plans"
No? Well. never mind. I'll do
the planning. In fact. I've already
done it. Tell me something about
yourself. What did you do in Balti-
more?"
There was something vigorous and
wholesome about the aged woman's
bruSqueness, but this quality was
lost on Celia.
Well. I've never done much of
anything except to 60 to school. I
studied stenography."
"Augh - stenography!" Mrs.
Mitchell's hand raised in horror.
This was. suppose, in a public
SCHOOL," she asked.
The girl nodded.
AS bad as / thought" the older
woman sighed. As bad as I
thought"
Mrs. Mitchell rested one arm on
her desk and tapped her pencil dis
consolately. Then she rose and
paced back and forth across the
room.
After a moment she halted in
front OF Celia and looked at the
girl intently.
Il really don't know if it can be
done. she said solemnly. I Won
der"
Her expression and manner
seemed to say clearly that Celia was
a disgrace. Under this frowning fis-
pleasure the girl could almost feel