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

herself shrinking smaller and
smaller. She would have liked very
much to know what was so dread
full.
"Is-anything wrong?" she asked.
Instead of answering. Mrs.
Mitchell sat down at her desk.
My opinion is that the things
impossible" she said firmly. Still
hope I know my duty" There
was a pause and then she contin-
ued.
Your looks won't help you any.
Oh, you're a pretty child. Too
pretty! People are likely to guess
from the start that you're from the
wrong side Of the family
Now it was Celia's back which
Strengthened.
Il don't know what all this
means" she said, but if you're
talking about my mother"
The girls cheeks were white.
"Hoity- toity, child! None of that!
Who said anything about your
mother? I didn't Just telling you
it's common to have a pretty face.
And it is. None of the best families
have pretty faces. None of them!"
Celia wanted to laugh. She con-
trolled the impulse as she said
demurely:
Excuse me"
VOUR father probably has told
Il you I've given up going to
the country this summer on your
account. 1 see now it was wise
plan We have months of work
ahead before you can possibly make
a debut"
Grandmother! You mean-me-
a debutante?"
Why, certainly! You're Nit
chell, aren't you? You'll have to
take your place in society. Only,
I can see now it's going to be a
great taskl"
Both of them were silent for a
time Then Celia said quietly,
Father didn't say anything about
society. What do you want me
to do?"
The light of generalship returned
to the elderly woman's eyes. You
must do as I tell YOU" she said
imperiously. In September well
60 abroad Six months in the south
of France will do more for you than
years in boarding school.
After that the future depends
upon how promptly you can learn.
can do much, but can not work
miracles. The real responsibility
rests with you'll"
Mrs. Mitchell talked on about de-
tails of the household. Luncheon
was at l o'clock. She mentioned
the servants and named them
Edward, the butler, who had been
employed for fifteen years; Martha,
who had served Mrs. Mitchell even
longer; Aline, the parlor maid;
Hannah, the cook, and Jane,
kitchen helper. There also was
Thompson, who drove the cars.
Luncheon was announced before
Mrs. Mitchell had finished She
had a way of abruptly turning from
one subject to another while talk
ing-often without the least hint
that her mind had taken a different
tack.
This made it difficult to follow,
particularly for Celia, to whom al
NEST everything the woman said
was foreign.
1t was remarkable. the girl
thought, to hear another person use
exactly the same words she herself
used and make them sound so en-
tirely like another language. Never
theless, Celia listened attentively.
Her social training had begun.
Luncheon was appetizing and c.
liza, having breakfasted hurriedly,
ate heartily.
Once Mrs. Mitchell embar-
raised her by pausing to remark:
I'm glad to see you know how to
eat. Your manners are very nice,
but it would be better to begin to
learn at once not to enjoy your food
so much"
But. grandmother, I didn't mean
I mean everything is really de-
licious."
Certainly. but it is better form.
my dear. never to enjoy anything"
r
XXTHEN they had finished, Celia
w waited to hear plans for the
afternoon. Apparently there were
none. Mrs. Mitchell spoke vaguely
Of an engagement and disappeared
to dress.
Celia went to her own room and
wrote long letter to her mother.
She thought she was adroit in
bringing in a casual reference to
Barney Shields. but a child could
have seen through the device. Then
Celia put on her hat, took the letter
and went out of the house to the
corner of the block, where she found
a mail box.
Returning, Celia met Edward in
the hallway. He told her Mrs.
Mitchell had gone out. There was