The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-11

with slightly raised chin and
shoulder, Really? I'm afraid 1
can't agree with you about wood
fires" was nothing whatever but an
effort toward appearing grown up.
Cant? Why, I wonder?"
do you realize, Mr.. McKeel"
(Grand's manner was convenient,
so she used IT'D that every one Of
the rooms in this mansion, fifteen
in all, has a fireplace in it, including
the front hall and excepting the
kitchen? Stop and contemplate
what it means to get wood lugged
up from the cellar and keep these
freplaces going.
Its terrible" she said, Diminishing
Grand's manner as insufficiently
intense, lust perfectly terrible for
my sisters, Ann and Cecily. They
have to carry it all up, and they
won't let me help for fear I'll strain
my back or something, and besides,
my sisters have to pay for all the
wood, and trying to keep this mis-
cradle barn Of place warm in
winter is almost impossible. The
f1replaceS just gobble wood.
"Phil-hes my sister AIMS f1ance
wanted to give her a furnace for
Christmas present this year; but
she couldn't let him cause it cost
SO much more than he could really
afford, and Grand and Resale
would have had fits if thev'd found
out, anyway.
Phil did give my sister Ann a
vacuum cleaner for an engagement
present, two years ago, but"
Barry, squirming uneasily in his
chair, forced an interruption.
Its a great old house, though.
isn't it! All this spaciousness.
these high ceilings" he looked at
the ceiling, looked guilty down
again, and finished weakly-"and
all that"
IN bet" said Mary Frances.
you wouldn't think so if you had
to live here. STILL" she went on.
unconsciously mature for a mo-
ment, 1T would be better if we
could admire it, since we do have
to live here.
Grand and Rosalie wouldn't con-
slider living anywhere else. But I
suppose my sister Cecily told you all
about it?"
Cecily had said, my two sisters
and I live with our grandparents.
They like to have us call them
Grand and 'Rosalie.'" and moth
ing else.
PARRY evaded, Eyes, she did
mention the old people, and"
You'd BETTER" Frances
warned, mot let them hear you call
them old people. Grand is just ell
derby, and nobody has any idea
how old RoSalie is.
mystery, you know, is part of
her charm. Rosalie says it is part
Of every lady'S charm.
"Phil, my sister AIMS flance, says
that Rosalie exudes charm. Maybe
1 shouldn't have said that. Ann
told me not to repeat it.
"But think Phil meant it for q.
compliment, don't your"
Barry moved in his chair and
fumbled. "Yes-surely. OF course. ="
Mary Frances said, won't you
smoke, Mr.. McKeel?"
Thank you" said Barry, and
took out his cigaret case.
~Just blow the smoke up the f1ue,
if you can," said Mary Frances, the
perfect hostess, because Grand
doesn't approve of cigarets, though
he will condone a good cigar.
don't think he'll smell it if you'll
sit a bit closer and blow up the
chimney.
Barry closed his cigaret case.
"After ALL" he said, IT have smoked
too much today. If you don't mind,
Ill wait until later"
Not at ALL" said Mary Frances
do you believe in prenuptiaI in
fences, Mr.. McKeel?"
Barry glanced at her fleetingly.
She was seraphically pretty, look
ing up at him with her big, earnest
eyes, and as somber and as serious
as a saint.
I'm afraid" he said, chat !
haven't given the matter enough
consideration to be able to express
a sensible opinion concerning it."
Men," said Mary Frances tact
fully, aren't as much interested in
that as ladies, suppose. Mrs. Hill
doesn't believe in it at all. Mrs.
Hill is my friends, Ermintrude's
mother.
"Ermintrude is my best friend be-
cause she is really very deep; not
like most of the other girls at Nc
Kinley high-frivolous and flirts
and all. But Rosalie believes in it,
because before she was born her
mother looked at a picture of
Raphael's Sistine Madonna all the
time
"Of course, Rosalie didn't turn out
to look much like that Madonna,
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