The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-18

city where or with whom her dinner
engagement was.
But you viii come out to see us
sooE. won't you?" Norma insisted.
"Of course will. Sunday maybe.
II there's anything else you want to
ask about your duck, don't hesitate
to call"
Il won't. And I'll do it exactly
the way you told me. Goodby,
Chris. You certainly are an ANGEL"
Wednesday morning, bright and
early, Norma set out on her shop
ping tour She bought four pound
duck which Mr.. Sykes, the depen-
dable butcher, assured her would
come out of the roasting oven
flavorsome and tender.
She stopped at the grocery store
and ordered vegetables, a jar of
minecmeat, cheese and nuts and
several kinds of fruit to make a
centerpiece.
The things were to be delivered
and as Norma walked home the
crisp air brought color into her
cheeks. The wind whipped her
skirts.
There was park nearby and she
always made the trip to the store
walking along the edge Of the park
until she had to turn. Dead leaves
rustled on the sidewalk. The trees
were nearly bare now.
Somehow the fall had flown past
without her realizing it. So much
had happened in the past weeks.
The dry leaves crunched under
her feet. The girl felt an impulse,
swiftly quelled, to forget about GRO
ceries and cooking and the cleaning
that awaited her in the apartment
and to spend the morning in the
park. It would be ridiculous-but it
would also be grand fun.
DUTIFULLY she turned away
- from the park and went on to
the apartment. 1t just had occurred
to Norma how she had spent
Thanksgiving a year before. A din
ner engagement with Bob Farrell.
Almost the first time she had gone
out with him.
She remembered Bob had taken
her to a restaurant downtown for
heavy and indigestible dinner and
that afterward they had driven
country roads in a car Bob had Dor
rowed.
What would Bob be doing tomor-
row? she wondered. How little she
had thought of him lately and how
much he had occupied her thoughts
a few months ago!
Norma reached the apartment
and Immediately stray fancies van
iShed. There was work to be done
and the girl settled down to it i'm
mediately.
The whole apartment must be
made immaculate. She was in the
midst of the sweeping when there
was a ring at the door. 1t was the
boy from the store who waited out
side.
Norma set the groceries on the
kitchen table and returned the
basket. Then she put the duck in
the ice box and went on with her
sweeping.
Dinner that evening was late.
Mark did not arrive home until
after 6. He threw down his hat
and coat and told Norma it had
been a tiresome day.
More people in the store because
of the coming holiday. Customers,
keyed to excitement, little more
impatient than usual Yes, Mark
was weary.
He had been at BloSSomdale's for
three weeks now. There had been
two $35 pay checks and on Satur-
day there would be another. The
young Traverses, though they had
little on the credit side of the
ledger, were at least meeting their
debts, paying their living expenses,
and, remarkable as it might seem,
quite happy.
There had been no quarrelS since
the night Mark brought home the
i OoCos DULL NActlh dAAu NOl lid WCI6
too tired at the end of a day to re-
greet the fact they had no money
for recreation.
u Il
"T'M so glad you'll be home all
l. day tomorrow" Norma said as
she set the last dish on the table.
you really need the rest, Mark.
You've been r-doing"
"Oh, it isn't that Just that I'm
new at this stuff. Not used to being
on my feet all day and don't know
enough about the store.
boy, when the Christmas rush
starts suppose I'll think this was
a picnic! After the second week
&C ANSWER % Novorfh o1oc0