The Indianapolis times., 1931-12-22
THREE ! Ky !IINRA y[yz>gz ARfA0yE f.4z[z%y : :
- Dena Co

I hope they get him-him and his
hy-stair- -icks."
RAND, his head bowed so that
" his top scalp shone pearly
pink through the white silky fringes
of his hair, went sonorously on and
on, asking the blessing in long, care
fully arranged clauses, while Ann
worried about the macaroni and
cheese cooling in the dish, and
wished that y-Frances would
stop squirming, and was slightly
sorry, at last, that Phil had been
disappointed about the picnic sup
per in the woods.
He was, she supposed, eating his
dinner alone, as usual, in the din
ing room of his boarding house.
Philip lived at the Dammeron apart
ment hotel; but it was his mood, al
ways, to call it a board house, as
it was his fancy never to mention
the dining room without prefixing
the word basement.
Ann thought the Dammeron ho-
tel, with its deep carpets and big
chairs and mirrors and its orderly
air Of quiet comfort, a wholly de-
sirable place in which to live.
This opinion, Philip told her, was
possible because she was not forced
to live there year in and year out.
Long ago she had stopped urging
him to look for place he liked bet
ter, because to that there was but
one answer. For the money he was
paying, he could not do better.
Always, when the subject OF
Philips living arrangements was in
troduced, Ann felt feloniously guilty
because she could not feel guilty
at all.
Granted that man did need
real home. So did woman. She
desired that real home more strong
ly than Phil possibly could desire it,
and it was not her fault that she
couldn't make it for him.
Nor was it her fault that Phil had
to economic because he sent $50
each month to his mother, who lived
with his rich sister Elsie and ElSieS
husband in Oakland. The fact that
Mr.. Ainslie (Phil always called
Elsie's husband "Mr. Ainslie" e"-odd,
Ann though0 was very wealthy was
all the more reason that Phil should
contribute to Mrs. Ecroyd's support.
That part never made sense to
Ann, though Phil explained it with
almost pompous references to pride.
GRAND said Amen" and raised
" blinking blue eyes and be-
nign expression to his family. The
benigancy faded to sorrow when he
noticed Cecily's empty chair.
Ann, my dear, was it necessary
to sit down to our evening meal
before Cecily arrived to take her
place with us?"
"Cecily isn't coming, Grand. The
spoon for the macaroni is right be-
side it, Mary Frances, don't eat
your salad like that.
Il can't help it if it strings, can
I II"
"Of course you can. Cut it with
your fork"
'Stoo tough. It won't"
"Darlings, darlings," Rosaie in
serted. Birds in their little nests
love one another" (Cissy, the mean
thing, said that Rosalie was bird
mihded.)
And where" Grand demanded.
not even looking for the spoon, lis
our Cecily, may 1 ask?"
Ann said, "She has gone out with
Mr.. McKeel, Grand. You liked him.
didn't you?"
"I do not know that I did. I do
not form my opinions of any per-
son from one short interview. The
fact that Cecily grants to a COM
paratiye Str5s geS all of her spare
time disregarCHng her home ties,
dis riding, almost, I might say
the conventions of polite society,
do not like.
No" Grand shook his head and
began to serve the macaroni as il
/ nc naQ no ldea as TO What he Was
doing-"that I do not like. Mere
ly because a young gentleman is
attracted to a young lady is insult
1icient reason for the lady to grant
him the pleasure Of her company
whenever and wherever he may
choose to seek it.
"She does not gain his respect
thereby. She may-I say only may
gain his disrespect. 1t is not wise.
1t is not-and this may appeal
more strongly to youth than the
issues of convention and wisdom
it is not expedient. 1t is not"
Mary-Frances asked, What isn't
what?" and took another bite of
] bread and butter.