The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-26
MAD N|ARRIAGE :. 3
b9 LAURA LOU BR00KMAN Author 0fiEAQI HLAlRKeka Il

TINE older woman entered the
i room, declining the chair
Gypsy put forward.
i've come to tell you" she said,
that as soon as I'm settled in my
house I'm going to give a dinner
/ party. 1t will be a house warming
and Is ~Uill also be an opportunity
for you to Aleet the other relatives.
We're quite clan, you know. I'd
nave had them all mere before If it
hadn't been for this business Of
moving"
'Wen,7 Gypsy said, smiling and
trying to look pleased, "that-that
Will be very nice"
Aunt Ellen did not smile. ''The
Wallaces," she said loftily, have al
ways kept our family traditions.
The Wallaces were one Of the first
families to settle here. Came from
New England before that.
There are not many left now,
but we manage to get together &C
caGionally. There's my sister, Soph-
ronia-she's Mrs. Nicholson - and
Ben Wallace and his wife and their
children. Ben is Jim's cousin and
so is Abbie Manley. Abbie and her
husband live out on Clifford road.
You'll meet them all. I was
thinking that Wednesday would
probably be the best night"
Its lovely Of you to give the
party" Gypsy said. 'T'll loook for
ward to it,"
THERE'S something else I
4 wanted to tell you, Miss
Wallace continued. Il suppose you
understand I'm taking Harriet?"
Mono, didn't understand
that"
Sorry. Didn't think to mention
it before. But Of course [ couldn't
get along without Harriet. I've
trained her myself. She knows ex-
actly how I want everything done
Makes my tea right"
Gypsy nodded. "Of course" she
said. I'll telephone an agency. 1
suppose there is one here?''
Ellen Wallace eyed her closely,
pursuing her lips. The girl had no
idea what was back Of that eng
matte glance There's an agency, i"
the woman said. Then she turned
and went from the room, closing
the door behind her.
There were two agencies, Gypsy
learned when she consulted the
telephone book. She called one of
them and the woman who answered
promised to send an applicant at
10 o'clock next morning.
1t was earlier than usual when
jim came home that afternoon.
Gypsy had been standing before
window in the living room and saw
the green roadster turn into the
drive. When jim came up on the
porch she swung the door open for
him.
Good EVENING"" she said, smil-
ing.
"Well-have we a new butler?.
What's the news of the day?"
She told him about the party
next week:
ooh, Lord - another one of
those!" the young man grumbled.
Listen, this gang of relatives of
mine is pretty terrible. Maybe we
can crack up an excuse for not
going"
gypsy shook her head I'm
NJ not afraid. It seems we're at
least one of the reasons the party's
being given. It's to introduce me
to the family"
He nodded. ooh, yes-surel I
know all about that. And sit around
for three hours listening to Aunt
Sophronia tell over again how I'm
Gle Ezra suffered in Andersonville
prison and how the Wallaces won
the Civil war! You don't know as
much about these gloonfests as
dol"
He was so mournful she laughed
at him That's not what your aunt
said" she told him. She says the
WaIaces have traditions to main
tain"
Forget the Wallaces."
Together they entered the living
room. Jim's left hand slipped into
his coat pocket.
Gypsy" he began, "I've got some
thing want to show you"
What is it?"
well, I'll tell you"
Before he could continue they
heard Miss Wallace's voice from
upstairs. ooh, Gypsy!' she called,
"Will you come up here minute?"
I'll be right back" the girl said,
turning to answer. I'll hurry"
jim glanced over his shoulder to
assure himself that she was out of
the room. From the coat pocket he
drew forth q small black plush box.
The lid snapped back, revealing a
square-cut diamond.
For an instant he held it so that
the light fell on the gem, multiply
ing and transforming its rays to
white fire.
He moved the ring. The jewel
grew more dazzling. Smiling, jim