The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-02-02
CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT

A1AXAA~ A Eftt TIN 4 ~A@AIAAA
ID OSALIE occasionally inserted
N an explanatory phrase; Ann
interrupted once or twice; Cecily
asked several questions; but, on the
whole, the three women sat quietly
and listened while Grand kept right
at 1t, standing on the hearth rug
andn talking on and on and on.
And even after he had imprinted
a kiss on AIMS brow, and another
on the top of Cecilys head (she
had ducked), and had quivered his
voice into the words, God bless
you, my darlings, God bless you, -
and had gone from the room with
Rosalie, who was trying to weep,
Ann and Cecily continued sitting
still and saying nothing.
Finally Ann said, We'll" 1t had
the effect of having been dropped
from a height to hard place,
though 1t landed in fair order
Cecily asked, do you feel as fool
ish as I feel?"
Pushed out of the nest" said
Ann.
They smiled together then, but
not happily; fearfully, rather, and
shame1acedly.
mo, but really Cecily said,
what do you think, Ann?"
Nothing. I'm stunned. I'm fiat
What do you think?"
I'm afraid to stir off of this sofa.
wouldn't pinch myself for a dol
lar"
"He had the receipt. You made
him show it to you. Ciss, you were
dreadful"
"Yes, and you said, Let me see it.
before even had it in my hand. "
She looked at her watch. Its lis"
she announced, as good news, and
added, Barry left at 1890"
Il couldn't Sleep" Ann said.
"Cissy, let's see if we can't find a
few words and put them together
and talk"
1T would be fun," Cecily suggest
ed, Ito telephone to the boys.
They've had time to get home"
80 late?" said Ann.
'Funl" said Cecily.
"But what could we Say?" Ann
unused. Il mean-what could we say
over the telephone? Where could
we begin?"
I'm not going to say much of
anything" Cecily dared to get off
the sofa, though she did not pinch
herself. "I'm going to be sort of
mysterious-a leaf from Rosalie's
book. I'm feeling too silly for sense.
Barry will loathe it. Oh, fun! But
I'll tell him to come on Satur-
toy-"
YES" said Ann, and stood. Il
think I'll just tell Phil"
Cecily had gone.
IT n
A mn looked timidly across the
N room to the exact spot on the
hearth rug where Grand had stood,
his hands clasped over the fourth
button on his vest, his round, white
head moving gently with his words,
his head nodding his periods.
He had said, Enthusiastically, while
Cissy there on the horsehair sofa
pouted and looked sullen, that the
dearest desire of his life and of
Rosalie's life had ever been to see
their darlings married Z to good,
worthy men who loved them, and
whom they loved in return.
~ ,oot1c1, fr-tya ond IN
believe. outgoing on from there?
Rosalie had said that it was pleas
anter that an expensive hotel. That
it combined the qualities of the best
hotels and the best private homes,
and was neither. That it was beau
tifully furnished, with a guaranteed
temperature of 70 degrees through
out the winter, and charming,
quaint dining room with wee tables
for two, and larger tables, if one
desired them, and each table had a
sweet little pink-shaded light on it.
Cecily had interrupted somewhere
about there and had remarked that
it took quantities Of money to buy
living in places of that sort.
Unheedingly, Grand had gone on
and on. Perhaps Ann had not at
tended as well as she should have
attended. She was tired out and
sleepy.
For years and years, Grand
had said, Rosalie and he had gladly,
more than gladly, indeed, made a
home for their girls. There had
been so much of that-So much of
the home that he and Rosalie had
gladly made for girls who had loved
their home so deeply that they we're
reticent about leaving it. "Timid
feet" he had said.
And soon he was being stern