The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-03-24

might almost nave Deen a. Jn0uSd00
miles away. Everything seemed so
different. All Of the people about
her were strangers.
How was she going to like this
new life? How would these stran-
gers like her? Would she be happy
here?
WHAT. Janet wondered, was
w happiness, really? Something
in your own heart instead of
what went on around you, she
thought. Something you couldn't
ZEE or explain, but could only feel.
But happiness was not what
Janet was looking for. She had
put that behind her. All that she
wanted now was to forget
The most impossible thing in
the world it seemed to achieve -
forgetting.
After a while Janet decided it
was time to dress. She arose and
put on fresh underclOthes. What
dress should she wear? The maid
had said something about dressing
for dinner"
Did that mean she was supposed
to wear a formal dinner dress? She
didn't own one. She could put on
the blue crepe from last summer.
Janet looked at it and then
shook her head. She took down
the black silk that was her newest
office dress. 1t had been freshly
cleaned and there was a touch of
lace at the throat that was fiat
teTing.
She just had slipped the dress
over her head when there wSs a
knock at the door
Janet said, Just minute!"
and then opened the door. It was
Mrs. Curtis who stood outside.
I'm so glad you're here!" she
exclaimed. rs everything all right,
my dear? Sorry l couldn't be here
when you came. told Lucy to see
that you had everything you
wanted"
Mrs Curtis was dressed in heavy
bAONAA s9ptAAL anu NOlG d. SIIldll
brown straw hat. The clasp that
held the neckIine of her dress con-
tanned a half dozen sparkling
stones and two diamonds cleaned
from ring on her finger.
Yet Mrs. Curtis, in this glittering
array, looked no more imposing than
the first time Janet had seen her.
ElVp1-yt 0i10cr CIIifo icrI,f
Janet assured her. She remembered
Mr. Hamilton's message and re-
peated it.
Poor Bruce-he does work so
hard" the older woman lamented.
And then, by the way, there will
only be you and 1 for dinner this
evening. No need to dress. Well,
Ill leave you now
a T dinner an hour later Janet
"A learned more of the house
hold. There were four servants
and cook, two maids and a chauf-
feur 1t was Lucy, the younger
maid, who had met Janet at the
door.
She learned that Bertha, the
other maid, was a housekeeper in
all but title, that the cook had been
with Mrs. Curtis fourteen years, and
that the chauffeur's name was
Frederick.
Mrs. Curtis talked a good deal
about her daughter, who was mar
ried. Janet didn't ask questions,
but she gathered that the daughter
was living somewhere in the east.
She was an only child and OBJ
viously the idol o. her mothers
heart.
They went into the living room
after dinner and played two handed
bridge. The game was new to ia
net, who had to give all her atten-
ton to her cards.
Buster, the Persian cat. wandered
into the room and watched The
players from his post on nearby
chair
At $50 Mrs. Curtis decided she
had had enough of cards. Janet
selected a magazine from the read
ing table and went to her room.
1t was the first of many evenings
that were to be similar. Janet in
the beginning felt that her new
duties We're no duties at all.
She soon changed her mind. 1t
was true that there was no routine
as in an office. There were no long
hours of dictation or tipping, but
there were small important details
dozens of them-to be attended to.
Janet was up each morning at
730. When Mrs. Curtis appeared at
the breakfast table an hour later.
her letters were waiting her. Janet
always was present at the daily in
teryiew with Bertha over menus and
marketing.
Sometimes the rest of the morning
would be devoted to telephoning
members of Mrs. Curtis committee
of the Wednesday club. Sometimes
there were errandS to do down town
difficult errands such as choosing
books Mrs. Curtis would enjoy, or
oerlng a bon voyage gift, and max
ing sure the package would reach
the boat, finding out from the cleo
trio company why the ventilator in
the kitchen didn't work as it should.
II was worrying over Just such
things, Mrs. Curtis said, that had
given her those dreadful attacks of
nerves"
1t was no wonder she couldn't
sleep at night. Mrs. Curtis regarded
Janet as marvel able to solve any
difficulty.