The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-04-20

July. High school commencement
was just behind her She had been
she remembered. wearing a thin
white dress-dotted swiss. 1t was her
class day dress.
Her mother hadn't wanted her to
wear 1t to work, had said that il
was highly unsuitable. But Monica
with a gentle persistence that sur
prised even herself, had worn it
Something had told her to look her
best that day. Maybe it was the
knowledge that Dan Cardigan was
back in town.
CHE had been arranging the per-
~ fume bottles in the case, her
back turned TO the door, when she
heard his voice. That slow, deep
drawl had set her pulse pounding.
She went on. lingering the squat
crystal containers, afraid to turn
around and betray what she was
feeling. Then she heard Mr. Yer
mons good-natured, Guess there's
somebody you know here, Dan
Meet my new helper. Guess you
two know each other"
She had turned, hoping the nerv-
Gus pulse in her throat, now beating
madly, didn't reveal itself She had
been rewarded for her calm demure-
ness by a flash of interest in Dan
Cardigan's smoldering eyes. Her
own, velvet lashes, with their am
Der depths, were lifted innocently
to his.
God, make him like me. make
him like me-" she had prayed, with
Simple fervor
Well, he had. And he did-she
hoped! Perhaps this summer, this
week, things would be settled be-
tween them. Perhaps-it might be
as simple as this-Dan would come
to see her tonight and say: Lets
cut down to High Springs Saturday
and be married"
He hadn't asked her yet, in SO
many words. But every one in town
knew she was Dan Cardigan's girl
Every one expected him to ask her
Only Monnie, herself, sometimes felt
a sick pang Of apprehension. When
they were together it was all right
Dancing or riding down the yellow
roads in Dams old roadster.
1t was when she was alone, when
her mother looked at her anXiously
worriedly, not speaking her
thoughts, that Monnie knew terror
terror at the thought of losing
Dan.
She turned in, at length, between
the ragged lines of privet that Dor
dered the red brick walk, and went
with brisk step, toward the little
white house. For the thousandtt
time she thought the same
thoughts; that the house ought tC
be painted; that they ought to have
new canvas on the old porch swing
that the hedge needed trimming
that mothers petunias were harder
than any others on Denny street.
1t was a nice little house, a trif
shabby it is true, but home, for al
that. If Monica longed for tn
fleshpots of "the HILL" she gave n
outward sign of it. Not for tn
world would she have hurt he
mothers feelings.
The ODares had been used t.
better things. Before papas dealt
they had had trim red brick houS
farther out, with sloping lawns. ant
a colored man to keep the border
tidy. Papa had had a little car, toe
and they had been a prosperous lit
tie family.
Now everything was changed
Monnie, in spite of her few years
had a burden to carry. Bill helped
but 1t was MOnnie to whom tn
mother looked for everything.
Hello, there!" She hung her ha
on the outmodel hall tree" (hoy
she hated that thing) and passe,
through to the kitchen. Mrs. ODar
was at the stove, stirring something
There was the mingled smell O
cooking food Beets dubbed in a BIZ
pot and from the oven f1oated tn
odOr of meat loaf
"Hot!" Monnie said simply, push
ing back the ringletS of bronze hal
and signing. She was wishing. thi
night, for cool food on silver salvers
for a great high room with silver
green curtains swishing at the win
dogs and mans face Git Wor
Dams featureS) smiling down at hel
She saw herself wearing oreandi
OF palest pink, flowing to her toes
There were blue slippers on her feet
Mo- ther' The shrill, girlisl
voice of Kay brought Monnie abrupt
ly back to earth. Kay stood in tn
doorway, her youthful bosom heav
ing with some real or fancied griev
ance, her eyes, gentian-blue wher
Monnle'S were amber dark, smolder
ing.
"Mo-therl You said you'd pres
my linen and you didn't"
MONNIE compressed her Inns
WI Why didn't you do it your
self? You know mothers worn GU
as it isl" w
Mrs. ODare interviewed.
m sorry, honey. I didn't seen
to get around to it. was on the q
all day" Her fine, dehcatelv line,
face was flushed and tired. Monte,
felt surge of affection for her. an,
with it the familiar flare of i'm
patience Kay'S unreaSonableness s
often evoked
III do it after supper" Mr.,
ODare said gently.
MOnnie swung.
You won't 90 any such thing
You'll go and lie down while Ka
and 1 do the dishes. You had tina
bad headache yesterday and YOUR
a wreck now
Her eyes blazed inc Kay's. It wa
ell very well to sympathize with tn
younger girl (Monnie did-mor
paSSionately than she dared admit,
but this bullying of their mothe
was more than she could bear.
She followed the Sulking young
ster into the hall, shutting the doc
behind her. In low voice she sale
How can you, Kay? You kno,
she's tired out. DR.. Allen said
cf,