The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-05-20

Nclil ltdft MULTI luok 'lONt Siit
had told Miss Antice. It's terri
bly, sweet Of you'll don't know why
you thought Of me-but I'm needed
here"
That much certainly was true
Bill might go off any day now and
be married They hesitated to ask
him about his plans. He was moody
tsciturn. After that brief formal
call of Angles, they had not seen
her. But they imagined his affairs
were marching forward with due
precision.
GO and enjoy yourself" Mrs. o.
Dare would urge we can manage.
Kay will be earning almost as much
as you. I want you to have the
chance
But Monnie was lstless, openly
indifferent to the golden opportun-
ity. Once it would have tempted
her beyond belief But these days
she moved. ate, walked like a per-
son under spell Her eyes had a
sleepwalker's heavy glaze. She
scarcely knew what food she
touched, or who spoke to her.
1t was Charles Eustace, curiously
enough, who reused her from this
apathy. He met her one day on the
street, walked home with her
through brilliant blaze of Septem-
Der sunlight.
Rays been telling me you may
go to Paris" he began smiling.
MOnnie stirred herself to smile
back at him, thinking impersonally
how big and splendid and attrac-
tive he was.
Rays spinning day dreams" she
told him. I'm not going"
"Why?" His voice held q note of
banter.
OH" She lifted her hand and let
it fall in a gesture of WEAKNESS.
Lots Of reasons"
Monica His voice sounded al
most stern now. you mother wants
you to go. Do you know that?"
CHE stared at him. Mothers I'M
~ selfish. But I really ought to
stay at home" she added bitterly.
Il suppose you've heard of money
troubles. Well we have them.
That's part of it."
Child aliVel Do you suppose 1
don't know that? Monnie. I've been
wanting to talk to you about this.
Please let me. I've got so much, a
great deal more than I need. If
you'd only"
She interrupted him. "You mean
let you give us money? You know
can't do that"
Suddenly she felt the keenest
anger toward him. Her eyes flashed.
Il know you mean to be kind-I'm
sure you do" she said coldly. But
after all, we can't take charity. No,
we'll muddle along the best we can"
He was offended, she could see
that. Perversely, she was glad.
How dared any one offer her char
ity? She wouldn't have it. All the
pent-up resentment and bitterness
of the past weeks Welled up in her.
ITS bad enough to be poor" she
said, her breast heaving, her voice
thickening, without having people
pitying YOU"
"Monnie!' The sound of her
name, spoken So brought her up
sharp. You know you're talking
nonsense. No one pities you. It's
envy most of us feel"
"Envy?" She was surprised out
of her mood, tears trembling on
the ends of her lashes.
Il said just that and I mean It"
announced the tall man striding
beside her.
"A home like yours-a mother like
that-the simple goodness of the
life you've led. I tell you it did
something to me when first I ell
countered it
Monnie was abaShed. There was
no mistaking the sincerity of his
tone.
When I came here last year"
Charles EuStace said quietly, medi-
tatively, almost as though speaking
to himself, L was pretty much all
in. Didn't have much faith in any
thing. I was out of tune with this
country, I'd been away so long.
Then uncle asked me if I'd like to
vegetate in his old house. I was
in no state to decide things for
myself. Kong packed me up and
brought me here hadn't been here
long when I met you-all of you.
I thought yours was the happiest,
the incest sort of family I'd ever
met.
Il don't remember my mother.
She died when I was 4. My father
was a busy doctor in New York
I seldom saw him and was sent
away to prep school when I was
very young.
The only home life I'd ever known
I'd read about and I didn't really
believe in it. Then I discovered
your house, where everybody seemed
genuinely fond of everybody else
and tried to help. I hope finished
Charles stiffly, that l don't sound
like a sentimental fool, but honest
ly it did something to me-gave me
something l needed. Faith-some-
thing like that don't know. And
you talk about being pitied!'
NEONNIE, ashamed but stubborn,
1V1 said, Then you pretend to
think money doesn't count? That's
because you've always had so much
of it. You've never had to worry
about where the interest money
was coming from. or cry yourself to
slep because the girls at school
made fun of your old coat"
His voice was gentle now. Il do
know it's important. But it's not
all 1t Smooths life, makes it easy
and comfortable. But it doesn't buy
affection or the kind Of happiness
that makes life worth living.
1T doesn't make you glad to wake
up in the morning. Some day, per-
haps, III tell you what it means
to realize you're glad you're alive
after months Of staring at a black
wall"
Il know what it means to be I'M