The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-23

mittenS, and his beret was hardly
warm enough if they were going
to the country.
She wept bitterly as she packed
bag for them. She loved her
shining, clean little apartment
with a passionate devotion, even
if she and Kenneth had quar-
eled about the expensive Grapes
and the big leather chair that
made it nicer than most small
apartments. She loved being mar
ried, and cooking, and taking
Roddie out for walks, and clean
ing and mending, and having
friends in at night.
But it was all over now! Let
Kenneth divorce her if he wanted
to. She knew he'd never be mean
enough to take Roddie away from
her. She and Roddie would live
alone
She had to conceal her tears
from the boy, who was sensitive
to discord and unhappiness. She
and Kenneth had learned not to
quarrel before him; it dismayed
him so. He loved them adoringly,
could not bear it If Maude cried.
We're going to Grandma's for
a few days." she told him when
he asked about the suitcase.
rs Daddy coming?" he asked at
once.
After a while" she said.
II didn't say goodby to Daddy.
I have to kiss him goodby."
We'll see about that later"
With the bulky bundle of the
train under her arm, and the suit
case, they took the bus and went
down town.
Maude checked the bag at the
interurban station and inquired
about trolleys. She could get one
for her destination at 4. That
would give her plenty of time to
shop.
She felt and looked so tragic
that she might have been taken
for a young widow. A woman at
the interurban station made up
with Roddie. He was so pretty in
his expensive blue suede leggings
and his little blue coat and blue
beret, with his Shiningly clean,
round baby face. his new, polished
brown shoes-he was such a
beautiful boy-her heart over
flowed with love for him!
Roddie was thrilled about go
ing into the store. His mother
knew a great many people, and
they all made a fuss over him!
In the toy department Maude
found Marie, who had worked
with her in toilet goods, long be-
fore. She returned the train and
said with a bitter smile.
" EN- thinks he's too young
N for it,"
Marie reached over and lifted
Roddie up on the counter. He
smiled for her, and showed his
little pearly teeth.
We'll, he is, at that-gee, he's
a swell kid, Maude. Honest, he's
the SWEETEST kind in town-aren't
you, Roddie? You're the lucky
one. Maude. We were talking
about you yesterday. Boy, I'd give
anything to be in your place
with a swell guy like Ken and this
darling! Do you know any new
poems, Roddie?"
ON a misty, mostly morning,
when rainy was the weather."
Roddie started, with the slightest,
most enchanting lisp.
But Marie wouldn't wait. The
store was crowded. A customer
was tapping restlessly on the
counter, and she had to go off.
Maude couldn't help noticing
how tired she looked-she was
positively gray with it. She
walked as though her feet hurt.
She smiled at the customer as
though her cheeks ached.
Maude remembered with a sud-
den pang that Christmas ache
in feet and hands, in face and
heart. Christmas was a night
mare when you worked in a de-
partment store-it was little short
of purgatory!
She lifted Roddie down and
called good-by to Marie.
1t was almost noon. Maude
stopped and bought the warm
beret for Roddie, feeling kind of
triumphant defiance of Kenneth
when she charged it.
Johnny Miller waited on her.
Johnny had been a beau of
Maude's. Johnny. too, had to stop
and talk to Roddie.
We'll, Maude-you did well for
yourself, I'll say that much for
YOU" said Johnny.
Maude knew it was just a
Zine" Johnny didn't care about
her any more.
If you'd married me-" he told
her, you wouldn't have a charge
account here at Ammerman's and
your youngster in $19 suede leg
gings. I guess your mamma knew
what she was about, didn't She,
youngtimer?"
Roddie was full of an unfin-
ished poem. He knew his Mother
Goose by heart. Maude always
had time to teach him.
ST chancad to meat an old man