The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-21

violet MerSer smiled TO herself.
She could almost hear the second
Mrs. Strykhurst's voice. He had been
told that many, many times.
I agree. had a stepmother my
self. Looking back now, I can see
that sometimes she meant we'll ="
you're very coy here" His eyes
roamed around the sitting room.
I've always noticed this place. De-
cent bit Of garden"
Stan inherited it from his uncle"
the woman told me. Il married
Stan Merser. the illustrator
Interesting" murmured the man,
at loss. We'll, well, Violet, I must
be getting back. My wife will
wonder if something has happened"
She allowed him to clasp her
slender hand in his fleshy one. And
and we didn't know each other
before, Victor!"
Right you are" There was re-
lief in the words. Explanations are
so tiresOmei"
She stood. smiling rather wryly
after him.
II
II ATHARINE came down the
N stairs slowly the following
morning.
You're all right?" Violet's eyes
sought hers anXiously. outside Ber-
tine sat at the wheel of the big car.
Ellen, with a suitcase, followed her
young mistress.
"Oh, I'm perfectly fine. Just have
to get my land legs again"
"Wel. it's been lovely having you"
Sybil and Diana were on the edge
of tie group, their long legs brown
and slim under the brief shorts of
their white play suits.
do come again to see us. Miss
Katharine. Please do"
"Oh, will! And there must be
another puppy for the basket,
mustn't there? A nice quiet one
who will stay at home when he's
told to?"
"Oh, yes, yes" they chorused,
dancing up and down.
Berthe smiled stiffly, her COM
pany smile. She climbed out to as
sist Ellen who was helping Kathar-
inc in
Thank you ever so much, Mrs.
Merser. MY husband and I are
eternally grateful"
The words were right, but the tone
withheld much. Berthe was saying,
behind that pleasant mask of hers:
But Of course no one knows the
MerSers in Innicock. We shall smile
and bow to you in Main Street, of
course; that is all.
Katharine waved to them until
the car disappeared out of sight,
around the bend.
Mummy, who was the fattish
man who came after we went to
bed last night?" Sybils wistful,
round face with its long golden
name was lifted to her mothers.
"Oh, you bad ones, you were sup
posed to be asleep!"
I'VE peeked," Sybil said confid-
ingly. 1--WE heard the car stop and
saw him come up the walk. Was
that Miss Katharine's daddy and
was he nice?"
Very NICE" said Violet absently.
Diana bounced upon her.
Mummy, you're not listening. I
can always tell when you're not
listening. You use such a faraway
voice"
"Oh. do I? But I was, really, this
time. Sybil asked if Katharine's
father we're nice and 1 said yes, he
was"
But sort of puffy, Mummy, wasn't
he? 1t wasn't quite dark and we
got good look at him. Not nearly
so good-looking as Miss Katharine.
Don't you think she's beautiful.
mummy? Sort Of like a movie
starr"
eyes. do. She's really lovely"
Shall I ever be that lovely, do
you suppose, if I stop biting my
nails and things?" Sybil asked
gravely.
Il think very likely Look, if we
want to get down to the village to
get things for lunch we'd better
start"
Violet wheeled the little car out
and the two hoped into it.
Mummy, what were you NUT
tering to yourself just now?"
She flashed her dark eyes at
them. "Just a song some one :.
know used to sing. The words CT
it, I mean. Don't remember tie
| tune"
What were they, Mums?"
Violet answered, "Oh how I laugh,
when I think how I cried about
you'll"