The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-13

ing at Paula.
Paula felt as II great flowers
were blossoming inside of her. She
looked at the seagulls. Life seemed
to be like this, that when she
found such a man as this, Cousin
Irene had TO be sitting on a bench
with him, her dark eyes wildly fol-
lowing every little move he made,
her grea5 eyes beseeching him for
love, for life.
But, as luck would have It, Paula
found herself, when they were seat
sr1 81 the table under the rose trel-
lis. directly across from the man.
He still talked to Cousin Irene.
All the guests raised great chat
ter of talking, none bothering about
Paula. Paula only was filling in.
Some one had sent last-minute re-
Rrets.
SO Paula had q chance to notice
that, for all his animated CONVEX
sation, the mans eyes wandered
now and then abstractedly down the
green terraces to the blue lace Of
the Sound.
TWICE Paula lowered her eyes
hastily when he suddenly
shifted his glance to her. And 1t
was at her that he smiled, when
Aunt Madge, whose smile was oil
for Cousin Irene, invited him to
stay ut the house while he had his
yacht at Goldport.
Wen give you a party, Tom"
Aunt Madge offered, smiling with
all her new teeth. But he refused
Aunt Madge hid her teeth with a
weight of sympathy. such a
shame she sighed, that a wife
Paula looked et the seagulls. So
he had a wife.
1T isn't that" she heard him
say diff1dently. II just don't care
for the fanfare any more. I'd
like to come here often, If you'll let
me be just one of the family"
Then" said Cousin Irene, arch
ly, come back for lunch tomor-
row"
I'D like to-"
Paula quit looking at the sea-
gulls. Even II he had a wife and
even If Cousin Irene adored him
anyway, Paula could smile and let
him know that she wished he could
be happy. He smiled back. Then
Aunt Madge spoke very, very
sweetly:
"PAULA DEAR know you're
n anxious to get back to your
lovely sewing!" And to the others,
"Paula's sewing is simply divinel"
The next day at lunch time,
needless to say, Aunt Madge sent
no invitation to come down. In
stead, she sent dress to the sew
ing room to be mended at once.
And Paula, stitching, had to be
careful to let none of the tears fall
on the soft silk.
Chaotically, her mind roamed
back over the trail that had brought
her to this little workroom in the
Great mission. 1t led from a de-
Hillview, In Indiana, from a gallant
and resourceful little mother, who
seemed always to have a thimble
on her middle finger.
"As rich as your Aunt Madge
Denniston," she would say, as other
people would say, LAS rich as Croe-
sis"
"Mummle, tell about Aunt
Madge's house at Goldport."
And mother would describe mar
bled porticos, broad gardens, land
ballroom almost as big as the
First Methodist Church"
"Mummie, where is Goldport?"
Near a very large city, dear,
named New York"
WHEN mother had influenza,
w and died, telegram came
from Goldport for Paula who was
90
TITS a great opportunity" cried
the minister's wife. But Paula hest
tated.
II, as the message urged her to
DO, she closed out the little dress
making business that had been
mothers and could now probably
be hers, and went to Goldport to
live. I'D have the handicap Of be-
ing poor relation in a rich home.
And I'm accustomed to independ-
ence. and it's good thing to have,
even with poverty"
But it's your fathers dear half
sister who is asking you to live
with her!"
Dear? Paula wondered. No help
had ever come for mother from
Goldport. The minister's wife had
something else to say, though.
"These are the only relatives you
have in the world" she pointed
out. And it would certainly be
improper for such beaIitifci
young girl as you to be living alone"
Arriving then at Goldport, Paula
met luxury that awed her. She
couldn't understand how Uncle
Phillip, neatly jolly little man
OF so. took the Oriental rigs and
the painted ceilings as matters OF
course. Il say. We'll show you of
at the Shellf1sh Club tomorrow"
he said at once. And Cousin Irene,
a vivid, nervous. little brunette.
said, Dad, let's give her a luncheon
at the Yacht Club" But Aunt
Madge rebuked them in dovellke
sadness.
DAULA IS in mourning" she
Il said. and to Paula: "Out of
SORROW for your dear mother, I'm
sure you'll prefer to be left to your
self" Paula swallowed tears. Aunt
MadCA tO0kad eolin{f0ps arro .,,z, =