The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-15


- to be kind when he assumed re-
sponsibility for her room and board
in Mrs. Matson's quiet and refined
house, tucked away on side street
In her native city.
In addition he allowed her an
amount equal to about one-fourth
of her salary during the many
years she had worked for him as a
bookkeeper in his wholesale furni-
ture warehouse. This sum he
mailed to her every week.
But the truth was that, even at
so, she still felt competent to keep
on at her job. And she had been
happy in her old rooms in a not so
exclusive a street, but where the
other boarders were spontaneous
and friendly.
She wondered if Jim had dis
covered the secret she had tried SO
hard to conceal. Perhaps that was
why he had decided to pension
her off as he called really her dis
charge from his services. But she
had been SO careful, how could he
guess!
TINE room she occupied on the
Il second floor back at Mrs. Mat
sons was very comfortably equipped
but she didn't enjoy its prim order
illness. She didn't like the modern
manner in which persons in this
house went their own way COM
pletely unintereSted in you and your
affairs.
Why the first night when hest
family because she was shy, she
had gone downstairs to dinner, and
after she had been ushered to a
table for five up near the big win
dow, no one had spoken after the
brief note acknowledging Mrs. Mat
sons instructions.
AT one end of the table a Mrs.
MacIntyre sat so that she looked
at her fellow guests from position
of advantage. She spoke in a BOOM
ing voice whose echoes ranged the
room. After an interval, she turned
to the newcomer, May I trouble
you for the salt, Miss Owens?" she
inquired.
Certainly" Miss Owens answered
and venturing: 1T has been warm
day for February, wouldn't you
say, Mrs. MacIntyre," she said to
this autocratic woman. More than
anything in the world, she would
have liked Mrs. MacIntyre for a
friend.
DUT Mrs. MacIntyre was done
ID with her. She deigned no re.
ply, but applied herself definitely
to her slice of roast beef. This in.
difference hurt Miss Owens toe
deeply. Although she really coulC
not blame this other for not want.
ing to bother with so colorless 6
creature as herself.
They met scarcely ever during the
day. Mrs. MacIntyre avoiding al
company. Glimpses could be hae
of her as she sat in her second flool
front room, door slightly ajar, knit.
ting, everlastingly knitting bright
yarns into sweaters. And once 9
week her sons wife called for hel
in very nice, shiny automobile anc
took her riding.
She repeated. perhaps for Mis-
Owens benefit, that she hac
lived in her sons home for several
years, ever since she had been q
widow, while her grandchildren, :
boy and girl, were growing up
But suddenly she knew she was
tired of the noise of young folks
tired of being at the beck and cal
of every one in that home and hao
chosen to pack her belongings anc
come to reside here.
Miss Owens admiration for this
independent woman increased. Fol
in her own heart she knew she
would never have left such home
MYTH strange, new tenacity
w Miss Owens made up hel
mind she would break down the
Barriers. Her heart lost a beat as
she imagined Mrs. MaoIntyre asking
her into that front room some after.
noon and teaching her how to knit
In her many Office years. she hac
never found time to learn.
But it seemed hopeless. Mrs. Mac.
1ntyre remained an aloof queen.
One night Jim came carrying 6
package, a gift no doubt, as was hi
custom. He was a sort of SECOND
cousin, or so they had figured Out
long ago. Jim was a large man
sons years younger than Mis-
Owens, and very good natu-ed. They
sat together on the divan in the
parlor and save for two or three
Of the boarders drifting in and look.
ing in the bookcase, or lingering
magazines on the center table, they
were alone.
We'll, Kathie, getting acclimat-
ed?" he began.
Its very nice here, jim"
LIE seemed to find something ir
Il her voice little touching. He
leaned nearer: You know, Kathie
If I we're situated so I could. I'C
give you home with me, let yol
run it. But since Gertie died I've
lived at the club"
II understand, Jim. Don't WORRY
about me-" Then the difficulty
came out: ''It's just that I dom
make friends very easily"
Now he smiled and she wa:
afraid. but he didn't bring up any,
thing of the past. Instead: Il know
your trouble. Kathie: known il
quite while. though you were al
ways so touchy about it,"
She stiffened, but he began un.
wrapping the parcel as he talked.
See, Kathie, the very latest ir
an ear phone"
Il don't need It; ! don't want It,
Dne hadn't really believed he has
guessed her secret, but now he was
shouting 1t to the hilltops. 81 don'i
see why you think I could use such
q thing"