The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-13

n . Time recKOned Tor susan, 1t
IA was only five Mrs. Clearly
Tuesdays since Little Brother went
away. But since laughter and song,
too, had gone, with mother spend
ing her hours weeping over little,
useless garments, each day seemed
a. week in length.
Today was Tuesday Susan went
down to the gate to wait, wishing
that small Jimmy would be tagging
along with his mother. That he
would run about, as once he had
getting into everything. But laugh
ing when he fell.
Mrs. Cleary came alone. She
spoke pleasantly to Susan and went
quickly by. She had no jokes to
tell, no songs to sing as she hung
out the clothes
Susan lowered about listlessly.
Mary, her special friend, had gone
away for month And no other
little girl lived near. Sometimes
she wished she were old, IL per-
haps, instead Of merely 7.
EATHER came with noon. Each
Il day he drove from the center of
town where he had his insurance
office out to the little suburb. He
did this now, perhaps because
Mothers tears drew him. At the
table, he suggested that Mother go
away for little while, to forget
And then Mothers voice, rising swift
and hurt:
Forget! How can you forget
with empty arms?"
The note was so poignant, Susan
couldn't bear it. Her own heart was
tear-filled, and a black fear was
smothering her. All at once, the
fear took shape. She meant nothing
to any one. On this dire thought
she sprang up, ran out upon the
porch and down the path, at last to
hide away in her playhouse.
After what seemed a long time,
she heard Mother calling, and hope
touched her. Perhaps the shadows
aid lifted.
But the moment she entered the
room where Mother was she knew
the shadows had not lifted.
Susan" Mother said, "how would
you like to walk over to Aunt Alices
and visit for awhile?"
II
IT'D like that, Mother. Couldn't
Il you come too, Mother You
know you like to walk through
the park and down by that funny
crooked stream. Remember, we used
to swing hands going along?"
Mother did not smile. Only: Run
along, Susan, run along"
Susan went quickly. But the re-
frain went with her Mother did
not want her any more. Mother
would be glad when she was gone.
In tlse park many little boys ran
about, shouting happily. Strange,
she thought, that only one such 60
ing away had changed her whole
life. AS she reached the white
house beyond the park and went up
the steps, she wondered suddenly
if Aunt Alice would really want to
see her.
We'll, Susan" said Aunt Alice,
bending to kiss her. II saw you
1IOIIl LIE WlLuOW. OOIll6 Ill.
CHE led the way to the back of
~ the house into the room Susan
loved because from its windows you
could watch the little birds flying
about the grape arbor.
Lets sit here" said Aunt Alice.
SO they sat close together on the
chintz-covered sofa that faced the
arbor.
I'm so glad you came to see me
today" Aunt Alice began.
II didn't come today of my own
SELF" Susan's honestly compelled
her to admit. Then in flash, ii
all came out: "You see, Aunt Alice
mother doesn't want me around
now. She told daddy she had
waited so long for little boy, and
then to have him taken away was
more than she could bear"
Aunt Alice's hands clasped them
selves tight as they lay in her lap
Then: Il should have told you at
once. Susan, / have a batch OF
raisin cookies just cool enough to
eat
CUSAN tried to smile politely.
~ Thank you, Aunt Alice" she
answered; "but guess don't want
any"
Silence. Then: did you ever
have little boy that went away,
Aunt Alice?"
mo. Susan dear"
But wasn't there ever anybody"
"In the beginning my mother and
sather-and after time some one
who went away and didn't come
back"
rs that why you made yourself
everybodys Aunt Alice?"
Perhaps that's it,"
Aunt Alice, do you suppose Lit
tie Brother went away because he
didn't like it with us?"
mo. dear. ! don't think that's
the reason"
do you know why he did leave
us?"