Indianapolis Times, Volume 35, Number 171, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 November 1922 — Page 8

8

A Hoosier Chronicle By MEREDITH NICHOLSON First Novel in thè Times Series of Fiction Stories by Indiana Writers <CopyTi£ht. 1912. by Meredith Ntcholson.)

8> N* I’SIS Cntll now lt had not oceurred to SYLVL GARRISON Ibat ber contemplai**! four-year course at Weìlesley concerned anybódy bui herselt. PROFESSOR KtùLTON. ber eraudlather, and his ulti friend. MRS JACKSON OWEN, wealthy wldow ol Indiajiapolla, ho Laa provtded Ibe money tor her expenses. Bui on ibis bright summer momlng ai Waupegan. she gleaus Irom a conversa tion Uh her benelactor a niece, MRS. MORTON BASSETT, vile of a proml□ent statesman. tbal sbe is deeply lmpressed because Mr. Owen baa noi euggested a college courae for her daughter. Marlan. wbom sbe wishea to beccale a welter. In thè law offleee of WRIGHT & FITCH of Indianapolis, young DAN HAHWOOD pores over documenta doring thè day. etudiee law at night and as a de line wrlte* lor thè Courier, a Democratìc publieatlon. By request of thè wrlter Sylvia la not to know thè contenta of an unaigned letter dellvered to ber grandfather by a etrange young man. eontaimng a proposition wbieb he reluses Sylvia thinka lt will do no barm to re. peat to Mr. Sasseti a remark of her aunt'a tbal bad struck ber aa being sonar. "I Just happened to remember somethlng Mrs Owen sald about college. Sha sald that lf lt lsn't In thè coll thè tralner can i put lt there, and I suppose thè euccessful Uterary woraen have had geniti whether they had lilgher education or not. George EUot hadn’t a college training, but of course she was a very great woman." Mrs Bassett compressed her Upa. She dld not llke thla -quota tion frorn Mrs. Owen'a uterances on thls vexed queetion of higher educa tion. Couìd lt Oe posslble that Aunt Sally looked upon Marlan as one of those coita for whom thè tralner could do nolhlng? "1 have never felt that young girla should re ad George Eliot. She doesn’t seem to me quite an ideai to set before a young girl.” A Sylvia knew nothing of George Eliot, except what she had gleaned from thè blographical data in a textbook on nlneteenth-century writers., she was unable to follow Mrs. Bassett. She had read "Mill on thè Fiosa' and “Romola'' and saw no reason why every one shouldn't er.Joy them Mrs. Bassett twlrled her closed parar eoi absently and studi ed thè prò die of thè girl beslde her "The requirements for college are not really so difttcult. 1 suppose?" she

suggested. Sylvia's dark eyes Lrlghtened aa she faced her lnterlocutor. Those of us who know Sylvia find that quiek tlash of humor In her eyes adorable “Oh. they can t be. for l answered most of thè questlons!" she exeialmed. and then eeetng no responso In her Inquisito:, she added soberly: "Ita all set out In thè cataiog and 1 bave one wlth me. I’d be glad to bring lt over lf you’d llke to see lt.” "Thank you. Sylvia l should llke to see lt. I may want to ask you some questlons about thè work: but of courae you won’t say anythine to Marlan of our talk lam not quite sure. and l'U have to chscuss lt with Mr Bassett ” “Of course 1 shan't speak of lt, Mrs. Bassett." Marlan voice was now heard cali!ng them down thè patii and thè giri appeared. a moment iater, munchlng a bit of toast stuccoed wtth Jam and ! aager to be off for thè casino where a tennis match was scheduled for thè momlng. "Don't be late for dlnner thls eve nlng, Marlan; your father will be here. and lf you see Biackford. be sure to teli hlm to meet thè 3:10.” "Yes, marna. I'il remember, and ITI try to meet thè traln, too." And then to Sylvia, aa she led thè way to thè boathouse to get thè canoe. "l'm glad dad's comlng He’s perfectly grand, and l'm erolng to see lf he won't gtve me a naohtha launch Dad's a ocA old scout and he’s pretry sure to do lf * Sylvia had formed thè hablt of steallng away in thè long ttediglita, aster thè cheerful gatherlng at Mrs. Owen's supper table, for a little selfcommunlng. Usually Mrs. Owen and Professor Kelton feU to talklng of old tlmes and old friends at thls hour and Sylvla’s dlsappearances weie unremarked. She felt thè joy of llvtng those dayß, and loved dearly thè de laylng hour between day and night that Is so loveiy. so touche-1 wtth poetry In thls reglon. A little creek ran aerosa Mrs. Owen's farm. cutting for Itaelf a sharp défilé to facilitate Its egresa lnto thè lake; and Sylvia liked to throw herself down beslde a favorite maple. with thè evening breeze whlsperlng over thè young corn behlnd her. and thè lake, wlth Ita bear open to thè comlng o? thè stare, qulet before her. and dreani thè dreams that All a gtrl's heart In those blessed and wonderful days when thè brook and rlver meet. On thls Saturday evening Sylvia was partlcularly happy. The oay’s actlvltles. that had begun late, left her a little breathless. She was wonder Ing whether any one had ever been so pleansatnly ordered. Her heart - beat quickened as she thought of college and thè busy years that awaited her there: and aster that would come thè great world's wideci peri doors. She was untouched by envy, hatred or mallce. Her path had fallen In pleasant places, and only benlgnant splrlts attended her. She was roused suddenly by thè sound of steps In thè path bereath. Thls twllight sanctuary had never been Invaded before. and she rose haatlly A narrow brlmmed straw hat rose above thè elderberry bushes and wlth a last effort a man stood on level ground, pantlng frani thè cllmb. He took off hl hat and mopped his tace as he glanced about. Sylvia had Jrawn back, but as thè stranger could not go on wlthout seelng her she stepped forward and they faced eacn other. In a Uttle plot of level grveind beslde thè défilé. "Pardon me!” he exeialmed. stili •reathlng hard; and then hls eyes met her In a long gaie Hls gruy eyes learched her dark onee for what feemed an Intermlnable tltne. Sylvla's Aand eought thè maple but dld not touch lt: and thè keen eyes of thè stranger dld not loosen thelr hold of hers. "Pardon me. agaln! I hope I dldn't frlghten you! I am Mr. Bassett, Ma rlan's father." “And I am Sylvia Garrlson. lam staying—“ “Oh," he laughsd. “you needn't teli me! They told me at thè supper table ai! about you and that jrou and Marlan are fast friends."

"I knew you were coming; they were speaklng of it thls morning.” They had drawn closer together during this friendly exchange. Agaln their eyes met for an lnstant, then he surveyed her sharply from head to foot, as he stood bareheaded leaning on his stick. “I must be going,” sald Sylvia, "There’s a path through thè corn that Mrs. Owen lets me use. They’U begln to wonder what's become of me." "Why not follow thè path to thè lane —I think there is a lane at thè edge of thè fìeld—and I will walk to thè house with you; It's growing dark.” ”Yes, thank you, Mr. Bassett." “I had no Idea of meeting any one when I carne out. I usually take a little walk aster supper when l'm here and I wanted to get all thè car smoke out of my lungs. I was glad to get out of Chicago: lt was ftercely hot there." The path was not wide enough for two and she walked before hlm. When they reached thè lane they walked together until they carne to thè hlghway, whlch they followed to thè house. An oli lamp marked thè walk that led through Mrs. Owen’s flower garden. “Arent you comlng In, Mr. Basse tt?" asked Sylvia, as they paused. Her hand cllcked thè tatch and thè little whltewashed gate swung open. In thè I&mpllght thelr eyes met agaln. "l'm sorry. but I must go homo. Thls Is thè flrst tjme I’ve been here thls summer. and my stay ls short. I must be off agaln tomorrow." “Oh. that's too bad! Marlan has been telling me that you would stay a month. she will be terrlbly disappolnted!” 'My Western trip took more Urne thar. I expected. I have a good deai to do at Fraservllle and must get back there.” She stepped Inside, thlnklng he delayed out of courtesy to her. butto her surprlse he fastened thè latcb delibera tely and Ungerei "They teli me you and your grandfather Uve at Montgomery. It's a charrnìng town, one of thè most Inreresting In thè State." "Yes. Mr Bassett. My grandfather tatight in thè college there." "You are staylng here some timer* "Another week lt seems that we've hardly been here a day." •You are fortunate In havtng Mrs. i rwen for a friend. She ts a very unusual woman.” "The most wonderful person I svsf knew!" responded Sylvia warmly "I mustn’t keep you here, Pie&ae remember me to Mrs. Owen and tei! her ITI drap In before I go." He bent over thè gate and put out hls hand. "Oood-nlght. Mina Garrlson!" Sylvia had never been called Miss Garrlson before, and lt was not wlthout trepldatlon that she heard herself o addressed Mr Bassett had e poker. , 'he name gravely, and thelr eyes met igain In Ungerlng contact. When thè door closed upon her he walked on 'hpldly but once, before thè trees had i bscured Mrs Owen's Ughts, he turned and glanced back.

CHAPTER VTIT One night In thls aaxne June. Harwood wfis direct ed by thè city editorof thè Oourler to find Mr Edward O. Thatcher Two reporters had falled at lt and lt was deslrable to verlfy ; reporta aa to certaJn transactlona by whlch Thatcher. In conjunctlon wlth ' Morton Bassett, was belleved to be effectlng a merger of varlous glassmanufacturing Interests Thatcher ! had begun llfe as a brewer but thls would long slnce have been obscured hy thè broadenlng currenta of fortune lf lt had not been for hla perslstent ; dabbllng In politica Whenever thè Republlcan presa was at a losa for i somethlng to attack. Thatcher's brewerles —whlch he had concealed In a | corporation that did not bear his name were an Invltlng and unfalllng target Por yeara, though never aeeklng office he had been a sllent factor In politica, and he and Bassett. lt waa sa! <3. controlled thelr party Mrs. Thatcher had bullt an espansive house but fearing that thè money her hushand generously eupplled was talnted by thè remote beer vaia, sho and her twn daughters epent most of thelr Urne in Europe givlng. however as thelr reason thè 111-health of Thatchefs son Thatcher’e Incoine was large and he epent lt In hls own fashion He made long Joumey* to wltnees prlze fights, he had thè reputatlon of beine a poor poker player, but a “good loeerf he kept a raclngstable that tost money and he was a patron of baseball and owned stock In thè locai club He was “a good fellow" In a senso of thè phrase that requlres qbotatlon marks Mrs. Sally Owen, whose opinion In all matters pertalnlng to her fellow cltlzens ls not to be sllghted. fearlessly asked Thatcher to dlnner at her house. Sha expressed her unfavorable opinion of hls famlly for desertlng hlm, and told hlm to hls face that a man who knew as little about horses as he dld should have a guardian "He's In town somewhere.’" sald thè city editor, “don’t come back and teli me you can't find hlm Try thè Country Club, where he was never known to go and thè University Club, where he doesn’t belong. and all thè other unllkely places you can thlnk of. The other boys have thrown up thelr hands.” Dan had severa! times been fortunate In like questa for men In hldlng. and he had that confldenee In hls luck whlch I part of thè good reporter’s endowment He cali ed all thè eluhs and thè Thatcher residence by relephone The clubs denled all knowledge of Thatcher and hls residence answered noi at all: whereupon Harwood took thè trolley for thè Thatcher manslon In thè new quarter of Merldlan St beyond thè peaceful shores of Fai? Creek As Harwood entered thè grounda thè house loomed darkly before hlm Falllng of any responso, he trled a side door and flnally thè extreme rear He had begli n to feel dlscouraged when. as he approached thè front en trance for a second aesault, he eaw a llaht flash beyond thè dark blinda The door opened cautlously. and a voice gruffly bade hlm begone “I have a meesage for Mr. Thatcher; iU^M|^mp3rtante-e H

DOINGS OF THE DUFFS—

S SUPPQSB A - Y/ £ ' ( 6°oSeVd c P lothe2 < vjy 7 t think The Guy that r M il 5 IT H jw- Fornace BuT HL BE } • V i 1 Mu5T BE ,W J! / ff few

ThE REWARO OF GENIUS JlKwlfifi , V

THEM DAYS IS GONE FOREVER—

yoo ask Me id eive kj? you canTt stop ne" a THEM se/irr ajop what if I srrn/06 Horee - mo smoki/Og. sgg, uhick omlh FOREVER S IP 1 - "

WAS A TbPM OUT FDR. “THE L.OD<9E SUPPER. AUNT SARAH PEABODY WAS A SHORTAGE OF ICE CREAM BUT THEY HAD ' FQUR- PANS <yF BAKE.D BEANS LEFT OVER.

**Mr. Thatcher not at home; nobody home,” growled a voice In broken Engllsh. “You get rlght off dls place qulck!” The reporter and thè caretaker were maklng no progress In thelr colloquy end Dan was trylng to catch a gUmpse of another man who leaned agalns thè wall qulte lndlfforent to thè atrug Cle for thè door. Dan supposed him

OUT OUR WAY—By WILLIAMS

THE OLD HOME TOWN—By STANLEY

to be a servant, and ha had aban doned hope of learnlng anythlng o Thatcher, when a drawUng volct. called out: “Open thè door, Hans, and let thè gentleman In: ITI attend to hlm.” Dan sound hlmeelf faceto face vith a young man of about his owi, age, a stender young fellow, ciad in blu* ove ralla end fl&nnei shlrt. Be

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Sing Tliis Lj The Smoker

lounged forward wlth an alr of languor that puzzled thè reporter. Hls> dress was not wholly conclusive as o hls posltlon In thè silent house thè overalls stili showed thelr pristine ’olds, thè shlrt was of good quailty and well-cut. The ends of a narrow tìd-silk four-ln--hand swung free. He was clean-shaven for an absurd Uttle mustache so fair as to be almost in-

A Day at Home

/fjjjifS ( CISUT-\OU ] • /O M&M WÀTAMD )i PEAL IMBOTTO my 7 COUÉ iw L omfqcgst!. l / E Mais ULSTER- NCTTE ' U Akiu i? TU6 EPEECT•TuS’ r~ 7 i > < 7 < f OM POO.VOU ) '

- UXX TM‘ I f “tM ' OVJLV WAV : KTTM' CMtiéTNUr /SPU*4 SMORES LiP IVÌ \ TjT / IWEV CAM GET Vi V >j OASTfeR MRS mOOPLe\ ,( TU ter tCfViC BOOTW \ warmed wnM ' BouGVfT*T& WAFT VT WAS SO COLO TU' \ " I "TWAT CAki IS Tb | SOME WARm yp PEPisIS TW' WALL RIDE AKOOiSD iT Iduoakl akj’dikokì's paper driedup asì' r " a coopla uours okì \POOM VIRV, -TUtS \FELL OVE -TMEV'IL A -TAKiDEfA BIKE * ~\w°J , -r-ossEuoueM/ \ ueated / IVAT woUlWt jt, jV *Jp ts S °T nS, y \ MJORDS OVER -tVIA-T ■/{ f(fe[ PU-r a VRECKUE osi ;

dlstlngulshable. Hls blon*; halr was brushed back unparted from Ma fore tead. Another swlft survey of thè -illght figure eliselo cd a palr of pat cnt leather purr . Hls socks, revealed at thè ankles, were scarlet Dan was unfaialliar wlth thè menage of such estabJshments as thls, and he wondered vhether thls mlght noi be an upper sdrvant of a new epe dea

FRECKLES AND HIS FRIENDS—By BLOSSER

OUR BOARDING HOUSE—By AHERN

pecullar to homes of wealth. He ieaned on hls stick hat In hand and thè big blue eyes of thè young man rested ‘upon hlm wlth disconcerting -,'ravlty. A door slammed at thè reai upon thè retreatlng Qerroan, whom thls superlor functlonary had dls patched about hla business. At a mo ment when thè sllence bacarne op presstve thè young man straighteaed

NOY. 27, 1922

—By ALLMAN

—Bv AL POSEN

hlmself sllghtly and spoke In a low voice, and wlth amusement showlng clearly in Ms eyes and about hls ilps,— "You’re ■ reporter.” “Yes; I’m from thè ‘Courien’ I*m looking for Mr. Thatcher.” “Suppose, suppose—if you’r® not In a great hurry, you come wlth m<* (To Be Contlnued)