Indianapolis Times, Volume 35, Number 194, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 December 1922 — Page 10

10

A Hoosier Chronicle By MEREDITH NICHOLSON First Novel in tic Times Series of Fiction Stories by Indiana Writers (Copyright. 1912. by M eredi th Kicholeon.)

"What does that say there, that small gold jirint on thè inside of thè cover?” “Thail's thè binder’s name—Orpcutt." Alien closed tlie hook, passed liis hand over thè smootli eovers, and handed it back to Ware. “What did you say thè wonian’s name was, 'Ware?” asked Tliatcher. “Dldn’t say, but tho name she went by up thero was Forbes. Sho told me it was an assumed name. The people she stayed with told me they nover knew any bettcr.” Serrai minutes passed in whicli no ono spoke. Tho minister lapsed into or.e of his deep reveries. Tliatcher stcod just behind him peering into thè Are. Suddenlv he muttered under bis breath and almost inatidibly, “Wall, by Godi” CHAPTER~XX t V The Bassetts moved to tho capitai :liat winter, arrivine with thè phaìans of legislatore in January, and establishing- themselves in a turni.shed house opportunely vacated by thè Bosworths, who were t&king thè Mediterranean trip. Bassett liad been careful to announee to thè people of FraserviUe that thè removal was only tenijiorary, and that he and bis family wouid return in thè spring, but Marian held private opinions quite at variance with her tather's publishcd statements. It should be said that Marian’s arrivai had not gone unheeded. The society columns of thè capitai welcomed ber, and thè Advertiser reproduced her photograph in a picture hat. She began at once to be among tliose included in all manner of functions. ! Alien danced cheerfully to ber p ng 1 and she stili telephoned to Harwood when she thought of ways of using him. Mr. Owen had deelared her irtention of giving a “party” to Introduce Marion to thè society of thè capitai. Sally Owen had not givrn a '"party” sirice Mrs. Bassett's coming out, but she brourht thè same energy and thoroughness to bear upon a, social affair that characterized her business undertakings. In preparing thè list (in itself a task and in thè tìiseussion of details, it was necessary of course to consult Marian.—one usually heard Marian’s views whether one consulted her or not, —but she and her aunt were on thè best of terms, and Mrs. Owen was sincerely anxious to satisfv her in every particular. On hall a dozen evenings Alien or Dan breught Sylvia to thè Delaware St. house to meet Marian and pian thè coming event. Xo one wouid bave imagined, froin thè zest with wliich Sylvia discussed such deep questlons as thè employment of musicane, thè decorating of thè hall, thè Gorman favors and thè refreshments, that she had been at work all day in a schoolroom that had been built before venti lation was invented. When Sylvia was busy, sho was thè busiest of mortale. but when she threw herself heart and soul into play, it was with thè compietesi detachment. She aceompiished wonderful things in thè wav of work aster sehool hours if she rcceived waming that either of her faithful knlghts meditated a descent upon her. Durir.g theso councils of war to pian Marian’s belated debut. Sylvia mig'nt snowball Alien or I'an or both of them all thè way front Elizabeth House to Mrs. Owen s door, and th=-n appear demurelv before that amiable soul, with cheeks aglow and dark eyes flashing. and Mrs. Owen wouid say: “This sehool-teaching aln't good for you. Sylvia; it seems to be break-li-g down your henlth.” That was a llvely quartetto—Sylvia, Marian, Alien and Dani Dan, now duly sworn to servo tne State faithfully as a legislator, had been placed on sevcral Importanr commtttees, and a busy winter stretched before him. Morton Bassett’s hand lay heavily upon thè Legislature; thè young man ha d never realized uni il he took hls seat in thè lower house how firntly Bassett. gripped thè commonwealth. Every committo appointinent in both houses had to be approved by thè Senator from Fraser. Dan’s selection as chainnan of thè commiUee on corpartions both pleased and annoyed bini. Ile wouid ha.ve liked to believe liimself honestly chosen by thè Speaker on thè score of tìtnes3: but he knew well encugh that there were okb-r men, veteran legislators, more familiar with tlie fcfate's needs and dangers, who liad a better rigUt to thè honor. Miss Banset’s debut was fix>l for Washington' Birthday, and uh Mrs. Owen’s house had no ball moni (cxcept one of those tìoored attica on which our people persist in bestowing that smbitious title), she decided that thè Proylaeum alone wouid serve. It was a real wintpr night, with a snowstorrn and thè jangle of sleilibells outside. The possi bili tìes of a ball famed for its many brilliant cntertainments had never been more fully realized than on this night of Marian Bassett's presentation. The stage was screened in a rose-hung lattice that had denuded thè consenatories of Xewcastle and Richmond; thè fireplace was a batik of rosea, and thè walls were festooned in evergreens. Xor should we overlook a proflle of thè fathor of bis country In whlte camations on a green background, with all thè effect of a marble bas-relief —a tittlng embellishment for thè baleony—done by thè florist from Alien V design and under Allen’s criticai ere. In thè receiving 'ne, established in one of thè lower parlors, were Mrs. Owen, Mr. and Mrs. Morton Bassett, thè Governor and his wife (he happened just then to be a Repubhcan), Colonel and Mrs. Vinning (retired army peop’e), and thè pick of thè last October’s brides and their young husbands. Mrs. Bassett prided herself on knowlng wbo’s who in her native State and even she was satisfied that thè gathering was representative. The “list” had not been submitted for her approvai; lf it had been she rr.ight have deleted certain names and substituted ethers. She was unable, for exampie, to justify thè presence of thè senior Tliatcher, though her husband assured her in a tene of magnanimity that it was all rlght; and she had never admired Colonel Ramsay. though to he suro nearly every one else did. Was not thè Colonel handsome, courteous, genia!, eloquent, worthy cf all admiraUen? Mrs. Owen had chosen a few

I legislators from among her acquaintances, chiefly gentlemen who had galiantly aided some of her measures at earlier sessions of the assembly. John Waro and Admiral Ma rtin, finding themselves uncomfortable in the crowd, rescued Thatcher and adjourned with him to a room set apart for smokers. Thero they wero regarded with mild condescension by young gentlemen who rushed in from the dance, mopping their brows and inhaling cigarettes for a moment, wearing the melancholy air becoming j to those who support the pilla rs of ! society. At 10 o’cloek the receiving line had dissolved and the dance was in full swing above. Sylvia had volunteered to act as Mrs. Owen’s adjutant, and she was up and down sta ire many times looking aster countless details. She had just dispatched AUen to fìnd partners for some out-of-town girla when Morton Bassett accosted her in tho hall. ‘T’m thlrsty, Miss Garrison: which punch bowl do you recommend to a man of my temperate habits?” She turned to the table and took a glass from Mrs. Owen’s butlor and held it up. “The only difference between the two is that one is pìnk. 1 put it in myself. Your health and long lise to Marian,” said Sylvia. He seemed in no liurry and apparently wished to prolong the talk. They withdrew out of the current of people passing up and down tlie stairway. “You aro not dancing?” he asked. “Xo; I’m not hore socially, so to speak. I ni not going out. yon know; T only wanted to help Mrs. Owen a little.” “Pardon me; I hadn’t re:illy forgotten. You are a busy peison; Marian tells me you have begun your teaching. You don’t show any cvidences of v.ear.’’ “Oh, I never was so well in my life?’ “You will pardon me for mentioning it here, but —but I was sorry to hear from Mr. Harwood that tlie teaching is necessary.” He was quite right, she thought, in saying that the timo and place were ill-suited to such a remark. He leaned against thè wall and sho noticed that his lids drooped wearily. He seemed content to Unger there, where they caught fitfully glinipso of Marian’s bright, happy face in the dance. Mrs. Owen and Mrs. Bassett were sitting in a group of dowagers at the other end of the ball room. identifying and commentine upon the season’s debuntantes. “I suppose you are very busy now.” Sylvia remark ed. “Yes; this will be a busy session." “And I suppose you have more to do than the others; it’s the penalty of leadership.” 110 smiled, and stood erect as though impelled by an agreeable thought. i “We don't meet very often. Miss ■ Garrison, and this is hardly the place for long conversations: you’re busy. j too: but I’d like to ask you somoi thing.” “Certainly, Mr. Bassetti” “That aftemoon. aster tho conv*nì tion. you remember —” “Of course, Mr. Bassett; I reniem- ! ber perfectly.” “You laughedi” They both smiled; and it seemed to him that now, as then, it was a sniile of understanding, a cuiious reciprocai | exchange that sufticed without eluci- ; dation In words. | ' Well.'” said Sylvia. “Wouid you mlnd tclling ruo just | why you laughed?” “Oh! That wouid be telling a lot of things.” “I’d rcallv hke to know, Mis- Gar- : rison. If I knew why you laughed ! “Oh, I didn't laugli at you At least—it wasn't just you alone I was laughing at!” “Xot at me?” Hls look of indifference vanished , wholly; he seemed sincerely Interest- ! ed as he waited for her reply, do- ; layed a moment by the passing of a | group of youngstors from the ballj room to tho fresher air of tho hall. “I know perfectly well this Isn't a t good place to be serious in; but I laughed—Do you really want te know?” “Yes, please. Don't try to sparo rny feelings; they’re pretty badly hot up anybow.” “It must bave been hecauso it | struck me as funnv that a man llke ! you—with all youi infiuenoe and power—your capacity for doing big ; things—should go to so much trouble merel.v to show ar.other man your conj tenipt for him. It was ridiculous Just | IsL-cause it seemed so un necessari ly ; elaborate —such a waate of steam.” “So that was ir! Well, maybc it l wasn’t so unnecessary aster all; to be j frank, I dldn’t think so. Tn my con- | ceit I thought it a good stroke. That’.s la secret: nobodv else knows that!” The music ceased and Alien and ! Marian flashed out upon them in thè highest spirits. “Well, T like this!” orìed Marian. “What are you two talking so long about? Oh. I saw voti through three dances at least!” “Miss Garrisori has been laughing at ine,” said Bassett, smlling at hls Caughter. “She doesn’t take me at all seriously—or too seriously: I don’t know which!” “How could she take you seriously!” demanded Marian. “I never do! Fvlvia. where on earth is our little Daniel? It’s nearly time for cotilllon. And if Dan Harwood doesn’t show up for that ITI never sorgive him in this world.” “The cotillion?" repeated Biissett. glanclng at hls watch. “Hasn t Dan pot here yet? Ile had a eommittee meeting tonight, but it ought to have been over before now.” Sylvia noted that the serious look carne into his eyes again for an insta nt. “He oughtn’t to have had a committee meeting on the night of my party. And it’s a holiday too.” “And aster all the rehearsing we’ve done at Aunt Sally s the cherrv-tree figure absolutely has to have bini," aid Alien. “Maybe T’d better send a scout to look him up or run over to the Ftatehousc myself." Sylvia and AMen had despaired of Dan when at a quarter of twelve he oppeared. He met their reproacbes

Doixns OF THE DIIFFS —

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clieerfufiy, and airily explained his dolay. "Etate’s business! Cun you imagi no me fresti freni Richelieu’s cabinet, with a trail of dead horses on tlie ioud behind me? In plain prose I didn’t get homo to dress until eleven, and thè snow makes it hard going.” He had dressed with care nevertheìess and had never looked better. Sylvia senf Alien ahead to begin

OUT OUR WAY—By WILLIAMS

THE OLD HOME TOWN—By STANLEY

clearing tho floor for thè cotillìon, and followed more slowly with Harwood. “I suppose,” lie remarked, iialf to himself, “that T really oughtn't to do it.” “What —you hesitate now aster keeping thè stage waiting?” “It may be a case for an understudy. There are reasons why.” “Then—you have done it?” They were at thè turn of thè tfiair

TJtiF US JJiAJN ABOLIS TIMUS

Try This On Your Tomahawk

and Sylvia pausod. ile was conscious of a quick catch in hre breath. Her eyos mct his for an installi searchingly. "Yes; I have done it," ile answered, and looked ut her wonderingly. A moment later he liad made bis peace with Mrs. Owen and paid his complimenta to Mrs. Bassett at thè favor table, heaped high with berib-

Holcn Pioks a Safe Place

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boned hatoliets and bunehCs of cherries for tlie ilrst figure. It was 2 oVlook ìvlion Harwood, aster taking Mrs. Owen down to supper, fotind liimself free. He met Thatcher in thè lower hall, muffici! in astrakhan and swearing softly to uirnself because liis carriage had been lost in t}ie blizzard. “Wall; how are things going with you, you jg manr

FRECKLES AND HIS FRIENDS—By BLOSSER

OUR HO A IH) INO HOUSE—By AHERN

‘‘Righi enough, I’m tired and Jt’s ibout. bed-time for me.” ‘Havent got House bill ninetytìve in your pocket, have you?” asked Thatcher with a grin. “A reporter l'or thè Advertlser was in ber- 1 looking for you a minute ago. He said your committee had taken a vote tonight and he wanted to know about it. Told him you'd gone homo. Hope you appreciate that; I’m used to

DEU. 23, 1922

—By ALLMAN

—By AL POSEN

iying to reporter. You see, iny son, I ain’t in that deal. You understand? That bill was fixed ap in Chicago, and evcry corporation lawyer that does business in thè oid Hoosier State bns his eye on it. I’m not asking an.v questiona; Lord, poi lt’s up to you. Irand party; that’s a ilice girl es Uassett’s. My wagon here? All righi. Good-night, Dan! Good-night, Bus setti'* (To Be Continued)