Indianapolis Times, Volume 35, Number 197, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 December 1922 — Page 8

8

A Hoosier Chronicle By MEREDITH NICHOLSON First Novel in tho Times Series of Fiction Storie by Indiana Writers Copyright, 19)2, by Meredith Niehe’.eon.)

“You scoili to take no interest in vour children, Merton. T thought Hlfeckfoni was your partieular prlde, but thè faci that ho wa? practteally expelled from school eemed to tnake noi tho sllghtest impression on you. T thought that unt.ll you <li<i reallze that tho boy was trasting his tinto nero. INI take tubi ter? luto nty own hands. Miss Tarrison seems perfeotty oompetent: ho teli* me Blackford Sf very quick—ali ho needs is application.” *‘l hadn't got around to that yet. Hallie. I’d intondod taking it up this week. I'm very busy,’ mumiured Bassett. His wlfe’s choice of a tutor seemed ineonsistent with hor oariior animoslty loward Sylvia, bui he shrank from asking explanatioiu- Mrs. Bassett had grmvn increastngly dlfficult and trhitrary. “That’s tlio American fathor all • •ver! Well. I’ve dono uy dut.v," “Xo doubt its a good arrangement. Wo've gotto keep Blackfnnl in hand. Where’s MarianY” "She’s visiting tho Wlllings at tholr placo at Whltewater, She’s been gv.no i week.” ■‘The Wlllings? Xot those Burton Willings? How did that happcn;— I don’t believe \vo care to bave hor .sit Ilio Wlllings.” "They aro perfeotly ilice people.” >hc replied dafenslvely, “and Marian knew their daughter at schooL Alien Thatcher is In thè party, and they re all people we luiow or know about.” **WU, I don’t want Marian visiting around prmnlscuously, I know nothtng about thè famlly, hut I don’t care for Wllling, And we’ve had enough of young Thatcher. Marian's already seen too much of him.” "Allen’s a perfectly nìce fellow. It isn’t fair to disllke hlm on his father’s account. Alien isn’t a bit Uke his fathor: but even if he were you used to think well enough of Ed Thatcher.” Tliis shot was well aimed, and Bassett blinkeil. but ho felt that he must exerclse his parental authority. If he liad been culpable in neglecting Blackford he could. stili take a hand in Marian's affairs. “So 1 did.” lie replied. “But I'm going to telegraph Marian to come lionie. What’s thè Wlllings’ address?” “Oh. you'll find it on a plcture postai card somewhere about. I*ll write Marian to corno home: hut T wouldn’t telegraph if I were you. Morton. Arni if you don t like my employing Miss •ìarrison. you can get rid of her: I merely felt that something liad to be • lone. I turn it all over to you.” she onded mournfully. “Oh, I nave no objections to Miss tiarrison. W'e'll see how Blackford gets on with her.” There was little for a man of Bas>ett's tastes to do at Waupegan. Most of thè loungers at thè Casino were elderly men who played bridge, which he despi sed: and h cared little for (ìshing or boating. Tennis and golf did not tempi him. His wife had practlcally eeased to !>*• a figure in tho social lif*- of tho colony: Marian was awa,v. aiti Blackford's lei sur e was spent with i*oys <)f his own ago. Alorton Bassotr was lonely. It thus happer.ed that he looked for ward with growinp interest to Svi via's dailv visits to his house. He sound that he could mavk her prog ress from Mrs. Owen's gate round thè iake to his own cottage front thè win •low of a der. ìi- maintained in thè al tic. He remained there under thè hot shingles. conscious of her presenee in his house thvoughout her tro hours with Blackford. Once or twiee he took himself off to escape from her: hut on tlie>e occasions ho was surprised to find that he was back on thè veranda when Sylvia, emerged troni thè li\ing room with her pupil She was always cheery. and ?h<* never faiìed to .-a> something heartening of Blackford’s work. A number of trinine incidents ocourred to brine them together. The i:ook left abruptly, and Mrs. Bassett was redueod to despair. Bassett. gloomily paiing his veranda, aster hearing 1 ! s wift-'s arraignment of thè World in generai and domestie servants in partioular. felt thè clouds lift when Sylvia carne down from a voluntary visit to thè invaiid. He watched her attack thè problemi bv long-dis-tance telephone. Sensations that

were new and .trance and sweet assaiìed him as he sa* near In thè liv-ing-room of bis own house, seelng her a* thè telephony desk hy thè window. hearing her voice. Iter patienee in thè neeessarv delavs w Itile oonnection was made with thè city.*her courtesy tò her unseeii auditore, thè srnile. thè occasionai word she flung at him —as mueh as to say. of eourse it’s bothersome hur all will soon come right!—these things stirred in him a wlstfulness and longing suoh as thè hardv oak must feel when thè south wind touehes its bare botigli* with thè first faint breath of spri tic. “It’s all arranged—flxed—accorriplished!” Sylvia reported at last. "There’s a cook eorning hy thè afterneon train. You'll attend to meeting her? Please teli Mrs. Bassett tt's Senator Rldgefield's cook who’s a valiable for thè rest of thè summer. as thè family have gone abroad. She's probably good—thè agent said Mrs. Ridgefield liad brought her Troni Washington. ì.ct me see’ She must have Thursday afternoon off and a chance to go to mass on Sundav. And vou of eourse stand thè railroad fare to and from thè lake: it's so nominated in thè bond!” She dismissed thè whole matter with a quick gesture of her hands. Their next interview touched again his domestlc affairs. He had telegraphed Marian to come home without elieiting a reply. and thè next day he sound in a Chicago newspaper a spirited and mueh-beheadlined acoount of thè smashing of thè Willings' automobile in a eollision. It seenied that they had run into Chicago for a dav’s shopping and had met with thlr misadventure on one of thè boulevard?. The Willings’ chauffeur had been seriously injured. Miss Marian Bassett. definiteli- described as thè dsughter of Morton Bassttt, thè wellknown Indiana politician, had been of thè party. Alien Thatcher trae another guest of thè Willings, a faet which added to Bassett’6 anger. He had never visi te d his hatred of Thatcher upon Alien, whom he had ipyaj-cod a." a harmless boy not to be

teseli seriously: but thè conjunetion of his daughter’s narne with that of his enemy's soli in a newspapcr of wide clrculation in Indiana greatly rrragod him. It was hound to ooeasion talk, and he hated publicity. Tho Wlllings were flashy people who had hegun to spemi noisily tho money earned for them by ati automobile patent. The indietment ho drew againsl Marian contained many “counts." He could not discuss thè matter with his wife: ho carefuliy kept from her tho newspaper story of thè smash-up. The hotel to which thè Wlllings had retired for repairs was mentioned, and Bassett resolved to go to Chicago and bring Mariana home. The best available traiti passe,! Waupegan station at midnight and he sat alone on his veranda that evening with anger against Marian stili hot in his heart. He had yet to apprise Mrs. Bassett of his intended Journey. •ielaying thè moment aa long as possible to minimize her inevltable quer ulous moanlngs. Blackfonl was In his boom studying. and Bassett had grimly paced thè veranda for half an hour when thè nurse carne down with a req uest that he desist from his promenade, as it annoyed Mrs. Bassett in her chamber above. He thereupon subsided and retired to thè darkest corner of thè veranda. A four-hour vigli lay before hlm. and he derived no calia from thè stili star that falntly shadowed thè quiet water* below, He was assailed by tormenta reserved for those who, barin g long mada others wri thè wlthout cartng that they suffered, hear thè swish of thè lash over their own head. The very peace af thè night grated upon him. A llght step sounded at tho end of thè veranda. A figure in white was movlng towanl thè door and recognizing Sylvia, he rose hastlly and advanced to meet her, “Is that you, Mr. Bassett? I ran over with a new granimar for Blackford and he will like better than thè one he's using. I've marked his lesson so he can look it over before I come in thè montine. How i* Mrs. Bassett ?" “She's ver>' tired and nervous tonight. Won’t you sit down?" “Tìiank you. no. If it tsn’t too late ri: run up and see Mrs, for a moment." “I think you'd better not. The nurse is trying to get her to sleep.” “Oh. then of course T shan’t stop." and Sylvia turned to go, "How soon will Marian be home?" “You dldn’t see today's papere? She's been to Chicago with those Wlllings and their machirc- was smashed and thè chauffeur buri I'm gotng to hring her back. She liad no buslnes 1 to be visiting thè Willings in thè flrst place, and their taking her to Chicago wlthout our consent was downright impudenee. 1 don't want Mrs Bassett to know of thè accident. I’m goìng upon thè night tr.iln. It satisfled his turhulent spirit tu teli her this: he had blurte,! it out wlthout attempting to concedi thè anger that thè thought of Marian rcu>:<<i in him. “She wasn t hurt? We should e clad of that"' Sylvia lingered. her hand *n thè veranda rati. She seemed verj tali in thè rnellow starllght. His tone had strnck her unpleasantly. There was no doubt of his anger, or that Marian would feci thè force of it when he sound her. “Oh.” she wasn t hurt. tie in swered dully. "The point ls that slie should nevet ha, e gone! The Wlllings are not thè kind of people I \,tnt her to know. I* was a great mistak". her ever going. “Yes. that mav be true." stid Sylvia quietly. "1 don’t beUeve —" "Well —" he ejaculated impatlenil.v as though anxlous for ber to sp-ak that he migli! sbattei any suggestion she made. “if l were .voti 1 shouldn’t go to Chicago," said Sylvia calmly. "I think your going for Marian would only make a sit nati on worse. The \\ iliings miti’ not be desirable companlons for her. but sho has been heir guest, and thè motor run to Chicago was only an lncl jent of thè visit. We otight to be grate fui that Marian wasn’t hurt." “Oh. you think so: You don’t know that her mother had written for bar to come home. and that T had tele graphed her.”

“When <!id you lelegraph her?” asked Sylvia, standing her ground. “Yesterdav: yesterday morning, in 'are of Willirig at his farm addrese." “Then of eourse she didn’t get your message; she eouldn’t have had it If thè aeeldent bappcned in tinte for tiils mornlng’s Chicag> papers. It must have taken them all day to get frolli their place to Chicago." “If she had been at thè Willings’ wliere we supposed she vvas she would have got thè message. And her mother had tvrltten—t.wlce!" “I stll think It would be a serious mlstake in all thè circumstances for you to go up there is a spirlt of resentment to bring Marian home. It’s not exactly mv business, Mr. Bassett. Bu* I ni thinking of Marian; and you 'ould hardlv keep from Mrs. Bassett thè fact that you went for Marian. It would be sure to distresa her.” “Marian needs curbing; she’s gotto understand that she can’t go galli vanting ovvi thè country with strangers, getting her nume in thè newspapers. I’m not going to- have it: I am golng to stop her nonsense!” His voice hai! rìsen with his anger. Sylvia saw that nothing was to be gained by argument. “The main thlng ls to bring Marian home. isn't it. Mr. Bassett?” “Mosi ceitainly. And when I get her she slitti! stay: you may be sure of that!" “I tintici siami of eourse that you want her back, but I hope you will abandon thè idea of going for her yourself. Please give that up! I promise that she shall come home. I can easily take thè night train and come back with her. What you do afterward ls not nty affair, but somehow I think thls is. Please agree to my way of doing it! I can manage it very easily. Mrs. Owen s man can take me aerosa to thè train in thè launch. I shan't even have to explain about it to her, if vou'd rather I didn't. It will be enough If I teli her I’bb going on business. You will ;i*-t'(> non i you-please?'

DOINGS OF THE DUFFS —

jwm HVE Ì( ARE VOO f| Ì |li|~ fll lOP ROOM IN THAT ) I SAV THAT DECAU3E IF T ° } ' E I H,M 60 lH rHAT / /-.Ufi /' jfljii; ; [ HOPE HS J , j NEW HOUSE OF /TOM WU.L OPEN THAT ( RooM * MAY \GO UP j Q I ] | ||l| V A GIRL ! t [ YOOR6,HELEN- J LITTLE CHRISTMAS PACKAtJt AHP TAKE A LOOK P / <\Q' * ) r- I V S k I toAVE HIM, HE WiLL. FIND v P IEA&E - S ■ jjl \ V [ Ls (| W Lì gV-- 'ù.' SOMETHINO THAT MAV HELP b " (Tl f‘l M | Y i>P Itj T

THE BESTTHINCr - X NEXT" Yo Th’EA'fS) -T AT GrRAMPAS -> NEA SERVKe J

THEM DAYS ISGONE FOBEYER—

Ger ?- ili Ber 6ers his koock - gut gos-m, eceeATH lo*s /< n\OST FO@f?\fg*S3L f ne -s ujca [ m£ Tea . _ c,Smel, -

/Thold ernewtì ni inali;li r*j N (shes ARE ARI Ny fiSi “YlÉr SA^Ì l'tHAiT PESKY f<J3 %n> SKKVITT AUNT SAFìAH PEABODY BAD HER HEAD BUNDLED UP SO THAT" , STATION AGEMT PAD KEVES RAD’ lO CHASE HERt NEARLY \ THREE BLOCKS BEFOBE HE COOLD AAAKE HER. HEAK VWBAT HE HAD TP SAY A

It was not in his heart to consent, and yet ho consented, wondering that he yielded. The rescue of Marian from tho Willings was taken out of his hands without frlotion. and there remalned only himself against whom to vent his anger. He was curioualy agitated by thè encountor. Sylvia was turning a way and ho must say somethlng, though he could not express n gratitude he dld not fcol. Ilis

OUT OUR WAY—By WILLIAMS

THE OLD LIO.ME TOWN—By STANI.EY

praotical scuse grasped one Idea feebly. Ile folt its imbocillty thè moment Vie had spoken. “You'll allotv me, of eourse, to pay tour expenses. That must be understood.” Sylvia answered over her shoulder. “Oh, yes; of eourse, Mr. Bassett. j Certainly.” He meantàto accompany her to Mrs. /Owen’s door/\ut befnre ho cou'rì movo

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

she was gone, runnlng along thè path, a wliite, ghost-like figure falntly disooniible through thè trees. Ho walked on tiptoe to thè end of Mie veranda i ' oatch thè last gllmpse of her, and wuited till he caught across thè quiet night thè faint click of Mrs. Owen’s gate. And he was lnexpressibly lonely, now that. she had gone. He opened thè door of thè livingrolorn and sound his wlfe standing’

The Big Surprise

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“How Dry Uni Not”

w/.r ~ " "'rry* v• * 1 '* j' ' "~* ( y MovaJIWERE.'S AAAAi CUFFDKD % t'M GO.WI' IO \ ' C Z°^W^Osf^VS ■A Home - tuis aivìV \ / cufford ~ ustevi, Vi p^-r^’broom Pittura UOKIvJ-DOFA GAME* ì | VJHAT l'K Vi O kJ YH' CfrHER VA Vou 9POIL EVEW-rHiKiG ì 3poset> -ro -do \\ ev jt> of yh' ri * u S RU r , IDO= X MAKETHeM ( LlS'ekJ, \FTUeV WEREVIT \\ HAKiPLE?= SO p 100-nHG \ STAkJD UP KiICE lAÌ ! S'POSEDYo QE KvJOCKED \ rrU. BE VIEARER l !!? \ A RoVaJ, TREKi V'go ; VORV ***’ / V BUSWIKIGIK) t F=A AU 1 ROLLYVV BALL 1 VaJoULDYUEV HAKE'M V oF COURSE./ ~ J a Avi' KKIOCKV ALL i | -fO 9 E 5o EASV j r, y> \DOWkil- WAVK/ IpTO FALL OV/ER?/

like an accusing angel by thè centro table. She loomed tali in her blue tea-gown, with her brown braids fading down her back. "Whom were wou talking to, Morton?” she demanded with omlnous severi ty. "Miss Garrison carne over to bring a book for Blackford It’s a grammar he needed in his work." He held up thè hook in proof of his

FRECKLES AND HIS FRIENDS—By BLOSSEIi

OUR BOARDIACI HOUSE—By AHERN

assertlon, and as she tossed her head and compressed her lips he flung it on thè table with an effort to appear at eaae. “It struok ino as very kiml of her to trouble about it. You'll take coll standing there. I supposed you were asleep.” "I've no doubt you did. Morton Bassett; but how do you suppose I could sleap when you were talking right un-

DEC. 27. .1922

—By ALLMAN

—By AL POSEN

der my wtndow? I had already seti® word about thè noise you were mak ing on thè veranda.” “We were not talking loudly: 6 didn't suppose we were disi urbing you.* “So you were talking quietly, wer you! Will you please teli me veliat| you have to talk > r.iat girl aHou> that you lui . : <>ut there ir* thè dark - .”' To By ioni in ned