Indianapolis Times, Volume 48, Number 54, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 May 1936 — Page 23

' . * iWAi 10, 1 JoO_

Today's Short Story LIVING GIFT By Emily Calvin Blake

AS time reckoned for Susan, it was only five Mrs. ClearyTuesdays since Little Brother went away. But since laughter and song, too, had gone, with mother spending her hours weeping over little, useless garments, each day seemed a- week in length. Today was Tuesday. Susan went dftwn 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 laughing 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 I out the clothes. Susan hovered about listlessly. Mary, her special friend, had gone away for a month. And no other little girl lived near. Sometimes ■she wished she were old, 12 perhaps, instead of merely 7. a a a FATHER came with noon. Each day he drove from the center of town where he had hi.<j insurance office out to the little suburb. He did this now, perhaps because Mother’s tears drew him. At the table, he suggested that Mother go sw'ay for a little while, to forget. And then Mother’s 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 lear 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 ahd 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 Alice's and visit for awhile?” a a a “T'D like that, Mother. Couldn’t A 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 refrain went with her. Mother did not •want her any more. Mother tvould be glad when she was gone. In tlie park many little boys ran about, shouting happily. Strange, she thought, that only one such going 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. “Well, Susan,” said Aunt Alice, bending to kiss her. “I saw you from the window. Come in.” a a a SHE 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. “Let’s 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. “I didn’t come today of my own self," Susan's honestly compelled her to admit. Then in a fla ,h, it all came out: “You see, Aunt Alice, mother doesn’t want me around now. She told daddy she had waited so long for a little boy, and then to have him taken away was more than she could bear.” Aunt Alice’s hands clasped themselves tight as they lay in her lap. Then: “I should have told you at once, Susan. I have a batch of raisin cookies just cool enough to eat.” a a a SUSAN tried to smile politely. “Thank you, Aunt Alice,” she answered; “but I guess I don’t want any.” Silence. Then: “Did you ever have a little boy that went away, Aunt Alice?” “No, Susan dear.” “But wasn’t there ever anybody?” “In the beginning my mother and father—and after a time someone who went away and didn’t come back.” "Is that why you made yourself everybody’s Aunt Alice?” "Perhaps that's it.” “Aunt Alice, do you suppose Little Brother went away because he didn't like it with us?” “No, dear. I don’t think that’s the reason.” "Do you know why he did leave us?”

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“It’s one of those things, Susan, we have to wait to know about.” Susan pondered this. And then the indecision that had been forming within her from the moment she had entered came forth. “Aunt Alice,” she said earnestly, “I’m giving myself to you. I belong to you now and forevermore.” Some moments passed before Aunt Alice spoke. “Do you really want to be my little girl, Susan? To come here to live with me?” she asked. a a a Susan did not answer at once, because deep in her heart she knew she loved Mother and Daddy best. But since she meant nothing in her home, she was only in the way. “Yes,” she answered at last, “I truly want to be your little girl.” “If you’re to belong to me,” said Aunt Alice, “maybe you'd better go back home and pack your clothes.” “I think I’d better,” Susan agreed. She went back by the running stream. The children still played near by and she thought for a moment she would like to join them, strangers though they were. She stood hesitant till one of the girls noticing her put out a plump hand and drew her along with her back to the group. a a a WHEN the girl who had brought her dropped out of the game. Susan did not at first miss her. She had run home, someone said at. last, and Susan accepted that. Only this playmate had been there, she had played and laughed, so she could not be lost. Little Brother, too, had played and laughed, so he could not be truly lost. This feeling was so keen, she wanted to share it with mother. But as she neared her own gate, her spirits lagged again. For mother, separate and far apart, would not be interested in anything Susan had found out. The dark cloud enfolded her again. When she opened the door and tiptoed into the hall, she was startled to see mother standing at the telephone, in the act of replacing the receiver in its cradle. She turned upon Susan a strange, awakened look as though by s'ome informing messenger, she had been pulled back into life. But Susan, though puzzled, went swiftly up the stairs and on into her own room. She looked about the loved, friendly spot she was about to leave, winking back the hot tears; then resolutely she moved to the closet that she might make a choice of the dresses she would carry with ner to her newhome. a a a SHE had laid these out nicely on her bed and searching her top dresser drawer for keepsakes, when she heard mother mounting the stairs. But the stop came and a voice asked: “Susan, may I come in?” Susan opened the door, her eyes wide and unbelieving, for mother was holding a pair of familiar blue rompers, and a smile ouched her lips as for a second she looked at these mementoes she had wrapped away in such anguish. She spoke. “Susan. I wonder if you will help me go through Little Brother's clothes, so we can give many of them away tv Jimmy.” Susan tried to spec.'-:, but 'ailed. “Jimmy will run and plej in these,” mother went on; “hell fall, pick himself up again . . . and laugh.” She was seeing another little boy falling and picking himself up, laughing in glee. But the memory no longer hurt. As though in giving away These treasures, she gave herself away, and her grief became assuaged. Only the dear love remaining. Susan, sensing all this, did not know how the miracle had happened. It had happened, but even as joy flooded her, she remembered what she had done. What she must tell. a a a MOTHER,” she faltered, “I thought you didn't want me any more ... so I'm adopted by Aunt Alice” Mother stood very still, her color quite drained from her face. Then she was across the room and had Susan folded close in her arms. “I know about that, dear,” she said, “but you’ve been given back to me for keeps.” Susan understood the miracle now. Aunt Alice had returned the gift she would have liked to keep. And Mother, too, was giving away something to which she had clung. She knew now she could share with Mother that beautiful truth she had found out this afternoon in the park. THE END. (Copvrlßht, 1836. by News Syndicate Cos, Inc. >

OUR BOARDING HOUSE

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FRECKLES AND HIS FRIENDS—

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WASHINGTON TUBBS II

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ALLEY OOP

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BOOTS AND HE tt BUDDIES

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TARZAN AND THE LEOPARD MEN

When the terrlfed and terrifying cry rose from the far end of the village, Tarzan sprang to his feet and raced toward it. Behind him scurried Sobito and the members of the tribal council. He came quickly to a crowd of grim warriors and screaming women.

. THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Tarzan pushed his way through the throng. There, at his feet, lay the body of a young warrior, the dead eyes still wide with utmost horror. Tarzan knelt down. By the light of the torches he saw those telltale marks of a claw, symbol of the Tainned Death!

With Major Hoople

OUT OUR WAY

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POOR OL' ALLEY - LOOKS AS IF HE'S ALL Y) (1 DON'T RECKON HE'LL ) WASHED UP, THIS TIME -WELL, ANYWAY ) BE NEEDikJG THIS HERE J i HE AN OL' DiNNY PASSED CROWN ANYMORE// V. x * CUT 1 THEY Y _. J '

pU I CORK |\ VWKC ’ JI^ SEUVICg, u. S. P*T. Off. and /

united’ FEATURE ■?YKDt"cA-re?'*!n? "It-2. I

“Who is he?” the Jungle Lord asked. “He was Nyawegi” a maiden wailed; “w! were to be wed on the seventh day of the next moon.” “Did any one see him killed?” Tarzan demanded. No voice broke the silence which had descended now upon, the people cl TumhaL

—By Edgar Rice Burroughs

Presently Sobito, the witch-doctor, appeared. He dropped down beside Tarzan and w'hispered mysteriously: “Behold the power of the Taloned Death which strikes, then vanishes, so that no man can say whence it comes or whither it goes. Behold the- fate, that- awaits, you!’

COMIC* PAG!

—By William*

—By Blossec

—By Crane

—By Hamlin

—By Martin