The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-02-06

w nat nonsense! SAID RuSSeil.
How could anybody be impressed
with me?"
why not? Because you're quiet?
Good gracious! Don't you know that
you're the most impressive sort? We
chatterers spend all our time playing
to you quiet people"
Yes; we're only the audience"
Only she echoed. why, we live
for you. and we can't live without
you"
Il wish you couldn't" said Russell
THAT would be a new experience for
both OF US. wouldn't it?"
1T might be a rather bleak one
for me" she answered lightly. I'm
afraid I'll miss these summer evenings
with you when they're over. III miss
them enough thanks"
DO they have to be over some
timer" he asked.
"Oh. everything's over some time,
isn't it?"
Russell laughed at her. Don't let's
look so far ahead as that" he said.
I'VE don't need to be already thinking
of the cemetery, do we?''
Il didn't" she said, shaking her
head. Our summer evenings will be
over before then, Mr.. Russell"
''Why?" he asked.
Good heavens"' she said. There's
laconic eloquence: almost a proposal
in a single word. Never mind. 7
shan't hold you to it. But to answer
you: well, I'm always looking ahead.
a. nd
things are coming out"
Yes" he said. II suppose most of
US do; at least 1t seems as II we did,
because we so seldom feel surprised
by the way they do come out But
maybe that's only because life isn't
like a play in a theater. and most
things come about 80 gradually we
get used to them"
No, I'm sure can see quite a
long way ahead" she insisted, gravely
And it doesn't seem to me as If
our summer evenings could last very
long. Somethingu interfere-some-
body will, I mean-theyu say some
thing
What if they do?"
She moved her shoulders in a little
apprehensive SILVER. It'll change
you" she said. I'm just sure some
thing spitefuls going to happen to me-
You'll feel differently abOut-things. "
Now, isn't that an idear' he ex-
claimed
1T will" she insisted. Il know
something spitefuPs going to hap
penn
You seem possessed by a notion
not a bit hattering to me-" he re
marked
"Oh. but isn't it? That's just what
it is. Why isn't it?"
Because It implies that I'm made
Of such soft material the slightest
breeze viii mess me all up. I'm not
so like that as I evidently appear;
and If it's true that were afraid other
people will do the things we'd be
most likely TO do ourselves, it seems
TO me that I ought to be the one to
be afraid. I ought to be afraid that
( somebody may say something about
me to you that will make you be-
heve I'm a professional forger"
NO. We both know they won't"
she said. We both know you're the
sort Of person everybody in the world
says nice things about" She lifted
her hand to silence him as he laughed
at this. oh, Of course you are! I
think perhaps you're a little flirtatious
most quiet men have that one sly
way with 'en-oh, yes, they do! But
you happen to be the kind of man
everybody loves to praise. And if you
weren't, I shouldn't hear anything
terrible about you. I told you 1 was
unpopular; I don't see anybody at all
any more. The only man except you
who's been to see me in a month is
that fearful little fat Frank Bowling,
and I sent word to him I wasn't home
Nobody'd tell me Of your wickedness,
you see"
Then let me break some news to
you, Russell said. ''Nobdy would tell
me Of yours, either. Nobody's even
mentioned you to me"
She burlesqued a cry OF anguish
That is Obscurity! I suppose I'm too
apt to forget that they say the popu-
I latiOns about half a million now
/ adays. There are other people to talk
about, you feel, them"
None that I want to- he said But
I should think the size Of the place
might relieve your mind of what seems
! to insist on burdening 1t. Besides, ia
I rather you thought me a better man
I than you do"
What kind Of a man do I think
you are?"
The kind affected by what's said
about people instead Of by what they
[ do themselves"
Aren't your"
No, I'm not" he said. IF Won
want our summer evenings to be over
you'll have to drive me away your
self"
/ Nobody else could?"
/ mo"
She was silent, leaning forward
1 with her elbows on her knees and her
| clasped hands against her lips Then,
/ not moving, she said softly:
we'll won'tp'
/ She was silent again, and he said
nothing. but looked at her, seeming
/ to be content with looking. Her at.
| titude was one only a graceful per
| son should assume, but she was
/ graceful; and, in the wan light, which
/ made a prettily shaped mist of her
she had beauty. Perhaps It was
/ beauty of the hour, and of the love
/ scene almost made into form by what
/ they had both just said, but she had
/ it; and though beauty Of the hour
/ passes. he who sees it will long re-
member It and the hour when it came.
/ What are you thinking OFF, he