The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-02-16

WIN a ulppanL lIL ana crop OF DOln
hands. "Oh, my dear!'' she laughed
"I won't eat your
And as the discounted young man
watched her, seeming able to lift his
eyes, now that her back was turned,
she went to the front door and pushed
open the screen. ''Let'sngo out on the
porch,'' she said. Where we be-
longr'
Then, when he had followed her
cut, and they we're seated, Isn't this
better" she asked. Don't you feel
more like yourself out here?"
He began a rnurmur: mot at"
But she cut him off sharply: please
don't say Not at all again.
I'm sorry"
you do seem sorry about some
thing" she said. what is it? Isn't
it time you were telling me what's
the matter?"
Nothing. Indeed nothipg's the
matter. OF course one is rather af-
fected by such weather as this. It
may make one little Quieter than
usual, of course"
She sighed, and let the tired mus
cles of her face rest Under the hard
lights. indoors. they had served her
until they ached, and It was q lux
ury to feel that in the darkness no
grimacings need call upon them.
"Of course, if you won't tell
me- she said.
Il can only assure you there's moth
ing to tell"
It know what an ugly little house
it is" she said. MAYBE it was the
furniture-or mama's vases that up
set you. Or was it mama herself
or papa?"
Nothing upset me"
At that she uttered a monosyllable
Of doubling laughter. II wonder why
you say that"
Because it's So"
NO. It's because you're too kind.
or too conscientious. or too embar-
rassed-anyhow too something-to
tell me-" She leaned forward, elbows
on knees and chin in hands, in the
reflective attitude she knew how TO
make graceful. Il have a feeling
that you're not going to tell me-"
she said. slowly. 'Yes-even that
you're never going to tell me,
WONDER wonder"
Yes? What do you wonder2"
Il was just thinking wonder if
they haven't done it, after all"
~ don't understand"
Y wonder" she went on. still slow
ly, and in a voice of reflection, L won
der who has been talking about me
to you, after all? Isn't that it,"
Not at" he began, but checked
himself and substituted another form
OF denial Nothing is it,"
Are you sure?"
Why, yes"
How curious she said.
''Why?"
Because all evening you've been so
utterly different"
But in this weather."
No. That wouldn't make you
afraid to look at me all evening"
But I did look at you. Often"
No. Not really Il look
But I'm looking at you now"
"Yes-in the dark she said. No
the weather might make you even
qUieter than usual, but it wouldn't
strike you so nearly dumb. No-and
it wouldn't make you seem to be
under such a strain-as if you thought
My to escapew
But I haven't"
You shouldn't" she interrupted.
gently. There's nothing you have to
escape from, you know. You aren't
committed TOTO this friendship"
I'm sorry you think" he began,
but did not complete the fragment.
She took it up. You're sorry I
think you're so different, you mean to
say, don't you? Never mind; that's
what you did mean to say, but you
couldn't finish it because you're not
good at deceiving."
oh. no." he protested, feebly.
I'm not deceiving. Tn"
Never mind" she said again.
You're sorry 1 think you re so diff
ferent-and all in one day-since last
night. Yes, your voice sounds sorry,
too. 1t sounds sorrier than it would
just because Of my thinking some
hing you could change my mind
about in a minute-so it means
you're sorry you are different"
MOI"
But disregarding the faint denial,
Never mind" she said. DO you
remember one night when you told
me that nothing anybody else could do
would ever keep you from coming
here? That if you--if you left me
it would be because drove you away
myself?''
Yes" he said. husldly. TT was
true"
Are you sure?"
Indeed I am" he answered in a
low voice, but with conviction.
Then" She paused. "Well-but
I haven't driven you away"
No
And yet you've gone," she said,
quietly.
DO I seem SO stupid as all that?"
You know what I nean.'' She
leaned back in her chair again, and
her hands, inactive for once, lay mo-
tionless in her lap. When she spoke
It was in a ,rueful whisper:
II wonder if I have driven you
away?"
You've done nothing-nothing at
all" he said,
81 wonder she said once more.
but she stopped. In het mind she
was going back over their time to-
gether since the first meeting-frag-
ments of talk. moments Of silence, lit.
tie things of no importance. little
things that might be important: