The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-05-20
BY Gilmore Meherin
CHAPTER LXXI.
TWNl. G-.sAe
The Critic

ri HICKIE stood behind the cur
II tains in the living room,
glancing with suppressed ex-
element down the block. She could
feel her eyes hard and bright; her
breath strain. A hot vividness, like
flame, touched all her nerves.
She was beautiful tonight. She
had made sure of that-combing her
hair so; polishing her nails; touch
of rouge to her cheeks. Oh, he
would see! He would find her love-
ly; lovelier than ever. Others, even
a girl more brilliant-even a girl
who knew all about Plato and
strange theories of ideas, would pale
beside her.
And he would look down gaily
and murmer: "Ah--the dear thing
so pretty she is! Away with
pedantic dames!"
She expected this. Yet now,
awaiting him, she was all taut-un-
certain. She saw his car swing
round the corner, and ran into her
room, making Jonathan open the
door.
But his eyes did light when he
saw her. And he did say with the
merriness in his voice: "Ah-you
sweet thing! All dolled?"
That boldened her so that she
said, as they drove downtown to
dance: And you had a nice time,
Mr.. Red, flirting with other frails?'
A hurst Of enthusiasm: You
missed it! wished a hundred times
you were there. Say, we've been
buried for the last year-we don't
get around-don't see things. We've
Just about gone into seed. I've for
gotten there was such a thing as a
thought in the world"
"Oh-as worse as that, is it?
Haavens-an' they let us live! But
she felt a stiffness like a thing that
folded down its wings within her.
''Well-but people like the Moores
know how to live. They're tingling.
Basil Arthur was there. That fellows
a genius. Inspiring to hear him go
to 1t. And there was a girl friend
of Has who's just returned from
Russia-been all over the world
some talker! And a young fellow
who's been engineering in Alaska
since he quit college--all kinds OF
racy experiences to tell. I never
heard so much spontaneous brilliance
IN My life. 1t was a treat.
There was a big editor from
some Eastern magazine. He's out
here on visit Interested in Ila."
Family: You mean he's in love
with her? They're engaged?"
"Oh, no-hes old-about fifty. /
mean he's excited about her poetry.
Thinks she has big future"
"She writes? OH didn't know
that"
''Well-she hasn't done much
with it, yet. She won a prize last
week. She's done some good stuff
only read couple"
Watching him feverishly, but with
soft, gracious smile: Gifted isn't
she? And beautiful, too"
"Yes-and not a trace Of con.
ceit. Doesn't seem to think herself
at all wonderful. That's rather
unusual, isn't it?"
He said all this as though he were
talking to his mother or to any dear
old lady whose heart has long
ceased it's storm.
why, she even asked my opinion
as though I were an infallible
critic"
And aren't you? VIII, thought
you and poetry were tw ns"-
"Well-I like it-thes's ALL"
$50 1T was all wondrous, 1 take
it?" She spoke with unnatural
quiet. This he didn't observe.
yes, 1t was! You begin to stop,
look and listen after an evening
like that. 1t makes you want to
clip on your spurs''-
lind suddenly, with a little
al gulp at her throat, she
Id laughed. She touched his
arm. clip on your spurs, Barry
and gallop away from your poor, I'm.
tutored idiot. Oh--and you would?"
The color died in his cheeks. He
looked down. AS he did this, she
had a queer feeling that he had for
gotten her; that he had been talk