The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-06-05

row night-say o'clock. Oh, II 10
known! 1 wish to God I'd known!
She swayed against him, a dark
ness Of pain in her eyes. She said
weakly: You're so white. Oh-you
think I wanted this-do your"
"No-no Don't feel so. Chickie
never dreamed of such = thing
such a shock. Does any one know
it?"
She shook her head. But she held
to his arm. "Barry-you don't want
to marry mel I know-I see that
don't want it, either. But it can't b.
what we want now. We cant thin 4
Of ourselves. Olive can't! Tn
afrald-Barry, you must not come
tomorrow"
"I'll come. You know I'll come
I'll be there. 1t won't do any good
to go wild about 1t. Think Of that
Chickie. Don't worry any more. I'm
out here on business. I have an
appointment for eight o'clock. It's
much later
He took her arm, whispering: mo
use making 1t worse. Well meet It.
He called a taxi. II can't see you
home, Chickie. You'll be all right.
Don't worry. That won't solve it.
Come here at eight"
AS he helped her to the car, her
fingers ran along his arm. loitered.
Barry, the way you look! It
frightens me-" She raised her face,
delicate, shimmering with tears. She
wanted him to kiss her.
His hands bit into her arm; the
pallor of his lips became terrible,
But she smiled, her eyes entreat-
ing: Don't you care at all-not-
oh"
He leaned down swiftly, untwin-
ing her fingers. He brushed her
lips with his.
TFTERWARD she could feel
l|A that touch like an aching
Ill wound. He said Tomorrow,
Chickie. At eight. Well. don't worry
any more. 1t will be all right"
She sank in a corner of the taxi.
She didn't think. Queer sounds
| oIi u5SlCQ al llcI luIOdl. OI0 SHOOk
them back "No-no-a shock-of
course. Tomorrow, tomorrow"
She shut her eyes-tried to still
the chattering of her teeth.
She brushed her hair long while
that night. She walked in her bare
feet, quietly about the room, twist
ing her hands. But she said: Il
won't worry. That won't do any
good
Then she switched out the light
and in the darkness knelt at her
bed. She was praying. She said
again and over: "God-dear Cod
Oh, Cod" There came to her a
feeling of supporter something
strong to lean upon.
II remained with her. During the
next day it was a buoyant thing
like hope. She even smiled as she
thought: "Tonight-oh--"
That evening when she reached
home there was a letter. 1t was
typed She took it quietly, went into
her room, locking the door She sat
with the envelope in her hands, little
beads of cold perspiration on her
forehead. A presage, as Of death,
stole upon her.
Barry had written the letter. 1t
wasn't signed Nor was it clear and
swinging, with a flash about its
phrase 1t was a broken, incoherent
! thing:
I'm writing this. Chickie. ]
couldn't tell you. Nothing could be
more gLastly. But you say it's so.
L suppose you're certain. I can't
believe it-can't understand it. Why
should it happen now and not be
fore? Things were the same.
TIN not blaming you-you think
| that-but I'm not! Only it's
monstrous for me. If you had
reached me sooner, I would have
come Now-I'm not sure what to
do.
when 1 wrote you that last letter
and you sent no answer, I was
certain you felt the parting was the
only thing for both, of us. We had
outgrown our feeling. 1t was better
to end it so. Better for you and for
me.
mo good recalling this, know
And I won't try to dodge the burden
I'll do whatever 1 can, Chickie
/ Well have to meet 1t, of course. l
may not be- too late yet.
COR better-you can go away
somewhere and wait till it is over
No one need ever know of 1t. We
can easily plan so that no word neec
ever be heard. 1t can be made easy
for you, Chickie
Don't think that I don't care.
do! I'd give up my life this moment
to wipe out the whole CHASTITY blum
der-to take away this pain from
you. In way, it's more awful t.
me.
But Wen arrange it. Well hay,
to. Tomorrow night we'll settle IL
1 think tho wisest thing is for yor
to leave, at once. You can go on {
vacation. You can go and wait there
I'll help you. I don't say this t.
hurt you Chiclxie, I'll do what
can now-and afterwards I'll d.
whatever you think Is right.
81 can't do as you ask. We cam
be married. If I had got your mee
sage two weeks ago, would hav,
come. I can't now. Chick.e-don' I
let this rob you of reason-don't le
US make it any more tragic. We car
still meet it sanely. I'll stick unit
1t is over. And you'll have to, o,
course.
But what you ask is impossible,
now. I would be tragedy enough
even so-now it Is beyond choice.