The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-07-11
CHAPTER XXI
The Double Toll

Chickie backed into the room her
eyes on that white face. Lee Will
man followed.
He stood against the door, his
head lowered. He stood so and
didn't speak.
Chickie's hands were folded and
her lips parted because of breath
less anguish She looked at this
man who had kneeled to her; whose
arms had touched in ecstasy about
her shoulders. This man who had
exalted her until she was but beauty
and spirit. She saw his face
stricken with shame and the pain
she had to bear was like the throat
or the heart torn living and slowly
out of one
He spoke in muffied tone. bare
ly audible: 81 just learned Of that
of what she did to you"
Chickie shut her eyes. What was
he saying? Just learned?
"She dared to tell me- Came this
morning ard told me. l cannot meet
your eyes"
She asked family in a soft. bro
ken murmur: What do you mean?
don't know what you mean. You
saw that was gone"
"Yes-but she said you had re-
ceived wire. Your father was hurt
in an accident. You left to catch
the train"
ooh. She told you that? Did she
tell that to Barbara"
He nodded.
$50 Barbara doesn't know. Bar
bara went away not knowing? I'm
glad of that. You don't know how
glad am for that" She stood quiet
there in the middle Of the room. her
eyes down, and her voice was a plea
as though she reached out her hand
to him.
He moved toward her, an eager
ness coming like a light across his
mouth: Helena. Do you mean you
can care? You can think Of us at
all, after that? am ashamed to
stand before you"
She shivered, confusion in her
mind And, suddenly, glancing up
ward, beheld his eyes, rapt, intent,
worshiping. They dropped a terror
upon her because of what they told;
because of their young. passionate
faith so bindly shining.
He said hoarsely, as though the eff
fort were enormous: Helen, do you
count the fault mine? Did you think
I could foresee she would do q
CHASTITY thing like this? 1t is worse
than anything; worse than I could
have dreamed If you had only
come to me"
She swayed a little, folding more
tightly her hands They were so
cold She looked down at her feet,
noticing the points Of her slippers,
fastening on this common detail to
steady her thoughts.
Then she said, with the breath OF
it an agony: What are you mean
ing? Oh--it doesn't matter-noth-
ing matters. Nothing. Did she tell
you all? All of it?'
He pressed his fist against his
mouth: Don't think Of it! Please!
She told enough-enough-"
All, yes-and you What do you
say-what?"
He took hurried step, caught her
two hands: Helen! She could tell it
thousand times. She could shout
1t to the heavens. Do you think I'd
care? Do you think I'd believe one
single word"
She rocked from him: "Oh-oh-'
and showed with a little wild ges-
ture, his hands from hers.
He stood bewildered, the intent
vividness fading from his face until
it became like powdered ash. He
asked, incredulous: why do you
treat me so? Do you blame me?
How could guess?"
She smiled, her lips drawn white
with desperation. She tried to
speak; to look up then and bravely
meet his eyes. But she could only
fold her hands; only press them with
a mute and tragic prayer.
He came up then and touched
those icy hands. ''Helen-are you
hurt too much? You never wish to
see me again? Is that It? 1t was
the cruelest thing? 1t was she
wished to suffer-not you-Helen-'
The wound hidden so deeply in
her heart opened, flowing with a
warm, new anguish; and it seemed
to her that she was Staying some
thing; a frail, radiant thing. She
must do this-stand here and watch