The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-05-04

greeted him. She grew chill with
a sick, deadly fear.
No use to think. She couldn't
think. She could only feel, and
now even her emotions were passing
into a cruel numbness.
Then she fancied him coming to
her, putting his arms about her, and
she would cling to him; would
whisper warmly.
She sat on the window sill, closing
her eyes. No! She wouldn't do
that! Oh, no! Why-why-if he
preferred lunch with Ila-oh-let
him. She looked down to the
roof of the adjoining building. won
dering aimlessly how far it was. Her
whole body trembled.
That dream Of herself standing
on a gray wind-blown shore re-
turned. She worked all afternoon
with this feeling Of empty desola.
ton closing on her.
Tia Moore had his picture on her
dressing table. Her thought broke
into Has room, snatched the
picture-claiming it with a cold.
young fury.
But at o'clock she turned her
back on the alley. hurrying out with
Stella Wilson, choosing Delaware
street because he would not look
for her there.
He could go. She said this to
herself in a bleak lltany all the
way home on the street car. BY the
time she reached her door she had
so terrified herself that he might,
indeed. do this thing, she was spent
and a little frantic.
She had an idea that she would
go down to Mary's-go to a movie
take a walk But she waited in
the living-room, starting nervously
when Jennie asked mildly what had
happened during the day; bounding
from her chair when a machine
honked at the corner.
When finally he was at the door,
red hair brushed back. eye shiny
with such a boys eagerness, she
was unable to meet his look, unable
to speak. She leaned against the
wall, letting her hand rest nerveless
in his.
But he said, unaware: "Melan-
cholic tonight? Why for? Ran off
and left me? Waited for you. Here,
more presents. Amt I good to you?"
Already there melted through her
a soft, happy relief a Drumming
gratitude. just that he was here
oh, let him have lunch wherever he
pleased! Let LA Moore smile at
him! Only that he returned-only
that he came back, held her hand,
laughing down at her.
He thrust the package in her
hand-another book. She glanced
at the title; Thus Spake cara
thrushtra" Oh-Neitzsche-Ila had
a grand passion for him. With
shrill apprehension she wondered:
us he comparing me to her? A
brilliant person like that
She said febely: You bring me
philosophers. Mr.. Red? And I but
a poor, untutored ijiot"'
I'D like 10 bet that you'll get
more out OF it han these pedantic
DANES"
She laughed merrily: Meaning
Ila?"
Meaning any one you please but
a sweet, untutored iiiot!"
"Of-come in then. and let my
great intellect wander through the
pages"
mot by long sight Get your
clothes and step. Well dance to-
night"
Something blessed happen?"
May hap! On your way"
Like that, gaiety returned
rushed In silver waters over her.
Pooh! Pedantic DANES. But they
the two of them would dance. And
he was always buoyant-full of
rhythm then.
HEY went to a popular cafe.
Stepping into the lights, the
glow of music and color,
Chickie felt as always, an intensified
brightness in her mind-a sharpen
ing all along her nerves. AS though
a great golden ball Of joy opened
like a sun and she was caught into
the midst of it, More stimulating
than wine. Snatches of song
hummed to her lips With a flip
of her hand she could toss her
heart out gaily in a burst of laugh
ter.
Other girls Misunderstanding with
half closed eyes at their partners,
swaying with a seeming, innocent
abandon in the slow, throbbing
measures, fascinated her. She COM
pared her dress now to that clingy
Persian thing: now to striking
black. All Of them-herself included
were creatures of another world,
endowed for this one night with
brilliant, mysterious charm.
She watched them. wondering If
she looked graceless on the floor; If
her face took on vacant, guile.
less stare like that slim. brown girl
with her cheek so serenely against
her partners.
Barry tapped the table: Here,
frail, am I to be ignored all eve
ming as 7 was all afternoon? Come
through now-why did you give me
the back Of your hand; the back of
your head all afternoon"
Busy, sir. Very busy.
DAx~oIo DnA,