The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-04-25
as Z pftstnI pObsIDIIIly.
GO ON WITH THE STORY


by ElenOre Meherin
He began to walk again. Finally
he sat on the edge Of the bed and
kicked off his shoes He was cold,
SLED with uneasiness. He got into
oed and began to read.
The words brought no thought to
his crowded mind He turned the
pages viciously saying to himself,
THE deuce"
He had a spent feeling-a burn
ing agitation-as he went hack over
that scene in the little living room.
He wondered II he had agreed to
marry Chickie without waiting. Did
she take his impulsive wish as n
promise? Did she accept it as defn-
itely settled now?
He could feel the yielding sweet
ness Of her arms about his neck.
He tried to shake his head free. she
couldn't think that. He had already
told her definitely. He had no mon
ey. He would tell her again-nake
1t plain He would have to. No use
evading-
An idea Of himself standing Oh
bluff, pursued by hurricane, by
flame, held his thoughts trembling.
But he would not jump-not into
that. The prospect of marriage re-
PEELED him. He wasn't ready for it.
He hsd work before him. The sue
cess of his whole life demanded
these few .5ears of unhampered eff
fort He dared not throw them
away. He wouldn't. No one should
ask it
Tomorrow after lunch he would
ask Chickie to take a walk. He
would find out what she thought.
No sooner was this decision estab-
lished than his sensitive ima gina
tion brought her before him, sweet
face turned to his with tender, gen
tie acquiescence that had flushed
his veins like wine Now he could
see her eyes covering from him in
the hurt he would give.
He tossed the magazine to the
floor. switched out the light.
E-7OON the next day, Chickie
I'M waited at the table. She
y watched men and girls get
ting their trays Smiles played In
and out about her lips.
One o'clock he hadn't come. Just
the day she wanted-oh. so much to
see him. In a grieved rush of dis
appointment, tears sprang into her
eyes.
All afternoon she kept glancine
across the alley. Her ardent wish
failed to bring him from the
shadow
That night he phoned. He was
busy. No, he couldn't come-well-
he didn't know about tomorrow
"Barry-you sound so far away"
shy laugh-"Why you SOUND
frozen
"I'm tired. Chickie-that's all
The next day she ate alone But
at o'clock he met her. He WAS raie
lines at his full-cut, winSome
mouth
Thought we could go out to-
morrow night. Chickie, but I've not
finished. Awful lot Of work. You
see Tufts is away-Im doing all his
stuff. Great chance for me
$50 many things l wanted to talk
about. Barry-you know = The
vistful young girl eagerness or her
lighted all anew the warmth in his
senses.
He said with impetuous ardor'
"Ah. listen, Chickie-wen nave 10
talk about all those sweet Things
THEY'LL keep. won't they? You know
we've a long time-we've years and
years just for talking, haven't we!
He saw then. just for II moment
what he hated to see-her eyes
taking the hurt, covering 1t quickly.
She said blithely, "Oh, my, yes!
Nc hurry at all--at all"
whole week she ate alone. Each |
night he phoned. This only made
her bitter. Yet at noon her feet
drew her with aching desperation to
the cafeteria.
One day looking down at the
bracelet he had given her for Christ.
mas-a thin gold band with lacy |
carving and a pretty amethyst In
the centeI-looking at 1t through |
misted eyes. she saw a form moving |
to her table, sitting opposite.
With a racing gladness flushing
her face, she raised her head, heard
a rich kind voice: That look for
me Chickie, my dear?'
It was Jake.
In her piona and 1onelness she
turned with a hard gayety TO Jake.