The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-06-29
CHAPTER VIII
Edith's Husband


quivering, white. From the next
room came muffied sounds, then Lee
Willman's voice, deep chimed, We
hement: Don't start anything,
Edith. warn you. Understand
The high, bright laugh. tinged
with sarcasm: my dear boy, par
don me. Just harmless little in
curry. No offense. Another little
within of yours? What relief If
you ever do grow upp'
Pale with indignation, Chickie
walked up to Barbara's chair. "They
are talking about me. Your sister
doesn't want me here"
Barbara dashed tears from her
eyes. What did I tell you? Always
the same. She just can't bear to see
people happy"
"She doesn't wish me to be here"
"Of course not! Because she knows
Lee and love it! That's Edith for
you. She's been that way ever since
1 can remember"
IT can leave in the morning-or
now"
Barbara sat upright. trembling:
"You won't do that! There's moth
ing personal about it. If it wasn't
you, it would be the dessert we
served for dinner; the dust on the
windows-anything! Edith can make
a scene out OF anything!'
Chickle remained standing-silent.
Barbara reached for her hand. BE
sides, this is our home more than
hers"
"Well-she's here now. She will
be with you."
"She will not, She'll make a grand
bluff about it. She'll shout to every
one that she had to rush home from
her trip because Of dear Barbara's
accident. And she won't so much
as sit an hour with me. She has
some other reason for coming home.
I, know her! I'm merely the excuse.
Besides, she's probably for gotten
how the scene started. BY morning,
she'll be ready to deny that she even
mentioned your name"
This happened. Chickie awakened
several times in the night, hot with
resentment and anger.
She rose early, intending to leave.
The maid brought her a note:
Dear Miss Bryce-Barbara tells
me you heard. I regret deeply that
you should be disturbed by the
shabby encounter. My sister men
toned your name entirely at ran
dom. Please 60 not hor ~ her petit
ness with any serious attention.
Your leaving now would be matter
of lasting shame and humiliation to
both Barbara and me.
Faithfully yours,
LEE WHITMAN"
At 10 o'clock the incident closed
as Barbara had predicted: Edith
Potter's car swung up the drive.
Edith. in a polo coat richly trimmed
with summer ermine, came. smil-
ing and cordial, to the veranda
where the two girls were sitting.
She was all honey. You won't
mind, Barbara dear, If I'm gone a
few hours? It's so nice you have
Miss Bryce. You don't think you'll
be lonesome, dear?"
To Chickie's amazement, Barbara
answered indifferently: Take your
time, Edith. We're all right"
Edith ran slender hand over the
fur musing: That's nice! Where's
our amiable brother this morning?
hope he's in a better humor! Give
him my fondest love, should he
inquire"
The car hummed down the drive.
Barbara laughed: Isn't she the de-
moniac, though! That's what Lee
calls her"
Late that afternoon, returning
from a drive, Chickie. Barbara and
Whitman were having tea in the
garden. Edith returned.
Her small, dark face was vivid
with color. She dropped languidly
into deep wicker chair. "Dick
didn't send word that he was coming,
did he, Barbara"
mo"
She stretched out her feet, smil-
ing: Lee, dear, cup Of tea If it's
not too much trouble. / know you
just adore waiting on your sister,"
Without answering, Whitman
brought her the tray. She issued
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