The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-07-13

plan.
Again Chickie stood behind that
closed doorAand she was now so
blanched; so weakened with alarms,
life seemed passing from her. She
had little thought Of herself; of the
shame put upon her.
She saw this father, who for the
first time looked old and helpless;
saw him pulling on his hat in that
forlorn way; saw men searching the
lonely roads. She had wish to go
out herself, climb through the brush,
kneel at Lee Wiilmarl's side, speak
softly t
But she could never give him back
what she had taken--any more than
she could return to Jimmy the full,
pure sweetness of his love-
Chickie sat up that night thinking
of distributing quietly with the
fear laboring all the while in her
mind. She knew that she was guilt
less Of Turing Lee Whitman. From
the first moment she had told him
love for her was impossible.
But he had gone on, dreaming of
her; thinking her all beauty. Life
had fashioned for him in her sweet
form, the ideal he craved. He
wanted passionately-as a child
demands.
1t was snatehed from him in this
pitiless revelation. And like child
he cried out because of his great
hurt.
She said to herself, trembling:
What did do?" and she began to
walk softly in swift, nervous agi-
tation. ITS not my fault"
Denying it, she became more
rightened--that stark image stretch
ing pale and motionless before her.
And there kept flying into her
mind the thought of escape-pack
up and go. When she saw herself
doing this, she was drawn back to
the hills-to the farm there.
At midnight she went into the hall.
intending to call the police and in
quire if any word had come. But
Mrs. Janis was in the little sitting
room-reading. Chickie went back
to her room.
It's dark emptiness impressed her.
Oh-it was terrible being here so
alone. If she could have walked
down the hallway and listened to
Jonathan snoring; or if she could
have felt near her another kindly
human presence.
She wished now that she had gone
with Norp whitman; insisted on ac-
companying him--anything to avoid
herself and the utter bewilderment
let loose within her heart.
The morning paper had q small
account of Lee Willnan's disappear.
ance. He had gone on 9. sketching
trip, the paper said He was an
amateur artist and had left his car
far north of the city, He must have
lost his way But the searching
party were hopeful Of finding him
before another night.
Chickie read this at breakfast in a
small cafeteria She wandered down
the street, half intending to inquire
at the whitman home.
She kept walking, saying to her
self. Why should he die for me? l
told hinn-why Should he care that
much?"
It was a soft, MINDLESS day in late
August She reached the Italian
quarter of the city. Men loafed about
in front of fruit stands, women in
shawls were hurrying to a little
church. Nearly all of them carried
babies.
Chickie watched them, she said to
herself absently: They are going to
pray"
Suddenly she turned away. She
went into a store and called Norp
Willman's office. He was not there.
A man answered: He is looking for
his SON. He will not be in
She shivered.
1t was we'll into the afternoon
when she returned to the boarding
house. A car stood at the door. 1t
belonged to Edith Potter. a
Her heart humping so loudly it
made her faint, Chickie went UP the
steps. No one in the boarding house
parlor. In her room, perhaps.
They were-Barbara and Edith.
Edith sat at the window, her head
turned. But Barbara was standing
her face had no color. She looked
at the floor.
Chickie said: "Oh--you had to
come back"
Barbaras lips moved She bit
them together: "Helena-you ought
at least tell me-where is Lee
oh, I'm nearly crazy -. Where is
he?"
II don't know"
But you must have some idea.
You know what he was going to do"'
II don't know
But he came here last-how can
you treat us so? You can say wha-
happened. Oh-what have you to
lose! After all you've done-you can
at least tell that"
Chickie felt her heart turn white
with that She went up to Barbara.
IT will tell you anything you wish
to know-anything-
Then, what did he say when he
left? Oh--this is the most awful
thing-what did he say?"
HE asked me if those things
were true. told him that they
were"
Barbara drove her teeth into her