The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-23


made my own way, and have money
Of my own, I will be wanting you"
he said slowly. She probed his words
and understood what he really
meant. You mean" she said,
that you still want me enough.
even, to take me, no matter what l
shall have become, by then? Isn't
that it?" He wouldn't answer her.
She continued:
WAS it because you think that I
should be drab, and a killjoy, and go
into a shell and hide, except when
some prudish chaperon is satisfied
that I have enough clothes outside
of me and enough false shyness in
side of me to make it safe for her
to take me out for walk in
churchyard, that you spent more
than an hour shut away in here
with Yvonne? She doesn't walk
about with her eyes on the ground
and her mind on the purities Of the
lily. Didn't you suffer-all alone
with her?"
I'VE were talking of you" he re-
piled, shortly.
Eyes" she retorted, her eyes mar
rowed a bit, there's a man who
| coaxed me into the winter garden
just little while ago, and spent
the whole time talking Of his wife. l"
She knew that she was being ut
terily foolish, and childish, and ir-
relevant. But still she watched
John curiously. For some reason
he thought it necessary to explain.
when I told her 1 was going and
wanted to say good night, as I
should, she brought me in here. Be-
fore realized it I got to telling
her how much 1 do love you, and
why I can't have you. That was all.
She told me, of course, that / was
a fool. She is one who would think
so.'
"And so am I, John" Joanna told
him, quickly.
TT KENILWORTH opened the
TX door. When he saw that
John was still there he would
have gone away and closed the door
behind him. Joanna called him back.
Mr.. Wilmore is just leaving" she
explained, cycling John, coolly. And
1 don't want to go out and dance
just yet. 1 want you to stay in
here and talk to me-
1t would have been an awkward
moment If Roddy had been one
ever to be at a loss to meet any
situation. His wisdom seldom
failed. He chaffed her and said good
night to the younger man with an
ease that cleared the atmosphere.
When John went out Joanna did
not get up from the couch. She
held out her hand to him and
when he took it she wrapped her
fingers about his and held them for
moment. There were no words
between them.
Roddy went over and gently
closed the door. which John had left
opened. When he stood over the girl
her head dropped onto her arm. She
had drawn her knees under her. AS
Roddy took note Of her he con-
cluded that just then she was not
thinking of herself, or of anything
about herself Instinctively he
sensed the slow swaying of a scale
beam. weighted at either end with
two precious bits Of magic. And he
knew that one end of the scale was
slowly dropping. He wondered which
end would be heaviest.
Without warning rustic the
limp figure on the couch straight
ened and rose. Roddy knew how the
scale had turned. He was startled
by the change in Joanna. Her poise
was new, and almost regal. There
was something naughty and some
thing else defiant and dangerous in
her.
II wonder" she asked him. stir
ring him with a look from between
her lids that he had not caught be-
fore, IF you would think me very
silly If I should ask you to do a
very silly thing"
His answer was the obvious one.
And it was obvious, also, that he
should go little closer to her. The
message in her eyes made it so. II
want you tO kiss me-" she said
E drew her up to him in
I'LL stantly. His lips had almost
brushed hers when she sud
denly pressed him back-again that
trick with her hands. IT want to
tell you something, firstr she ex-
claimed. ut isn't you Roddy,/ that
l want to kiss me-anyone would do
just now. There's something on
my lips, something that was put
there little while ago, want taken
off-it needs a kiss to do 1t. Be
cause you happen to be here I am
asking you. You see l must be fair
to you-since I am doing the ask
ing"
"One explains d kiss afterward,
never before" he murmured, and
caught her hands and held them.
She yielded her lips completely. She
felt that she was being wrapped in
burst of flame. She closed her
ha Oh