The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-04-27

Her Idtner. Dragged INTO II. ms
explanation offered a fine, stout
crutch for Stella's vanity She was
now free to follow John on the
tragic road of his bitter marriage
to the ultimate misery she was per-
fectly confident would be his.
She was also free to return to the
dream Of John that had warmed
her hopes for seven years. She now
took some faded snap shots and
pushed them across the table to
Chickie. There were half a dozen
poses of a young man, bonny and
laughing, girl, vivacious with the
wondrous, fresh beauty Of youth.
Chickie looked at them and
gasped
Wouldn't know me. would you?
Don't look much like that now, do
| II"
The change from the lightsome
face Of the girl in the picture to
the harde ming features OF the still
handsome Stella was not the thing
that shocked Chickie It was the
odd resemblance she fancied between
this girlish Stella and herself-a kind
of bright eagerness as though her
white hand held gift and offered il
"a frank joyousness-she didn't
know what it was exactly-perhaps
only the love she fancied in Stella 8
eyes. Whatever the similarity, it
frightened her now to see it. She
would admit nothing in common be
tween herself and Stella Wilson.
She said hurriedly: "Oh, 1 don't
see much difference. You look about
the same. This is John? You
loved him terribly, didn't your"
Stella reached for the pictures.
She said grimly; He loved me just
as muchl Humph-fine for some
people the way things turn out. isn't
it? II l had it to DO over again"
What would you do, Stella?'
Take while the taking was good"
n the week just passed Chick
lie had found Stella's face,
Stella's bitter words coming
into her mind relentlessly. Especially
when she sat at lunch waiting for
Barry, and Barry hadn't come.
She heard with a faint clutch Of
terror in her ears. Janina's cynical:
Men are all alike! Take leaf from
Stella's book, Chickie, or the first
thing you know it will be written
into your own. Get yourself planted
in a beautiful jardiniere while you
still can grace it,"
Now-in the present highly sensi-
tive state of her feelings she felt
Stella's misery like a load of iron
clamped on her neck. She was in a
frenzy OF anxiety to see Barry
Dunno; to have her absurd fears
brushed aside by the glad joy she
would find in his eyes.
He was coming that night. She
put on a dress of green. That made
her eyes so dark-her hair so
bright
And she rushed to the door when
he rang. With an impulsive ardor
that seized her like sudden breeze
his.
When he kissed her gaily; when
he said with the lit in his voice
"Ah-the fair one is glad to- see
me? she felt like singing; like
flinging out a mighty oh hurrahr
He went on breezily: "All pref
tied up, aren't we? The dear.
blessed damoscl and no mistake.
Ride or sit--which? Beauteous
night for any little thing"
They rode She slid low in the
seat, glancing up at him, already
tremulous with relief and pleasure.
She said: airily Twice seven days
in this week. Not sou
There were. indeed. Funny case
came up" He began to talk quite
rapidly and brightly. And she was
always a little in awe Of his mind.
He knew so much; quoted so freely
a hundred poets she had never even
heard. Tonight she would have liked
much better If he had just looked
down at her, saying warmly: "Ah-
miss the dear frail!'
They stopped; gate stood open,
dark and free. No veil Of silver
fog; no drape or purple mist. Black
and austere the trees were etched
against the sky. This night
walked chaste in self-abiding
beauty.
She moved toward him, touched
/ with a sudden loneliness. She
waited for his arm about her. He
i,noked ahsentlv