The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-06-29
WITH THE STORY
By Gilmore Meherin
CHAPTER VII
Tho Clash

@ 34 OI1AT 1Eh VII
The Clash
why won't you ride with me
ISIS Bryce?" He wouldn't release
r hand, nor did his eyes, dwelling
hers, waiver.
"I'd rather not"
''Yes-but' I ask why. It's very
battling. Why are you so deter
mined about this? I ask you to din
ner. You refuse. Barbara invites
you for the week end. You plead an
other engagement Now out here,
your evenings are all free. Why
won't you accept a mere courtesy?''
"Well--that's not exactly it, Mr.
whitman. You know that I came
out here as matter of business
I'm employed by your father-his
stenographer. He sent me out here. y
Chickie laughed, but she went on
resolutely: HE sent me out here to
attend to his daughters correspond
ence, not to ride with his son."
What has my father to do with
it-with you and me?"
"A great deal. I don't wish to
take advantage OF the position"
Doubt flashed a moment over his
mobile face, then he leaned down to
her with his short, infectious laugh.
us that it, Miss Bryce? Is that
true?"
"Yes-it isl
"Well-it's bunk--pure bunk. Con-
ventions like that don't figure with
me. I choose my associates where
I find them to suit. My fathers
stenographer is the same as my
fathers child. That's all there is to
it. Understand that, please. Now,
will you come for a ride tonight"
Chickie bit her lips, exasperated,
yet cornered She said uneasily, not
meeting his eager scrutiny: "Ho-
you brush things aside, Mr.. Will
man! Suppose my ideas are bunk?
They're the only ideas I've got. You
may differ from other men, but I've
found it a good rule to keep business
and friendships separate"
For a moment he was silenced, a
hurt anger blazing into his face.
Then he said slowly: "Well, it's too
late for your rule now, Miss Bryce"
There was time when Chickie
would have clasped her hands in
futile, gentle acquiescence; a time
when she had accepted even unwel-
come attentions rather than adj
minister a hurt. But she knew now
that no man ever credits a girl
with such a motive. He is always
arrogantly certain that she takes his
caress because she Graves it.
Just now Chickie was inwardly
roo alarmed to evade. She knew
that look of humility and awe In
Lee Willmans eyes. She wanted to
escape.
His eyes and his voice were
rnccking: But have you really
found it necessary to be so stern
with yourself and others? Have you
found men as impossible as all
that?'
She felt a streak of red darting to
her temples and suddenly, her eyes
smarted. The sun flashed like dia-
monds on the pool In the tree
above them a wild canary sang
poured out it's soul in melody.
Chickie rose.
Don't go, Miss Byce-please, I'm
sorry / insisted"
She smiled: I'm sorry to seem
so ungrateful-"
"Not ungrateful, Miss Byce. Wait
just a moment. Well-it seems to
me that you're going to make life
mighty barren and harsh You
surely don't intend to go on always
refusing even a casual dinner invi-
tation, do your"
She decided quickly: IT think TIL
tell you, Mr.. Whitman. I don't mind
dinner, Il 1t Is a casual one. I
shouldn't object to an occasoianl
ride. But I honestly don't want the
serious attention of any man. 1
don't want men to tell me I'm
beautiful"
* He stood before her, tall, full Of
nervous grace. He watched intently
the movement of her lips. do you
think you can stop them, Miss
Bryce? But wait-I'll not mention
beauty again. But do want to talk
to you. You won't mind that?"
"Well--now you understand ex-
actly how I feel
II don't understand 1t at all. A
girl as young as you are These
things you refuse are exactly what
other girls want. Even Barbara.
You. can't go on like this"
But I'm going to. Mr.. Whitman.
Being young, I have lots of time
"Have you some great ambition,
then, that makes sacrifice necessary?
Are you some great dreamer, Miss
Bryce? Or the apostle Of a new re-
ligion?"
NO think not"
They had moved slowly to the
crest Of little knoll. Whitman
pointed across the fields. He took
Chickie's arm. They, too have
beauty. The mind rejoices to
acknowledge it. l, too, am looking
for dream, Miss Bryce. haven t
found it-not yet"
They came into view Of the
house, serene in its white, dreaming
peace. He said suddenly, as though
following aloud his thought. but if
accept all your terms, Miss Bryce;
IL I look on you merely as some
lovely statue the quick smile en-
livened his face, I'VE can be friends.
then?''
"Yes-but you must know that
mean completely what ! said.
Alone in her room. Chickie ktood
ut the window, letting her face less
the cold glass. Her pulses XII I'd
Is though she had been ~
frantically. She said to her