The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-10
the beginning Of my devotiens? To

the beginning of my devotiens? To
morrow? L petition most humbiy:''
She hesitated, confused, her glance
falling. She was about to turn again
to John, but Brandon sensed the
impulse and touched her wrist with
to his quickly. The touch burned
her, but she decided instantly to ac-
cept it's challenge.
He did not give his hand to John,
but bowed lightly. Joanna went into
the hall with him. Quite suddenly
he put his hand on her shoulder and
brought her around until she faced
him.
Don't make mistakes, Joanna"
he said, earnestly. f'There's a des-
tiny before you, now. Your per-
spective isn't that of the shop girl
any longer" Suddenly his noncha-
lance returned. She felt that the
smile at his mouth was hooking her
again, and that he was really taunt-
ing her when he onee more lifted
her fingers to his lips. She tried to
persuade herself that he was just a
different kind-the difference of
breeding, blood and association, from
the boys who called her kid" and
asked for a kiss as soon as they
happened to be alone. His differ
ence from John-that puzzled her!
For John wasn't like any Of the
other boys or men, either. He al
awys wanted to talk architecture
when she wanted to dance. She
guessed John and Brandon would
he much alike If John had had the
advantages of money.
THE advantages of money! For
John?"
She hurried back to. him; went up
to where he had dropped back into
chair, and stood before him.
81 IRST, she must do the obvi-
r GUS thing-do obeisance to the
IL etiquette of occasions where
a new and strange admirer confront
ed an old and established one I'M
expectedly. Girls were always get
ting into such muddles, and getting
out of them. She tried to persuade
herself that this was all that was
bothering John-jealousy SO pro-
found that 1T obscured the larger
events of the day.
IT didn't know he was coming,
John" she pleaded. IT didn't ask
him I just met him today, at the
bank. and didn't want him. want
ed to be with you alone"
John got onto his feet, looked down
into troubled eyes, and pushed past
the waiting form. He went over to
a table and picked up a book, FUN
bled it a moment. and then dropped
1t sharply. He swung around and
faced the girl who was watching him,
her slim breasts rising and falling
slowly:
"Well, 10! Give me the straight
of itr' he demanded, quietly. MRS.
Adams has given me tho story you
told her. We agreed, of course, 1t
was f1shy. But 1t may be all right
for her. You owe me the TRUTH
Joanna caught her breath. Her
impulse was to cry out, but she
checked it. She felt her body grow
ing rigid She stared at thu young
man who leaned against the table
regarding her coldly, cruelty, merci-
lessly He who was the only link
with her childhood, with her moth
er's geranium beds, with the school
days and birthday party days of the
little town which had been her home
their home. He who had come also
to the city, to work out his career,
and who had found her, sympathized
with her occasional moods of loneli-
ness, loved her and humored her
tempers and her ridicule Of him be-
cause he was so SLOW" but always
wanted to be with her in the home
they'd have for their very own, some
day; that he would build and make
wondrous thing with his architec-
ture!
john she whispered, the low
word meaning, as if 1t was a plead
ing out Of her soul.
He nodded, as II he thought he
had caught her thoughts, and, be-
ing what he thought they must be.
agreed with them. She rebelled
against that nod instantly and
called to him her protest:
John! What Is it-whatr'
He didn't move, but spoke in the
same even, deadly cold tone:
You mustn't lie to me. Jo," he
said. "These days are what they
are. and you girls are what you are.
Money, money, that you can't ex-
plain, doesn't come-you know when
you can't explain, 1t is because you
don's want to- or somebody doesn t
want you to. SO drop the pretense,
10, and for the sake Of what we've
been to each other, and what I've
hoped we would be to each other.
tell meas much as you dare"