The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-21

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almost blended into her skin. Roddy
said only that she was pretty ana
her dress becoming. Yet she under
stood that the man who was speak
ing. and who had bantered her put
a few nights before with the threat
of his pursuit of her, already wanted
TO take her slim body into his arms
and crush it. She decided she would
have to strengthen her battlements.
She had learned to make her lips
provocative, and use her. knowledge
boldly and saucily. She had the
sense that in this order OF life, so
different from the domain OF the
silk counter and it's flrtations, 1t was
much more dangerous to be provoK-
ing.
- HE majority of the men were,
ITE of course, only silly. Especi-
ally those who were obvious
Nv important men Of affairs, and VINO
amused Joanna with their common
adoption of one phrase. Il wish my
wife were like you, now!' Three In
succession! One who conf1ded to her
that he was an attorney representing
"some of our very large interests,
another whose name was magic IN
store that competed with the one
she had left, even Pendleton, who
had been both a diplomat ana
statesman!
AS he breathed his response to her
buoyant and restless youth, Pendle'
ton indicated to her a pretty woman
who probably was forty but looked
thirty. and who seemed, in some in
tangible way, to be not very happy.
Joanna saw that her eyes always
followed her husband. Joanna
thought she would like Mrs. Pendle-
ton. And she didn't like Pendle'
ton. She gave him an unexpected
acknowledgement Of his If my wife
were like you, now, I'd know how
really to enjoy being in love-!
Haven't you ever talked that over
win anyone? Just for example
Mrs. Marks?"
Offense colored in his face i'm
mediately. But the girl in front OF
him was laughing up at him SO
brightly that he was helpless.
Because Doris happens occasion
ally to meet me for tea," he pro-
tested doesn't necessarily mean
that we have condolences. Any
how, can't we forget everyone else,
for this minute you have given me?"
Joanna couldn't, she told him, and
left him with a parting sally. A
moment later she timidly touched
Mrs. Pendleton on the arm. "You
won't mind will YOU" she asked
Pendleton's wife, IF say that l
want to know you? You see," she
lied, 81 have met Mr.. Pendleton, and
he was good enough to think you
might like me! 1 wish you would"
The older woman was plainly con-
fused, but recovered instantly. She
took one of the girls hands between
both her own.
why, that is sweet of you, NJ
dearr' she exclaimed warmly. She
was openly delighted by the pretty
! enthusiasm Of the young girl, who
was the nights most frivolous
butterfly. She was afraid she would
go down in the torrent that seethed
about her-a torrent that glittered
and swept up laughter, luxury ana
extravaganza, and the stakes of
many CANDLES in love. This fear
suddenly distressed Mrs. Pendleton.
When Kenilworth found pp.
portunity to claim her again he saw
that the first excitements of Joanna's
triumph in her success among these
friends of Yvonnes had subsidized,
and that she was troubled. She de-
MED it, when he accused her, but
almost Immediately afterwards ad-
mitted it. She had missed John!
Brandon had talked with her but a
few moments, resigning her, grace
fully, to others who, made insistent
| by their third and fourth drinks, de-
manded their dance or tilt of wits
with her. He had not mentioned
| that John had come, and had watch
ed her entrance down the stairs and
hilarious reception. Neither had
Keniiworth, and Yvonne seemed
suddenly to have disappeared from
among her guests. Joanna began to
want to go up to her boudoir and
confront the pain of her disappoint-
ment. She could not restrain a little
cry when Roddy told her:
But there is hep" she exclaimed.
Please, won't you keep people away
from me. while we find him? He
couldn't have gone
| They looked in the dim-lit winter
garden, peopled with couples whose
moods were for faint lights, and in
the other rooms which had been
thrown open. Brandon, too, had
missed him, and so had Dorminster.
Roddy, falling to glimpse Yvonne in
any of the rooms, decided to seek
her out in the morning room, off
the reception hall, the little retreat
of which few of her guests knew and
to which none had admission but
Kenilworth and Brandon. Roddy
was convinced John would not have
gone, even If he avoided Joanna,
without a word to his hostess.
When Joanna saw him standing in
the center of the room she was sud
denly angry, despite her eagerness.
She would not forgive him, readily,
she decided, for ignoring her. Then
she realized that she could do moth
ing but forgive. Yvonne, who had
sat directly in front of him, curled
in her great, soft chair, rose when
she and Roddy entered.
i've been enjoying this boy of
yours tremendously" she said to
Joanna. Joanna went quietly up to
John. She was biting her lips to
keep them from trembling. Yvonne,