The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-12-12
CHAPTER l.

1ARBARA leaned against the JamD, ner lace
resting right hand her left hand limp at her side
Outside footsteps creaked down the old wooden steps and
clicked on the sidewalk. Then the gate slammed
The Steps hasy decisive, with hint Of sharpness
They did hesitate but went down the street until Bar
bara heard them
At last she straightened her shoulders brushed hand
forehead and started toward the stairway AS she
rounded the landing clock distant room struck twelve
Her mother of the shadows of the dining
and glanced closed door Then she peered the stair
av There were no sounds from above Mrs Hawey moved
hail. boted the door, snapped out the lights and
climbed the stairs
Barbara was sitting the bed when her mother entered
She was brushing her hair with sharp strokes OF sverbacked
brush and there line between her eyes.
''Would you like cup of tea Babs? asked her mother
There is cold meat cake in the pantry You ddn
much dinner
..Im not hungry mother answered Barbara But per-
haps the tea
Mrs Hawley was gone almost before the words out
Barbara brushing hair her face growing grim
every Then suddenly she dropped the brush and
melted into limp little heap the bed, sobbing.
the of had passed. she sat again and
wiped her eyes, They grayblue redrimmed and
swimming She dabbed them with hard little ball of wet
handkerchief and sat up very straight
she slipped off the bed thrust her feet into the satin
mules that lay waiting and crossed the to the fire
place Hawley house belonged to that of the past
in which open hearths not unusual in bedrooms
On the rug fire. Barbara sat down, huggng her
knees with She stared the fire. and seeing that
it was about to 60 out abbed with little brass poker
The flames up frightened the Barbara
thankful added warmth Her body in the thin silk
oungng robe shverng with that sick GOODNESS which
follows emotion in sensitive
She uneasiy and glanced her shoulder There
was picture young silver frame her dressing
table the She turned her head from with
Jerk But the eyes to be burning into her back
Barbara was grateful for the steamng hot tea that her
mother brought old tray She felt the blood rising
again cheeks she the and slipped the fra
grant liquid.
els it all over Babs asked mother softly. Barbara
nodded, but did not speak
After long silence, with impatient movement of her
head she spoke ayes mother it's all shall see
him again-or least speak to him again And I'm
glad of it,
selfish tyrant and it lucky for me discovered
in time"
it really fna? asked Mrs. Hawey, her thin face
twisted in deep lines of anxiety
Barbara began to talk rapidly a of feeling.
Eyes mother, it's final And he knows it. too It's final
that don't want to speak of him after tonight We've
made clean break hangovers regrets Tomorrow
the beginning of everything.
"He quite impossible his mind about my views
called sesh-sad I'd get anywhere in profession
did, except old maids and monstrosites Said
newspaper office place for and all ID get out
of it hard knocks and bad reputation
Barbara stopped breathles Her eyes blazing and
her lips quiverng
s'Tha the oldfashioned hlea said Mrs Hawey GIVE
your father say the thing only about
paper kind Of public work for Men
just cont like it, Barbara
and why?" cried Barbara Because they jealous
that's ALL They've had things all their way business
for so long that they can t bear to let in
"And the that aren't jealous just plain selfish
Take father He wanted to have interest in life but
sweep for him. and be bring him
his slippers And what life he led you'll
RI
X moth in the world.
- You're Of the
a a Of aone
of
me do
fathers of a
ehurthi
night Bar things
but I'm with
7 can mother" him.
rules a
life from m