The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-05-22
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Oh, shameful! Oh. stopped to this!

Oh, shameful! Oh, stopped to this!
Incrediblel
Two hours ago she had pulled on
her hat. Two hours ago this had
not happened. Oh, if 1t could be two
hours ago once more!
She crept to the window, raised
it softly knelt there, her head
buried in her arms. And burned on
her eyes was the image Of his face,
leaden white, accusing-yes-sco
ing, hating.
Ended! He would never forgive
this.
1t crushed her; obliterated pride
She was an abject thing stealing
through a corridor, lettering at a
door, covering against the wall. She
saw herself so-only so.
And now, If he had come to the
door and called her, if he had
reached down and touched her hand,
she wouldn't have stirred-wouldn' t
have met his eyes. No--go away
let him never see her again. This
feeling remained. And through the
night each time his image passed
her thought recoiled in shame. She
dreaded going down to the Office
dreaded the nearness OF hi window.
That next day it seemed to her
that everything drifted in a gray
mist and she herself was cold. ut
terly chilled, because the mist had
got into her veins and was killing
her.
She didn't look for him. Five
o'clock that afternoon she went
hurrying down Washington ST., and
though it was a bright, vital day,
with sun and a merry breeze all
about the buildings, she sped on.
ward, feeling herself driven, voices
at her ears.
She hated to go home--into the
kitchen-talk with Jennnie-meet
Jonathan's chuckle. She wished to
walk until she was lost in a desola-
ton that had no end. Her thought
already dwelt there.
She kept walking. Suddenly, in
her imagination, he overlook her,
touched her hand, murmuring
breathlessly: "Chickie, what Of it?
l don't care now. Wasn't so worser'
She hurried, half running. If only
he might do thing like that.
NAYS Of this. She had no heart
ID to look from her window, no
- courage even to raise her
eyes. Once she saw his shadow.
The blood swept with such wild
beat to her face that she caught her
desk, steadying herself.
Janinta, sitting opposite, saw this.
She dropped a note: why the
panic, baby? Why have we no
more balcony scenes, sweet Juliet /?
Little lovers quarrel, take it..
Cheer up! kissing and making up
is awfully cozy,. doncher know"
Chickie crumpled the note, and
a moment later, fearful because of
the hot singing in her eyes, she
went to the dressing rom. She sat
on the window ledge.
Then Janina was at her side, slip
ping friendly arm about Chickie's
waist. Didn't mean that, old dear.
Not sore, are your"
! Chickie shook her head.
Something serious? Not broken
off. is it,"
She tried to make some f1ippant
remark. The most she could accom-
plish was snap of her fingers and
a pathetic: "Well-so It goes, ia
ninap
"Oh,- rubbish! You had a scrap,
I suppose, and neither of you is
big enough to come around and say:
My fault, old thing-forget it,
That's the way with a woman al
ways. Not big enough to bend!
Why can't you hop to it and take
the blame for once?'
Chickie laughed: Thanks, ia
ninal You're such fountain OF wis
| DOM"
And all culled from experience,
my dear-so it's good. Take it! 1t
behooves- woman to be independent
Independent enough to be wrong
once in a while and get away with
it. AS for me, I accost the world
thusly: "Of course ] sin! What
about it?' Put a brazen face on it,
ole dear, and the world sinks off
like a pup with its foolish tail Of
prejudices stuck SotweAn it's legs.
Try it!'
Oddly enough this chatter of ia
nina's frightened her; broke the ten
sion of her emotions. And now, 60
ing back to her work, she could look
to that night OF whitening excite
ment without a fainting rush of
shame. She said to herself In sur.
prise: WAS it such a sordid thing
to do? Oh-that I should never lift
my head again?'
Her mind quailed: "Yes-into
that corridor
But love-couldn't love overlook
] that? Would love keep only that