The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-05-05

A side window in the living room
gave on a low trellised gate open
ing to the back yard. They were
standing at this window. She said,
suddenly: "You could easily train a
rose to climb over that, couldn't
your"
He leaned down and grinned into
her face. "Ah--mystery is solved!
So that's why we come a house
hunting, is it?"
She colored; isn't it a sweet
placer"
"It were"
Don't you like it all cozy like
this better than an apartment"
II do" And still looking into
her face, his breath hurried. the
intensity Of his eyes made her close;
Il wish we were moving in today!
Open theml Yes-you don't know
how terribly I wish that, CHECKER
She answered family: Don't look
at me so, Barry. You make me
weak Well. you do. Why, are you
so impatient now and a little while
ago you seemed to hold away-to
be pushing me always from you 4"
He laughed: Couldn't get away
with 1t, could I? I seem to be very
much here, at present"
You wanted to put me from you,
didn't you? You never wanted to
love me.
Listen. Don't say that, Chickie,
though it be true. Can't you see
how 1t was? When the dear one sat
next to me or gave me the blessed
smile I wanted to grab her, crush
her to death, that sweet she is!
And there be a law which say it
are not right-though l doubt it
for q man to feel so for a maid.
That is for a poor young man with
nothing in his pockets. SO it was
crush you to death or beat it"
And now?"
Now we have prospects! And
they'll ease the chains of matri-
mony! And he'll marry the girl and
get her off his mind. Lordee,
Chickie, the way you come steal
Ing In on me when I'm trying to
ping your hand under mine, I'm
all but ruined. My concentration
has gone hang"
And you'll marry me to get rid
Of me, Mr.. Red?"
"That clever he isl'
And shall we, perhaps, take this
little placer"
| HOY. Ooa 1iIxo a. ~, ton ~ tI,o oortl,
where we can sit on our front porch
and look down on the world and its
mother, the mountains. And buy
her a blue check apron to tie around
her little watst-and she'll cook his
little meals"
And serve them at that little
table! Oh"
When they went out drought
the back yard and the trellised
gate, Chickie picked a weed from
the ground and stuck it in his but
ton hole. "A rose 1t shall be be-
fore many moons!' She looked back
at the cozy brown shingles-tender-
ly-as though the little house were
already hers.
TND every day afterward she
IA passed it, thinking; Not
IL gone yet" She came to re-
gard it as destined for them. She
looked at furniture in the shop
window and wondered which things
would adapt most prettily to its
small rooms.
One noon time when Barry did
not meet her she went alone to a
restaurant on Illinois street. She
over quietly and took the chair op-
posite. Black eyes and vivid mouth
smiled with a kind Indulgence that
had in it trace Of sadness. With
out prelude he said: II hear your
engaged Chicl<ie."
She stammered: "Yes-why, who
said that? I'm sure I don't know
who can be the fortunate swain. -
At that Jake's laugh rang. "Our
friend, Red, ChicSie. Nice boy, but
young-just starting. Others know
1t, Chiche-won't you tell your old
friend Jake about it. You know I've
more than a passing interest"
There's nothing to tell"
Except that you and he have
had lunch together every day for
nearly six weeks. And he's taken
you out every night so that no one
else had ghost Of a chance. So
gather it's about half settled, any.
way. I wonder If you're letting
yourself in FOR four or five year
wait. I hope not!'
Her confusion grew. She dIdn't
know what answer to make. She
stumbled: IT don't know what you
can be meaning. Jake"
"That It's a sorry business
Chickie, my dear, for a girl to de-
liberately plan to throw away. the
five best years Of her nfe."
She laughed: Don't weep for
me, Jake. you kind, nice friend. Be
cause I've no intention of throwing
anything away-not one single little
year. I'm going to gather them all
in"
oh" He pushed the things
from him, leaned forward on his
elbows, the rich, flashing smile go
irg slowly over her face. "Chickie
If you change your mind between to-
morrow and the week after or two
days after that, more or less, will