The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-04-28
CHAPTER XLIII
decentralization

Ills low. uncertain voice
III throbbed through her with
III a mingled pain and joy.
"Chickie, want me to come OUT"
IF you want to come"
us that the way you feel about
it? Don't care whether we have he
ride down the country or not"
"Oh, / don't know" She laughed
with questing nervousness. I've
never been very hesitant about
things. Barry
A long pause. For a cold, sti,ted
moment she feared he had gone
hung up on her in this grim quiet.
Then he said; ''Well, shall I Gomez"
"Yes!"
She went hfmming down .he nall
--eyes wet heart singing world all
;rsun again. Day in the country,
the two together under a tree. Arm
in arm. talking to each other: re-
ioicing IN each others look. Oh
let him say what he would Let
him flash scorn at her. She would
laugh in his face. She would laugh
at anything. For he had come to
her She had fou:ed him; run away
with Jake before his very eyes. And
now ne came end asked her humbly
did she want lin.
Her mood dashed from fervor to
fervor-happiness exaggerated be
cause Of the misery preceding II.
She made sandwiches for their
lunch. She cut them into fantastic
shapes. There had come to her
radiance OF peanA as though now
would never again dawn the faintest
misunderstanding. They loved each
other - oh, simple - the heart
settled it,
She flung che door wide for him.
ignoring the pale Formally of his
greeting. She snapped her fingers,
murmuring gaily. But you're hoe.
Mr.. Red. keep your cold looks
He had a box of candy in his
pocket. the yellow cord tying it
showed. She tapped it impishly:
"A peace offering. Red?"
He grinned: We'll, the nerve Of
some peoples widows Why should
I bring the peace when you made
the war;"
did 1 though, l thought I only
fired the first gun-the war was
there already. Is it over now?"
He drew a long breath. his
mouth straight ANY lunch for
today Takes a long time to draw
up a suitable peace treaty, you
know"
TND after they started she
al found him now and then
Ill watching her. an intent. du-
bious fiXity in his glance. 1t made
her uneasy.
She began to talk-surcharged
with emotion and suspense. Glori-
Gus day-look at the fowers-oh,
did you see that squirrel? And
finally: $50, you're angry with me,
Barry? And you've only come out
to tell it?"
why no-what makes you think
that?"
Rather quiet, aren't your"
"Well-in a way. But I don't
want to quarrel with you, Chickie
You don't blame me for being
shocked, do your"
you mean that ] went out with
Jake? You mean about yesterday"
"Well-suppose you were rush
you a breezy nod and went flying
off with some other dame---what
would you have done?"
She didn't answer for she had
a whitening image OF herself sud
denly watching Barry 60 off with
another. She sat mute with the
sense of bleak devastatio
What would you nave thought
or done, CHECKER"
II think / would die, Barry"
Looking up, it shocked her to see
a flush, an exultant light his face.
"As much as that, Chicllie? Do
you mean it?"
II let you see it far too plainly,
Mr.. Red. L shout that 1 love you
And a girl should never do that.
Then you grow afraid Oh, know!
And you run away"
"Ah-dont say that. ChiclIie 1
might tell you a few things you don't
realize. l. think I'm going to. But
the part l can't figure is that you
seem to like going out with Jake"
He's awfully kind: But / didn't
enjoy myself one bit yesterday"
He asked eagerly: II spoiled it
for you, Chickie. Please tell me-did
you keep thinking of me?"
How can you be so vain? You,
indeedr'
I'm not vain. If I were !
wouldn't need the approval of others.
But do. That's my great weakness.
And when l see a handsome fellow
like Jake playing around I don't
understand how you can prefer me.
If you really did you wouldn't keep
making dates with him. This isn't
the first one. You've not told me of
them. But I heard"