The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-08-15

| How clean ana strong ne was Inen,
like the waves in the sun or like a
happy morning
She mustn't think these things.
She had given up the right to
dreams; to the infinite sweet glow OF
young-girl fancies. All lost to her.
Why If she were to be happy
then other girls, very young, would
shrug and think they, too, might
f1out the law and escape.
After a day and night, this
charge of her accuser's scorched
most holly in her brain. AS though
she had not paid! AS though any girl
with open eyes would look at her
and follow on that path along the
river road!
Why, she had served her term
like any convict. If a man FORCES
and is sent to prison for years and
these years pass, may he not re-
turn to life? May he not laugh or
even kiss his wife or hold his child?
But another man seeing this may
/ AOOAA
at him now-he is glad! 1, too,
shall steal" What then? Why, let
all offenders be sent to the gallows
or swept into the sea-and the
crineers on the shore may see the
doom and play safe!
These thoughts went through her
with a rising bitterness. She had
not escaped. If it were only that
moment when she saw Barry Dunno
and Tia Moore sitting together-and
she, too scarlet to look In David
face: to answer when he spoke-that
moment would have paid.
And If it were only this moment
now when she must say to this man
who seemed so very fine to her; say
m him that she wished to go her
wav alone:. She didn't need friends
mr. notice of warmth or gaiety-not
as all.
This was the note she wrote to
him telling that she could not go
to another concert:
"Dear DR.. David: I hope you VIII
not think me turned suddenly tenn
peramental and prima donna ike De-
cause I take my pen in mana TO
indite this cancellation of all oates
R,t YOU know I cant go to the con-
cert tomorrow night Well, l don {
think 1 am going to make any ex-
cuses, for 1 trust you to believe that
have a good reason for writing
| this. You know the great JOY these
evenings have been to me. nan
think you've kept on asking me just
because I was always so thrilled
about them. You have been very
glorious to me, going out OF your
way as you did about the transfer.
T would like to have the power and
the way to do such noble things
myself So this is to tell you tnat
one Helena Bryce is most grateful
and most honored.
But being it's all the same to
you. my very dear friend, I've de-
cided. for many reasons, that In the
future I must attend more to my
work and to that alone. 1t Is a
better thing for me to do"
She wrote this on heavy, pale
gray paper, long single sheets with
rough edges. She wrote in a clear
strong hand. She sent the letter
special delivery so that he would get
II only in the afternoon and there
would be no chance to argue
about 1t.
It came to him a little before
four. He thrust it into his pocket,
not recognizing the writing. Hail
an hour later he was alone In his
office and opened 1t.
IT VICE he read 1t before its
import struck him. Their he
repeated to himself, "A better
thing to do" and he saw her face In
it's white delicacy as she had raised
it to him, saw her eyes, so deep and
beautiful, suddenly filled with tears.
Now, who was making the road
harder for her? What had happened
that she couldn't go to a concert?
And that from now on she must
push away all pleasure-young,
bright thing like her?
At first he became impatient and
was half inclined TO ignore this re-
fusal. Then he remembered the last
concert and the look Of indignation
la Moore had turned on Chickie
Oh-was that the reason? And she
was afraid of meeting people who
once had known her?
No-something deeper than this.
For she was brave. He had seen
| this.
Well they would go to the
concert, of course.
But he stood with the letter in
his hand and read again its final
sentences: "A better thing for me to
do
What tragic and pathetic re.
nouncing! Did she mean that she
was booming herself-that she was
cutting loose from all happiness?
He saw her then as she had sat
forward in the car that night they
rode to the hilltops and she said:
I'VE ought to be brave anyway to
take the consequences we have
courted; we should be glad even to
suffer If this is what we need to
make us strong!'
Time was her creed and
she was going to live UP to it
eliminate even friendship
Friendship-he said the word and
smiled. He said the word and re.
men1bered Helena's mouth so sweet
so chastely cut; remembered the
beautiful line of her throat
Oh, what ridiculous nonsense
couldn't go to a concert.
He stuck the letter in his pocket
got his hat. This was her day