The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-09-27
w GO on WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER XIII

L III dlIdlu YOU uOIl line dllCHONy
PASTE" Faith said with her slow,
sweet smile. won't you try the
chicken salad? It's delicious. Mr..
Pruitt was awfully kind to send all
these lovely things. I wish you'd
eat. You make me look like a glut-
ton" Which w9s the grossest of ex-
aggerations, for she had scarcely
tasted the food. -
WAS that anchovy paste?" Bob
Hathaway grinned ruefully. Il
couldn't have told whether it was
deviled eggs or humming bird
tongues. The truth is, Faith-you
don't mind if leave off the Miss
do your"
I've wanted you to-Bob,' Faith
said, and hoped her voice did not be-
tray the culver of delight that made
her heart beat crafty for a moment
''The truth is-?" she prompted him
gently, rising to go to the daven-
port couch, abandoning all pretense
\ of enjoying the feast that George
Pruitt had sent from the supper
tables of his studio party.
I'm afflicted with an urgent de-
sire to talk about myself, to spill a
lot of condolences upon you, If you'll
let me. You brought 1t on yourself,
you know" and he came to sit be-
side her.
You're the sort of girl that spends
most Of her life listening to other
folks troubles, aren't you? You
know something-I've been thinking
about you lot, off and on" he said
with unconscious cruelty, but She
girl cid not vince visibly. 1--WE just
been reading Eugene O'Neilrs 1.-THE
Great God Brown, and there's a
woman in it-not good woman,
suppose a girl ike you would say,
but she proves a tower of strength
to the troubled soul of a man, Dion,
his name was. He called her queer
names-'Mother Earth'-things like
that. I don't suppose I'm making
myself clear, Faith, but that's a
little how you seem to me, and yet
I've only seen you three times alto
gether Odd, isn't it?"
He looked at her with shy, wistful
blue eyes, and ran an embarrassed
hand through the Grips waves of his
hair.
II think know what you mean"
Faith nodded. "And-thank you.
Now tell me the sort of things that
your Dion could tell his Earth
Mother" I'll try to be-understand-
ing"
"You couldn't help being that"
Hathaway told her seriously. Funny
how I know that so well, isn't it?
lists about Cherry, Faith. You
won't think I'm a cad if talk about
her a little?"
NO" Faiths lips stiffened, but
by supreme effort of the will her
big brown eyes were still serene as
she looked into his flushed face.
"You see, Faith, it's this waylwith
me: I don't fall in love easily. There
has been only one other girl, really,
cute little thing that I was crazy
about when I was in college. II
wanted her to marry me, and She
she promised. found QUIT doesn't
matter how-on the day I graduated
that she had collected ten frSternity
pins that year. Engaged to ten men
in one year, Faith! Tit almost
broke me up. I've been off women"
he was unconscious that in his
youth and inexperience he sounded
humorous-"ever since then. Oh. I've
zone about with the girls here and in
Detroit where I worked until a year
ago. but nothing serious. I didn't
want to fall in love-afraid of it."
he confessed unhappily, crasping and
rnclasping his long brown hands as
-thcv swung between his knees.
And now you're afraid you've
gone and done it," Faith helped him
out. But her heart cried, ooh, he's
being hurt, he's going to be hurt
more, don't want him to be hurt"
'T-yes, I'm afraid I have% His
voice was husky, strange voice for
man confessing his love. Last
night God knows I was never so
happy in my life as was last night!
II kissed her, Faith, and she kissed
me.
"Godl II was crazy with love!
drove until dawn, couldn't bear to
70 to sleep and lose the feel of her
lips on mine. And I was planning
over and over how I'd ask her to
marry me-tonight. I made up a
thousand different proposals. like a
sillv schoolboy And then-then-to
right-' He gripped his hands to-
cether so hard THAT the knuckles
cracked
What happened tonight, Bob?"
Faith asked gently one of her strong
white hands going out to touch those
straining. locked hands of his. Ibid
she refuse you? wouldn't take it
to seriously" she leaned toward
him until her lips almost brushed
the ciean-scented, crisp hair on his
bowed head If he had looked up
hen he would have known-would
have seen that her eyes were humid