The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-07-02

ners' elbow, land Mr.. Johnny's wait
ing for you, I think"
He was. He stood at the bottom
CT the long, carpeted flight, watching
her as she came slowly down. And
under the look that she saw in his
eyes, soft flame of joy flashed into
| her face. 1t was look that wei
coined her, EMBODIED her-or did she
just imagine it? She couldn't be
! sure.
AS she sat down at the table, OPP
posite him, moment later, she
wondered if the whole thing were a
sort of day dream, or If 1T really.
were happening. Gould she really
be sitting here, in the pool of light
made by the tall candles, with the
man she loved, in his own fOuse? 1t
seemed simply too wonderful to be
true-the happy kind Of thing that
comes true in dreams, and nowhere
else.
She looked down at her soup. It
was steaming, and it looked quite
real. She tasted it. 1t was vege-
table soup and not only real but very
very good.
You shouldn't have told your
mother I have a lovely voice." she
said presently, but only for the sake
of saying something-of saying
anything.
| He looked at her intently/ But
you have. It's the incest voice in the
world-the incest one I happen ever
to have heard, at any rate" he said.
His tone was matter,of-fact.
Mrs. Bundle came in with roast
and the salad. She went to the side
board drawers for the carving knife
and fork, and when she laid them
down before John Manners, she laid
a yellow envelope on the cloth, too.
There's telegram, came for you
a while ago." she said. II clear for
got it till this minute, Mr.. Johnny
But it's from Miss HING, I've no
doubt at ALL
From something in her tone, Mary
Rose knew that Mrs. Bundle did not
like Doris HING. And her heart
went out to Mrs. Bundle.
Manners put the envelope in his
pocket, and began to carve the roast.
Outside piece?' he asked, cutting
off slice large enough to satisfy
the appetite Of dock walloper.
Look here" she laughed, You're
giving me enough food for a soldier
on the march! Just remember that
Five been sitting at a desk all day,
doing nothing"
He passed her the plate Eyes, and
that reminds me- he began, that
the summers almost over, and we've
never had long drive out in the
country anywhere. For weeks I've
been promising myself that-if you'n
go. Will you-sometimes, soon?"
He looked up at her and she
nodded, dumbly. At that moment
she would have said, Yes" ffshe
had asked her to ride with him to
the moon.
She had forgotten Doris HING.
She had forgotten everything that
lay outside the pool of light from
the tall Pickering candles. It was
a little world that closed them in
just the two Of them-herself and
John Manners.
Then out In the hall the silver
Ginning clock struck the half-hour.
and second afterward the tele-
phone gave its nervous electric
tinkie.
The large figure of Mrs. Bundle
filled the doorway once more. Long
distance call for you, Mr.. Johnny"
she said grimly, and Mary Rose
knew that Mrs. Bundle knew that
the call was from Doris HING. She
could tell it by the set of Mrs.
Bundles jaw under her firm pink
flesh and by the tone of her voice
When John had left the room she
shifted loudly. These girls who give
a man no peace in his life-writine
\ to 'em, telegraphing EN-, tele.
phonlng EN- when they're at their
meals she said, and shook her
mead to show her scorn of such
girls. Girls didn't act like that in
my day!''
She spoke to Mary Rose as if
they had been friends for long time.
and understood each other perfectly.
After dinner Mary Rose and John
Manners walked home together.
through the summer night. The
trees still cleaned wet in the lamp.
light, but the sky was spangled
with stars.
Like a wet wheat field, with fire
flies" as Mary Rose said She was
wonderfully happy as they walked
along the staining pavements.
I've had such good time to-
4 night" she went on, and her voice
was as light as if it had wings. 81
like1your house-it's SO peaceful and
so quiet. And I adore your mother,
MIR. Manners. 1 wonder If you
4 know how much l enjoyed reading
to her"
/ In the darkness she could just