The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-05-17
Chapter XCVIII

Go ON WITH THE STORY
Chapter XCVIII
Three images came into Sandy's
mind necessarily with a cruel regu-
larity.
One was of q bronzed, vital figure
dashing through waters on surf
board, head thrown bacll-laughing
And one was Ramon sitting beside
her in the automobile. his thin face
turned to hers with that anguished,
imploring look making him appear
eaten from within. The third was
OF something inert, sprawled dark
and terrifying on the floor-Ramon
dead.
She lay with her hands covering
her face, murmuring starkly, Dead
he's dead"'
No matter how many times she
repeated this It remained Incredible,
not to be accepted like a lash cut
ting Unexpectedly across her cheek.
She turned from It with singing
and shocked bewilderment.
Only to see herself standing at a
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against her lips--see herself stand.
ing there listening to Ramon's voice;
Would YOU come and see me a mo
ment? want to hear your voice,
only your voice. I'm going away"
And the pale, wild look of him
when he came to the door Of the
office, smiling at her and holding
~ he his
burning lips. remembered such be
seeching in his voice: ooh, say that
YOU love me-wont you say this,
Sandy DO YOU care somewhat? A
little? Wont YOU tell me just once?'
Glowing of his eyes and the gray
line like an agony about his mouth
oh, why had she not clasped her
arms fervently about him, drawn
his head down and given him com
fort?
In his moment NJ frtrhtful DESC
lation he turned to her. She failed
him
And now all the warm kind. ten
der things she should have said
kept rushingN to her lips, She clam
ored pitlfully to stand again in that
office: to have Ramon alive with
the aching chance to answer his
desperate need still hers.
How she would smile at him; how
she would take that thin. once
laughing face In her hands saying
so gently; You need me, dear Ra
mon? I'm here. love you OF
course I do! I think If sl the dear
gallant things you did for me. How
can I help but care? You say you
were III so long, Ramon? And YOU
dreamed OF me? You dreamed that
came in a white ship and made
A perfumed breeze blow the fever
away? I'm here, Ramon. You
haven't come back In vain. I'm
glad you're here. You won't be
lonely any more. You wont suffer
again"
And then they would have walked
out together and she would have
hidden deep In her heart all pain Of
hers, She would be strong and
fesolute doing q brave, generous
thing.
Douglas would turn to Judith. He
would see how much nobler and
how much sweeter Judith was
$50
Again and again Sandy went
through the crucifying pageant
Why had she not made It a fact?
oh, why had not some kind spirit
goaded her famingly into doing
this?
Then Ramon would yet be alive;
Judith radiant and Douglas TAR bet
ter than he could ever be with her.
So all three would be served and
only she a little hurt
But she would have done this
valiant, magnificent thing She would
have measured up at last. inspir-
ingly--flnding a thing to cling to-
Sandy told herself with piteous
insistence she had meant to 10 this.
All along she really meant TO do II.
That's why she answered Ramon's
summons. Deliberately and know.
ingly she went to his office.
The moment she got into the taxi
she had realized her dream OF Doug.
las must 60
And II Ramon had only been quet-
er--only waited a moment-only
given her chance