The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-05-03
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CHAPTER LXXXVI

lie looked after Judith lingeringly
Judith going up the hill with
milk bottle tucked under her arm.
Fine way to spend New Years Eve!
She could have come! 1t wouldn't
have hurt her to come
She reached the high flight Of
steps. The door closed on her. Go
ing into make the eggnog-.
He frowned impatiently She could
have come! Didn't need to go run
ming up the hill like that.
He went on reluctantly, filed with
regret and a queer sense OF loneli'
ness. Mean to so off and leave Jude
behind. Why hadn't he thought Of
asking her sooner?
He remembered last year - all
those years. Now she wouldn't
think he'd forgotten her-forgotten
all those dear, happy times
AS he got into the car he suddenly
remembered Judith's eyes-deep vio-
let stars and odd way she said, look
ing off to the sky: "Why, there's
nothing to tell, Doug. What should
there be to tell?" Saying this and
holding Him with re warm, tear
filled eyes
He idled with the gears. Why did
Judith look so? And her hands
trembling. Was she hurt to be left
alone? No-Judith was never hurt
too much humor-too much pride.
She was just queer-different from
others. She could cry any old time
at a cloud drifting through a tree
top; n bird singing, or a ship going
down the horizon. The littlest things
affected her so deeply. That's what
made her such a kick. You never
knew how she would react; never
got tired OF Jude.
A sudden image Of her in one Of
these inexplicable moods filed with
startling poignancy to his mind
Last year just at midnight they were
dancing together. At the stroke Of
twelve the light flashed out. He
swept her gayly close, stopped for q
quick, happy kiss-uneXpectedly
flushed at the soft sweetness of Ju-
dith's lips--uneXpectedly stirred by
the white, breathless quiet Of her
and that strange, half prayer, half
smile that passed like a light over
Judith's face
AS though q kiss were something
epochal-hushed as before a vision
or a holy miracle
This image Of Judith came to him
now disturbingly He put it aside,
saN-i,-er
bunk" Judith thought the world OF
hlm-of course. And he didn't
know anything he wouldn't do for
Jude-but the idea Of supposing it
went any deeper with her
But the image of her with that
stilled, joyous look returned again
and again. it brought other images.
Once they talked Of marriage, he
said he was in no hurry because he'd
have to give her up. He asked:
Ever think Of that, Jude? How'd
you like it? Wouldn't you care?'
Her hands reached for his. She
turned her face upward with q soft,
piercing laugh; eyes all violet with
fire. would 1 care, Doug? I'll care!
Holy smoke, you bet I'll carer
He now wished savagely that Jul
dith was along. Queer that she and
Sandy had parted. Pretty darn
queer, after the trouble Of fixing up
the room. He'd find out about it
shame if anything had happened
For a fragile moment a suspicion
that Sandy might have done some
thing-miSht have hurt Judith, took
spark in his thought; made him hot
~ uncomfortable. .
But this spark died the instant he
saw her All in white. running down
the stairs. Sandy looked like an
angel in white, that band Of bril-
iants in her hair.
IIe laughed and caught her soft,
appealing hands, thrilled by the fer