The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-10-23
i
SO IN IA.
A Story of Dangerous Love
By VIDA HURST

| When he had gone Sonia stood
against the door.
81 think you are terriblev she
accused, but she was trembling
How could you talk like that t.
a man like Walter Henderson,"
Hes no different from any other
man"
well, he Is" she defended, holly
HE is gentleman and you've in.
suited him. I'm surprised at you
Franklin. 1t isn't fair"
His charming face was as black
as thunderstorm.
LET him. keep away from you
then. If he's such a. gentleman
what does he mean hanging around
offering YOU a platinum ring?"
HE didn't mean anything"
II suppose not! No doubt he gave
one to every boolSkeeper in the Of
fice"'
You're ridiculous" she said, cold
ly. "I1e gave it to me because I
said 7 loved emeralds."
"Why didn't you take it them,
you ought to know why" Tears
sparkled in her green eyes. Here
we are quarreling on my last eve.
ming. can't understand you, Frank
lin.
He was glowerinG at her like a
wrathful godr
"How do you suppose. ] feel tear
ing myself away from an important
meeting to find another man that
had gotten here first?"
Don't YOU talk like that to me"I
flashed Sonia "Who do you think
you are, anyway? I've told you the
truth about the whole affair. And
you are behaving like a silly school
boy. Now you can believe me or
not, just as you please" ~
He seized his hat.
"All right! I'll gov'
Sick at heart, she watched him
go out the door. Was her high ro-
nance to crash thus about her? In
vulgar squabbling and cheap insinu-
atoms? But she would never call
him back. Pride had risen. white
hot,s at his insulting tone. A death
blow. thought Sonia, to love.
An hour later she was sitting ex-
actly as he had left her. staring into
an empty fireplace. shivering with
cold.
The telephone rang. but she did
not answer it.
What would Christmas mean to
her now? How could she endure go
ing back to Stockton with this quar-
rel between them? How could she
smile over the ruins Of her first
romance? The memory of his face
distorted with suspicion, hurt her
far more than his words.
+ The door bell rang. She sat stoni-
ly, hoping if it were Franklin he
would go away. Nothing could ever
be the same again. But 1t bealed
again and again uptil she was forced
to answer it.
He faced her, staring at her white
| face
I'm sorry, Sonia"
"It doesntQatter."
"But. darlin9,I know It does"
He came In closing the door be
bind him. He picked her up as Il
she were a child and sank down on
the davenport.
kiss me, Sonia"
mo-"
That's right. Kiss me again"
But if you loved me-" she pro-
tested, weakening. "how could you
have doubted me?"
| Dearest unreasonable little sweet
heart, if didn't love you why should
care at all? Both questions are
unanswerable. But I'm sorry and
because I am I've come back"
She lay in his arms wondering
II any magic could bring that first
glamour again.
Sonia, suppose after turning
down an emerald, you're not even in
terested in my poor little Christmas
gift?"
She was all attention.
What Is it? Tell me. please"
"You promise to accept it even u
it isn't platinum"
SILLY" she scoffed. SD accept
it even if-it were"
He drew from his pocket another
velvet box, larger than Walters. AL
most alphabetically, he placed it in
her hands. q
Cant you see why hate him,
Sonia? Offering you Il gift like that
when I've worked like the devil to
even buy you this?"
She tore it open. revealing small
Her arms were about him, her eyes
beaming with smiles.
But I'd rather have this than all
the emeralds In the world"
Nonsense. A dozen Of them