The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-10-26

| washing the dishes at 10 o'clock
that night.
She was to leave the next after
noon on the 6 o'clock boat. She
had telephoned Sidney that she
wished to see her before she left.
She was anxious to make 1t clear
to her that their friendship could
not be injured by Sidney's love for
Tom. She could imagine the other
| girl holding back her confidence,
afraid Of hurting Sonia.
Although she ought to know me
better she told her mother.
Anna and Sam were going to Sun
day school. Sonia promised to come
in time for the sermon. But sh"
was still in her long gray dressing
gown when knock sounded o. the
front door.
Holding her negligee together, she
ran downstairs. She was wishing
for a message of some kind from
! Franklin. But she opened the I'M
pretentious door Of her parents home
! to Walter Henderson. She stared
at him, at loss to know what to
say.
Aren't you going to ask me in.
Sonia?"
His eyes were grave and Sonia
realized that he had not come in a
! light mood.
She opened the door saying, slow
ly II can't believe-it's you"
Are You glad to see me?"
"Of course"
He put his hand upon the arm
that wore Franklin's Christmas gift.
Are you alone?"
She nodded.
Sonia, I can't give you up un-
til you definitely ask me to. l love
you. / want you to marry me-
Utter amazement filled her green
eyes. She had not dreamed he even
considered marriage
Still holding her arm he drew here
closer to him.
You don't dislike me, do you
dear?"
Il like you awfully we'll she an
| SWefed, sincerely.
You and Franklin are not EN-.
gagged are you. Sonia?'
With littM shivers racing up and
down her spine, she shook her head.
II thought the way he acted the
other night that you might be. Then
| decided l might be mistaken. You
simply didn't want him to misun-
derstand, was that it, Sonia?"
Fearing to betray some tiny ray
of her beautiful hidden secret, Sonia
replied cautiously. IT shouldn't want
any one in the Office to think I would
accept such an expensive present"
That's what I thought. But,
Sonia, you'd accept 1t as an engage
ment ring?"
IF were engaged, that would be
different
EIe drew the ring from his pocket.
Once more she gazed upon the glor.
'ous. sparkling 5epel. In spite of
> herself. she gasped a little
II can have it reset in a ring for
your other finger. 1t is made for
You. Sonia as you are made for me.
You interested me the night met
YOU at Maxine's; later I was amused
at your pretensions of experience.
Then beg your pardon, dear
really began to believe you we're try.
ing to van1p me- You tried SO hard
to convince me OF your sophistica
tion and you were living with Max.
inc.
Sonia stiffened She dared not be-
tray her friends confidence. vet
Maxine's words buzzed in her ear
II had my first affair with Walter
Henderson when I was 49,"
He misunderstood her withdrawal.
Cant you forgive me. Sonia? l
was stupid fool. But I knew in.
stantly when you refused my gift
that you were the real thing. Men
can scarcely believe in a girl like
you They are too rare"
ut doesn't matter" Sonia said.
coolly, what you thought of ME. !"
He pulled her closer.
Does that mean you'll marry
me?"
Her eyes were still J,zed but
there was. no hesitation in her an.
swer
II can't, Mr.. Henderson. It's aw-
fully sweet of YOU to ask me. But
can't"