The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-03-25
ON WITH TIE STORY FROM HERE
CHAPTER LII

L
She listened to the cracking of
the logs. The flames sent a Waver-
ing glow over the dark, paneled
walls, touching a picture, a shelf of
books, an old brass kettle. Soft flash
es of color Weaved through the
shadows. Quiet and dreamlike. The
tap of q tree against the window;
the bloom of waves on the rocks
frightening the sense of isolation.
She lay with her hands over her
closed eyes, trying not to think. She
heard Ramon moving about, lifting
The lid of a stove, getting down
dishes. The pungency Of coffee and
bacon drifted through the room.
He set a table at the fireplace.
I'm hungry. Are you?" He smiled
and pushed a big roomy chair for
her as though she had merely
dropped in for a friendly chat
Standing. she caught a glimpse of
herself in the mirror and was shocked
10 find that her cheek was not ter
ribly swollen; that it merely looked
heavy and slightly blue. The en-
counter of the night took on an as
pect of lunreality-a grotesqpe and
ugly dream. Her flight and her
presence here with Ramon were fan
tastic and incredible.
She went up and looked at her
face. And she closed her eyes, feel
ing Murillo's hand, hearing his: go
up stairs. Go to your ROOM 1t
was then she had pulled open the
door stumbling and running down
the steps. The wind blowing the
light silk Of her dress. She saw
herself crOuching in the shadows.
Turmoil and -ehaos filled her mind.
Running away without hat or coat
leaving without a woodworking it
with black finality.
Pictures went with oppressive dis
order through her thoughts. Her
self darting through the garden;
Murillo, gray and trembling, waiting
in the hving-rOOm, going now and
then to the door, expecting her re
turn. Then Alice and her mother
learning of it.
''Oh, Lord" she murnured, sick
with the helter-skelter of these i'm
ages. She turned from them in
burning agitation.
She sat at the table, forced herself
to eat. You didn't expect me here
for breakfast this morning, Ramona"
She kept her eyes hard on her plate.
SANDY why take it this way?
You've know it was bound to come
for some time, haven't you?"
TIN not sorry about that-but in
this way-oh, it's $3.50 brutal. It's
ended and not ended"
"Why isn't it ended?'
She remained silent, thinking
yes. 1 knew ia year ago knew
it would be like this
A year ago this very month she
had taken the ride with Jimmy. And
she would have run away that night
that very night-only for the
fainting of the coming of the child.
And the whole year had been filled
with ugliness. The whole year had
pointed to this stark, ugly climax.
But she had expected to leave
quietly-prepare for self-support and
one day pack hsr trunk, write him a
dignified farewell and leave. She
wanted no more bitterness, no more
sordid quarreling.
Instinctively she touched her cut
lip blinking and watching the flames
creep along the log.
do you say it's ended, yet not
ended, because you don't know what
you're going to do, Sandy?"
She nodded.
You're going to stay right here
long as you like. Until you've made
up your mind"
II can't stay here, Ramon"
why can't you?"
She put both hands over her cup
and tried to smile; tried to shrug.
He reached over and took them in
his. You can stay here, Sandy.
And you're going to. You can't go
any place else. At least not till you
get some clothes. You'u be per-
fectly safe here. No one viii ever
trace you. The place is yours"
She glanced at him swiftly, her
eyes searching his. A flush crept
under his tan. I'm going back to
Los Angeles. I've got to go tonight.
You won't be afraid here, will you?