The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-05
CHAPTER FIVE
A FIRST KISS


Joyce slept heavily and long. Thu
dance and it's aftermath had takeI
place on Friday night so there wa!
no school to work her the following
morning. When she got up she saw
by the alarm clock in the living
room that it was nearly eleven. A
look into her mothers room told hel
that she was alone in the house. He
mother usually went to market Sat
urday morning to buy supplies fol
the weekend. Her father would b.
home at one for his weekly half holi
day.
Perhaps the events Of last nigh
had been all a bad dream. Will
Motherdear gone as on ordinary
Saturdays it must be that she ant
Dads had made it all up in the night
She went into the big bedroom. A
letter addressed to her lay on the
bureau. With shaking hands she
read it.
Darling Joyce:
81 felt that 1 could not stay in the
apartment another night. So after
you had gone to bed L packed my
bag and left. 1 will return tomor
row afternoon about one to heal
what you have decided to do.
II do not want to influence you
too much, but you must know joyce
that L love you as every mother
loves her child. And you must know
too, that I believe everyone has
right to his own life. If you come
with me 1 will watch over you ane
care for you as much as you vii
let me. But I will not try to save
you from consequences of what
ever mistakes you will make in learn
ing to meet life.
81 am ambitious for you. want
YOU to marry as your beauty ano
youth deserve you should marry
But most of all I want you to be
happy. And if you will be happier
with your father, then l only ask
the privilege of seeing you from time
| to time.
| "Your loving mother,
agnes DARING"
In later years Joy was to see the
bravery of this note. Now she saw
only it's contents. She bent her heat
weeping over it, feeling that hel
mother no longer loved her.
Then she thought again of life
with her father. Safety, security
that was what he offered her. Tha
and love, for Joyce knew that in hi
own stern unyielding way he woult
lay down his life for her.
A knock at the door broke int
her thinking. Pulling her kimon'
closely about her, Joyce opened thu
! door.
Davey stood outside.
"Ohr' said Joyce.
Can I come in?" asked Davey
Joyce opened the door littl'
wider. IF you won't look" TheI
she scampered into her bedroom
leaving Davey to find his way a.
best he could.
A few minutes later Joyce CAM
back into the living room, wearing
her usual dress of dark linen will
a white collar and cuffs.
Morning, Davey," she said, hid
ing her embarrassment behind rail
lery, conscious too that, thanks t.
! Deke's vanity case, she was looking
her usual bright self.
Good morning, Joyce" said Dave.
standing up and taking her hand
Neither spoke for a moment, thel
Davey blurted out, "See here, Joy
I heard a lot of the talk that wen
on between your father and mothe
last night before you came home
That's one reason why l went afte
you.
You see your father missed yol
and went down to look for you. Mi
Smith told him you had just lef
with Mr.. Deacon and that Butcl
Setter had been trying to make yo'
go riding with him. Your fathe
came back here and he was prett,
mad, because he said il your mothe
took the right kind of care of yo'
| THESE LilllSS WOulQA llnPPCh ~ JNH
Then your mother came home earl.
and they began to quarrel. l say
how things were going and wen
after you" Here Davey dropped he
hand and lowered his voice.
I'D have come sooner, only fel
pretty bad about your going tina
way with Mr.. Deacon. But when
saw that your father and mothe
were saying such terrible things t
each other, I thought it was tim
YOU came home. Did they-did 20
I-?"
Joyce shook her head. mo, the
didn't make it up. l tried to ge
them to, but they wouldn't. The
say" in spite of herself joys voic
faltered, "they say / have to choos
between them which one I'm goin
to live with, that is"
Davey took both her hands. IN