The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-09-29
CHAPTER XVIII

Nancy crept from her bed to
stand, shivering, behind the fiutter-
ing window curtain. She could not
distinguish either Of the figures on
the shadowy porch opposite.
Only an occasional word floated
through the darkness. But there
was the sound oil, Eric's voice, low
and controlled, accompanied by
soft. little EXPLANATIONS from Clar-
ice. Then silence A silence weight
ed with meaning!
tiles doing it deliberately" Nancy
sobbed. HE wants to hurt me-"
Her teeth chartered 80 much that
she was compelled to crawl beneath
the covers again. But not to sleep
She lay, rigid, torn with conflicting
emotions, until long after Eric had
gone.
Days passed. Nancy no longer at
tempted to practice. She dropped
about the house; went for an occa-
sional walk, or for tea with Edith.
In some ways the association with
Edith comforted her. Edith had
loved Eric, too. And both had lost
him.
Silas Gage, who appeared not to
notice, was secretly alarmed at
Nancy's sharpened face.
whats the matter with her?" he
asked one night as he and Amanda
were retiring!
His wife's voice was reproachful
GAS If you didn't know"
tits not my fault she didn't get
married"
Its your fault she can't go away,
Amanda accused. "She's eating her
heart out and nothing's going to
help her but getting out of town."
He pulled off his heavy shoes and
snorted, why don't she marry him,
If she's so crazy about him"
Amanda faced him like virago.
Her gray-streaked hair fell in wisps
about her fannel-clad shoulders.
II s'pose you'd be willing to see her
marry man whose mother washes
for her fine friends?"
why notp" snapped Silas, $50
long as the fellow is decent!"
Amanda turned Off the light and
got into bed. Her thin voice whined
on until he beloved, shut up, will
you? I'm tired hearing about It," (
But after she was asleep he stole
through the kitchen to Nancy's door.
AS he stumbled back he was in
wardly condemning Eric to the ever
lasting fires of his mothers religion.
For he had heard his daughter cry
ing. And he knew now that some
thing would have to be DONE"
In the meantime Hilda Nelson
came and went, meekly. Nancy went
around the block to avoid meeting
her, but one raw day In April she
was forced to see her scrubbing the
Hollandsbee steps, with her wide
skirts Tapping in the wind.
Two days later Mary Dornelly re-
layed the news that Hilda was Ill
Eric had called I,octcr Waugh. AT
noon Nancy saw Clarice carrying a
market basket covered with a nap
kin in the direction off Hilda's cot
tage. Something famed in Nancy.
At three o'clock, goaded by restless
ness, she telephoned DR.. Waugh.
How is Mrs. Nelson?"
"Pretty sick, Nancy. She has
pneumonia"
els there anything I can do9" she
faltered.
well, I don't know as there Is.
Clarice Jones is going to stay until
tonight. We have q nurse coming In
on the train"
Nancy made an electric pad her
excuse, smuggling 1t past her moth
er. who had been forced to try 1t
for rheumatism. Nancy's heart
pounded as she knocked for the Sec
ond time at Hilda's door. It was
opened by Clarice.
"Oh, hello, Nancyls
Nancy pushed past into the prim
little room.
II came to see II couldn't dc
something.
Clarice was sweet about It.
II really don't know. You might