The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-08-02

a small voice. "Jerry-I'm sorry"
"Oh, I don't want your pity!" He
flung a furious hand across his eyes.
"You can't tell me you didn't know
I loved you! Why, for Gods sake,
did you think I was devoting every
minute of my spare time to you, and
a lot that belonged to the firm as
well? Helping you choose the right
clothes, taking you out every eve
ming to the theater and to dence-"
"I thought" Vee-Vee interrupted
coldly, "that you were doing it be-
cause you wanted to help me, be-
cause you were my friend, that you
had an artists interest in perfect
ing the thing you had made"
"And did you think for one min
ute that was making you for an
other man to enjoy? made a thing
of beauty of you, Vera Cameron,
because I loved you. I gave you
these last three weeks because I
was fool enough to believe that by
constant association with me you
would come to love me-"
st thought these last three weeks
were game that you we're enjoy
ing in the same way that enjoyed
it," -Vee-Vee said weakly, cropping
for a chair.
"A game? Oh, dear God" Jerry
groaned, dropping to the floor be-
side her and laying his head
against her knees.
Vee-Vee's slim, white fingers flut-
tered to his head, lowered for mo-
menta over that flaming mop of red
curls as if she were afraid it would
burn her. then dropped lightly
upon it.
Don't! I can't stand that" Jer-
ry flung up his head sharply, seized
her caressing hand and crushed it
against his grief twisted, hot lips.
'Vee-Vee! Can't you love me a
little, darling? I'll be so good to you,
understand you so well. can make
you happy, vera-why, you're mine!
I created you! You belong to mel"
eff you had loved me-before-
when I was homely and neeo I'd you
or any man-to adore me, to re-
lease me from the inhibitions that
make every homely girl miserable"
she began jerkily.
I'm not going to lie and pretend
that I fell in love with you the
moment you walked into my Office, -
Jerry said slowly, heavily, the hand
that he had kissed held tight against
his pounding heart, "but can tell
you truthfully that I did begin to
love you when I snatched off your
spectacles and looked into your
eyes.
st didn't know it then, Of course,
but I had never so wanted to help
anyone in my life. And could have
loved you as you were then as well
as I do now, I performed miracle
for your own sake"
"And for advertising purposes"
Vera reminded him, Juggling to re-
lease her hand.
I'm an advertising man." Jerry
admitted simply. "My work comes
first, and you wouldn't have the
slightest rspect for me if it didn't.
I saw a chance to do something
really. big for the firm. You're a
business woman; you ought to be
able to understand my feeling to-
ward my work"
ooh, I dol" Vee-Vee acknowl-
edged. "But today asked you to
do something for me that'is of vital
Importance to me. I told you that
it would cause me agonies of shame
to have my picture strewn all over
the country to advertise Peach
Bloom Cosmetics. asked you to
suppress those ads, to substitute a
professional beauty for me-a girl
who would like that sort of thing
and you refused. Yet you say you
love me-"
IT do love you. think you know
that. And when tried to make
bargain with you, named one con-
dition on which I would agree to
throw down the firm, you refused.
I may as we'll tell you now that If
you had accepted that condition
would have been forced, by own
conscientious scruples, to resign
from the Peach Bloom Company"
Resign" Vee-Vee echoed blankly.
Resign, certainly! Do you think
could accept money from the COM
pany after I had thrown them down
for personal motives? Oh, I could
get something else easily enough!
I'm one of the three best adver-
Using men in the business! Oh, you
can grin if you want to-! l admit
I'm no shrinking violet when it
comes to rating myself in a business
way. I wouldn't be on a $4,000 SAL
airy at the age Of 20 if were.
eff you had accepted my condi-
ton I should have had every hope
of winning you for my wife, and of
course don't want my wife's pic
ture smiling up at every man that
thumbs through a magazine. But
don't interrupt, please-if you are
not even willing to give me a chance
If you insist on keeping our rela-
tionship on a business basis, I'm 60
ing to hold you to the letter of your
bargain.
"voi1 ora nartoi, ,1xy y,oI>irc, ,,o,,r