The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-09-14

~ after THIS Nancy, moSvo SSSSS Tiacfric
Company, at Edith Harcourts. q scnooi
chuni and daughter Of the towns rd Itends
: to him.
Marcy first saw Eric Nelson strid-
ing down Sycamore Hill. He was
a stranger. He looked like a Viking,
golden-haired, blue-eyed, his dog at
his heels. She would never forget
the picture he made, swinging along,
a flaming September sun making
him stand out, fine drawn.
He made her think Of the wind.
The sea! She imagined him stand
ing on the deck of a ship, legs apart,
head back to fury Of storm dashed
spray. There was a compelling VI
tality about him. She thought II
he had whistled to her as he did
to his dog she, too, would have fol-
lowed, running
Blood rushed into her cheeks.
Their eyes met. Nancy turned her
head away, but she was telling her.
self that she MUST find out who
he was and what he was doing
there. Even in that momentary
glimpse she had recognized his
strength. His fineness!
Nancy was on her way to Edith
Harcourt's, at the top OF Sycamore
Hill. The Harcourt house, with its
white, fiuted pillars, was the pride
of the little town. William Har-
court had made fortune in oil.
His only child was pretty, list
less girl, the product Of her shelf
cred life. After her mothers death,
when Edith was IA, she had become
the mistress Of her fathers home,
although Mary Donnelly, who
cooke 4 for them for years, was real
" the housekeeper.
When Edith finished high school
her father planned to send her
away, but she had persuaded him
to let her stay at home for year.
She wasn't~very strong. She liked
to lounge around in negligees and
read.
And when she wept and begged
to remain at home William Har-
court had weakened. He was presi-
dent of the First National Bank,
owner Of the gas and electric COM
pany and chief stakeholder in the
Champion Plow Factory, but the
tears of his little daughter reduced
him to a spineless imbecility.
He was incapable Of refusing her
anything. If he we're surprised at
the intimacy between Edith and the
daughter of one Of the mechanics
at the factory, he voiced no disap-
proval. 80 long as the child was
happy" he was not the man to put
clumsy hands upon her heart. -.
and the friendship had proved nu-
tually satisfactory.
Edith was never quite so bored
when Nancy was around. Nancy
was thrilled and stimulated by
Edith's atmosphere.
Even today when she was so anx-
ious to inquire about the new man
she appreciated the cheerful
warmth Of the Harcourt living
room.
freight touched. xosily, the old
square piano, with Its beaten sill
yer candlesticks. A book with a
dull blue cover was dropped care
lessly upon the gate-legged table.
The spinet desk held a small
framed photograph of Edith's
mother. Beside this, although 1t
was September, stood a. silver bowl
Of violets.
Nancy threw back her coat and
sighed.
"How comfortable you look.
suppose you've been reading all
afternoon.
You're wrong, darling I've been
entertaining a most interesting
/ man."
Caution yelled the eagerness In
Nancy's eyes.
mot the handsome male I met
striding down the hill?"
II imagine so. There couldn't be
two such good-looking ones In town
at the same tine!"
Nancy stopped to sniff the frag-
rance Of the flowers.
"Who is he, Edith?"
1.-THE new manager Of the gas and
electric company. Not so badi
Hugh? Especially while the home
guard is off being educated"
"I'll say not" Nancy agreed care
lessly.
HE really came to see Father,
adm.ted Edith. "But Dad had left
for the country so did my best
Tell you what, Nancy, I'll ask you
both to dinner some night. Honestly
he's the most interesting man I've
met in a long time"
Even as she accepted Nancy was
planning to wear the fame colorec
dress. 1t was old, but it was potent
And as she stood before Eric Mel
son color surged into her cheeks tc
match the gown.
His blue eyes studied her appre.
ciatively.
Didn't I see you yesterday as
was walking down Sycamore HIP
"Yesl" she faltered.
Her usual poise and self-confi.
dence had deserted her. At dinner
it was Edith who talked, Edith who
leased and joked. with little burst;
of laughter, who spanked aid DIM
pied at the men like mischievous
Child.
Nancy, sitting dumbly across the
table, thought she had never seer
her friend so vivacious. Not trace
Of Ianguor In Edith tonight.
While Nancy, who had originated
many of the clever remarks the
other girl was "springing" sat quiet
~, forced into silence by the excited
riotous tumult Of her heart
AYtarxunrd ml7iIa the MAR, u,ar<