The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-04
cuApTER LXXXIV

not quite a year since she had de-
parted for San Francisco, awake al
night for fear Of missing a thrill.
With what burden Of wisdom
she returned! Scared and old be-
yond her years, but not broken
thank God!
Thank Don saltwater. who had
shown her what a wonderful thing
real love might be.
Her mother met the boat.
She cried, "Sonia" with desperate
hunger in her voice.
"Dear God" thought Sonia, "she's
wondering If have forgiven her.
Her thin arms grasped Anna
tightly.
Mother, darling!'
She could have wept to see the
naked Joy that flared In Annals face
How she must have reproached her
self during those lonely years. How
many nights she must have tossed
in bitter self-loathingi oh, how well
Sonia could imagine now the price
her mother had paid!
When they were home, Anna
said, you're so pale. You must
have been dreadfully H."
1T was"
"Don wrote that you had taker
the wrong medicine by mistake
Sonia, what I told you had nothing
to do with IT."
mot a thing, mother"
'T tried to tell myself It hadn't
Anna continued, wiping her eyes
but 1 was so afraid :"
Lets not talk about it. please.
Suddenly Sonia realized that she
was very tired and glad to be al
home. Inside the drab living room
buried in the comfort Of the faded
davenport, but safe!
Her mother brought tea. and
while Sonia lay nibbling a piece
Of buttered toast, Vera came.
Vera made a great fuss with the
children.
kiss Aunt Sonia. Don't
you think the baby's CROWN Pau,
thinks he is going to look like me-
The old Vera, but with reserva
tons in her eyes. She would dc
her best toward Sonia.
When Anna had taken the chill
dren into the kitchen for bread anc
jelly, Vera said, Sonia, was Sc
surprised to hear you and Don were
married. I think you might have
told me. :"
"It wasn't an ordinary marriage, ;
explained Sonia, with lowered eyes
"Well, Of course, I suspected that
Still it makes everything look very
different. Just as Paul says, If VIC
had known. :"
"What Paul says doesn't matter
tinker's damn to me-"
Vera looked shocked and Sonia
swept on, surprised to find the ole
luminosity against her brother-!n
law-rather pleasantly reassuring.
IT mean it. Paul makes me tired
If he suits you, why that's dandy
but don't quote him to me-"
IT can't understand why you're sc
unfair to him"
Perhaps you can the next time
you're tired and i'll and he goes
storming out Of the house."
Vera looked thoughtful.
"I will admit he wasn't very kind
but he's made up for 1t since"
Again that dark, sweet look r.
her sisters eyes. The look which
had hurt Sonia a year before, but
she understood it now-understooG
so well that her hand reached GU,
for Vera's arm.
I know, old thing. ="
The next day Mrs. Raymond Still
water called. Sonia was reading or
the davenport when she knocked al
the door. She asked If she might
speak with Sonia alone, and when
Anna had gone she said, Sonia
I've had letter from Don"
Sonia met her eyes, unafraid.
''You needn't worry, Mrs. Still
water. I've made him see how i'm
possible the situation is"
but he has announced your mar
rage"
THAT was foolish" admitted
Sonia. ''But 1t can all be undone.
She was so tired of explanations
So deathly tiredl But because thi.
woman was the mother of Dor
Saltwater, Sonia told herself sh,
would have endured anything.
She said, gently. please trus
me. I'm going to give him bacl
to you"
She was amazed to see thos,
proud, dark eyes swimming in tears
To feel the older woman's hand clos,
over hers.
II don't want you to give him up
Sonia. Don loves you. Do you think
I can't read the heart of my owl
SOM"
Trembling, Sonia faltered, "HeT
get over it. There will be someone
else"
You're breaking his heart. Dor
Saltwater is a one-woman man."
Then Sonia put her head in the old
err woman's lap and burst into tears
'FYou wouldn't want me to love him
If you knew. :"
IT don't believe word Of It," Don's
mother cried, smartly. my boy
couldn't love girl who wasn't clean
and fine. don't care fig what any
one else says"
In spite Of her troubled heart,
Sonia smiled.
mo wonder he's different with a
mother like you"
Don't try to f1atter me. Tn NO