The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-10
By Vida Hurst

was a fundamental selfishness about
Elaine A smallness of soul.
Suddenly Sonia realized that she
was criticizing her companion. Pick
ing her to pieces while smiling in a
friendly fashion.
kitty, kitty" thought Sonia.
Wonder what she's thinking about
me. Well, check, old thing"
She forced herself to be compan-
ionable. To answer sincerely Elaine's
endless questions as to whether or
not Sonia liked her in this. Or that.
Finding fault with everything.
Particularly, it seemed to Sonia, if
she liked it.
mo, that looks cheap. never
wear blue. Have you it in any
other color?"
Sonia marveled at the patience of
a salesgirl who could smile so gra-
ciously and continue the search for
something different"
But that is more than I wish to
pay" was her final objection to an
evening gown, faultless in color and
line, unquestionably distinctive.
Sonia blushed for her as they left
the department. Elaine was dis
gusted.
What shall we do now? We've
wasted the entire morning. never
can find anything at a SADIE" She
glanced at her watch. "a quarter
of 70. Shall we have lunch?"
They did and as they sat in the
crowded little room. blue with smoke
Sonia, glancing toward the corner,
found Jinny's brown eyes fixed upon
her. She smiled, gaily. Looking
closer she recognized frankie and
Fern. Bursting with curiosity as al
ways. Queer how the sight Of the
inseparables rouse the same old
feeling of aversion. Was she I'M
usually low today? Or were ones
opinions unchangeable? After all 1t
had only been year since she had
left the real estate office. They had
known many careless. friendly mo-
ments lunching together, or gossip
ing in the dressing room. For the
first time she became conscious of
Il faint desire to talk with them. To
hear the scandal. Heads together,
cigaret smoke curling Upward! Some
one was catching it,"
Elaiue's glance had followed hers.
Friends of yours?"
Yes. Girls who used to work in
the same office"
Elaine scrutinized them carefully.
Rather good-looking n Q i n
brown"
That's jimmy. I like her better
than the Others"
Grateful for the topic Of conversa-
ton which was not personal, she
continued. Jimmy looks like a little
mouse. But she's usually up to
something. The other two simply
tear their hair to find out what
Jimmy is doing And she encourages
their interest by telling absolutely
nothing"
But Elaine had evidently lost in
terest. She was back on the topic
Of the day.
at wonder, Sonia, if I'll be sorry I
didn't take that last evening gown
Sonia reached home, exhausted.
Swearing off all shopping trips a
deux. In future Elaine could do her
looking" alone. AS she ran up the
steps to her door she was conscious
Of only one desire. To get out of
her coat which really was too warm
for a sunny day, and flop on the
davenport. No intuition warned her
as she put her hand in the mail
box. Even as she pulled out a
couple of letters she had no Fremont
ton. One was from Anna. The
other. bearing a foreign postmark,
forwarded from the real estate office,
could only be from Franklin Crane.
Forgetting her fatigue Sonia
stared at it. nervously. The thin
envelop brought him suddenly to
life. Appealing eyes, sweet, wistful
mouth.
You are cruel to me, Sonia!"
She was living again the moment
he came. intoxicated, to her room.
Confessing that he had quaeseled
with Walter Henderson.
Was She never to be able to put
the past behind her? To live down
it's mistakes? To proceed unhaunted
by fear?
Terror clutched her by the throat.
Why was he writing? What did he
want? How dared he make adj
vances of any kind to her now?
Slowly she removed her hat and
coat. Retreating to the bedroom.
The maid was in the kitchen. She
must be alone to meet this shock
this letter from the past was sure
to bring.
1t was not long.
MY dear Sonia:
almost a year since. l left the
good old u. S. Any mother and
are coming home. Sick for a
glimpse of San Francisco-and old
friends.
I'm wondering about you. Sonia.
Have thought of you many times.
No one else quite like you, you
know. Are you stiIl married? I