The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-09
fats, at Huylers. before coming up

fats, at Huylers. before coming "
here, Motherdear, said Joyce.
"Then I'll thank you for taking
care of Joyce and ask you to brin,
her in again, Davey," said Mrs. Oar
ing cordially. We've a lot to tall
about and I'll see her safe home to
night"
Davey took joys hand. "Goot
night, JOY" he said. THANK 70,
for spending the evening with me
When may I see you again?"
Call me UP Tuesday" said Joyce
I'm going to be pretty busy earn
ing a living, you know"
"All right. So long" And Dave.
made for the door.
Joyce turned to her mother agar
and started at the sight of Deke
She felt confused. ,Deke was here
because her mother had sent fol
him, of course. She was glad, ant
yet-oh, well, she did-ike Deke. 81
she held out her hand.
"Top of the evening, SIR" she said
Deke shook her hand warmly
'Golly, but I've missed you,'' hi
said
run along" smiled Mrs. Daring
''I'll be out soon" Joyce followed
Deke to the bright Marmon ant
sank down beside him.
Now said Deke, laying hant
lightly over hers for a moment, "Tel
Uncle Delke all about it,
| So Joyce did. And tomorrow
start in to be hello girl. How de
you like that?" she finished on {
note of bravado.
81 don't like it," said Dekt
soberly. ST think you're wasting
yourself at that kind of thing. Damn
it all, Joyce, 1 don't want you work
| ing yourself to death. See here, lets
run off and get married tonight
Then III get my dad to let me ou
of my last year in school and go tt
work now. Will your"
mo- said Joyce in a small voice
"And the reason is first that 1 don't
want to get married to anybody, moi
the Prince of Wales himself, just
now. And Deke, if did care that
way, to run off and marry you now
it would be the most selfish thing
in the world for me to do. So let's
stop talking about it. Here comes
Motherdear."
She moved closer to him and he
leaned across to open the door fol
Mrs. Daring, conscious of joys
thrilling closeness as he did so.
"Shall we driver" he asked.
ITO some quiet place, please
where we can talk, all three of us,
said Mrs. Daring.
Both Joyce and Deke felt sense
of surprise at the quiet authority in
her tones. They went across the
bridge and out through Edgewater
Park. At secluded spot Deke stop
ped.
Would you like me to leave you
alone?" he asked.
Mrs. Daring said no in low tone
Deke lighted cigarette.
Now you two young people listen
to me for a few minutes" the
mother said presently, Strengthening
herself in the car. First of all
want both of you to know that
love Joyce dearly But when I was
Ia girl I made the mistake that
thousands of women have made.
married and lost all my own in
dividuality. 1 lived my husbands
life instead of my own. 1t brought
none of us any. happiness.
II realized this some years age
and 1 set out to get myself square
with life. I am making some head
way. I earn enough money for the
little luxuries that I always craved
L have taken room in joys room
ing house on the third floor, under
the name of Mrs. Martin.
II want to be near her, partly be
cause I love her and partly to pro
tect her if she needed it. / am tell
ing you this, Joyce, because you must
never recognize me as your mother
We will meet very seldom at Mrs
Jenkins, but when we do, it must be
as strangers. Your father would
resent it keenly if he knew I was
in the, same house with you. l DOM
want to interfere with you In any
way.~I want Mr.. Deacon to feel thai
you have the protection Of your
mother. Now tell me what you've
been doing, Joy dear"
Joy caught her astonished breath
and told her story briefly. But
don't see,' she finished in bewild
cred tone-"I don't see what your
staying jim the same house and not
letting on that you're my mother
has to do with it,
More than you suspect now,
said her mother sadly. "Some day
I will tell you the whole story. The
time is not ripe for you to hear il
now"
1T can see that it will be a good
thing for Joy to feel that someone
is near to help her, but not there t.
T1ct 4 ~ c1o,o1-c