The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-10-10
CHAPTER XII

NOW GO ON WITH IhE O1OhL
CHAPTER XII
COMMITTING had happen d.
- Something dreadful. On her
feet, Sybil felt suddenly dizzy. Per-
haps she grew pale, for a man in
a blue uniform took her arm and
walked beside her. Up therein
front of those people. The cyno-
sure of all eyes.
She squared her shoulders brave
". And those in the courtroom
saw the judge bend kindly toward
her. His grizzled locks seemed to
touch her satin turban. Peterson's
bald head cleaned beside. Only a
word or two.
SYPHILIS lawyer put his hand be-
meath her elbow and they left the
courtroom through the judges lob
by. Then the judge stood before
the vast assembly and spoke very
quietly.
There has been an accident.
Richard Eustis, defendant in this
case,( accompanied by his attorney,
motoring from New Haven to at
tend this session of the court, was
killed this morning in Providence"
A seconds silence. And then q
buzz-the dreadful buzz Of gossip
Women whispering. A court officer
raped for silence. And, when the
whispering grew, he called harsh
ly: Silence! Silence!
The judge left the bench. And,
presently the courtroom was
cleared and the corridors were
crowded.
Excited little groups. Did
you ever! .. What a dreadful
thing! And I was dying to see
him. Well, it's an i'll wind"
In the judges lobby Mr.. Peterson
whispered to Craig.
II took her out this way" he
said, $50 no one could see the JOY
in her face"
And Craig, nodding, understood.
Tears ran down SYPHILIS cheeks and
in her eyes was the light of hap
piness. She took his hand and
pressed it, for there were no words
for the choking ecstasy that was
in her heart.
DEOPLE criticized her for the
thing she did that evening. 1t
was bad taste, they say, and per-
haps they are right.
Sybil put on a dress Of flame
georgette and pinned orchids on
her shoulder. Then she wrapped
herself in a Spanish shawl with
peoples on it and sat with Craig
Newhall in theater box while
Richard Eustis' body lay on mar
BILE slab in a morgue that was cold
as death.
Two days later Sybil gave a tea.
And that was the day funeral Serv-
ices were held in New Haven.
From an undertaker'S bare par
lor the embalmers carried forth a
wooden box. A single sheaf Of
roses followed all that was mortal
Of Richard Eustis into the hearse.
And no one, the papers said, accom-
panied his body to the grave.
II suppose" Sybil told her
guests, as she poured their tea,
"that youN>all think I'm hard as
nails, and cruel. Well, I'm not
hypocritical, anyhow-and I don't
care what people say.
I'm glad Richard Eustis is dead.
You've seen the papers. You know
what he proposed to do to Teddy
and me. To rob us of every shred
of decency. To tell vile lies about
us. To further his own wicked
purposes he proposed to degrade
Craig Newhall. To humiliate my
mother and break her heart. To
disgrace Valerie and Tad.
why, I almost didn't believe
there was a God till Richard died.
Now I know better. 1t was God
who killed Richard And he killed
him because he was too sinful to
live. I'm sorry if you think I'm
wicked because I'm happy. But I
am, my friends. am very, very
happy"
NF course there was great to-
do when news Of the tea party
was spread Mrs. Thorne took to
her bed, vowing that she would be
happier dead than alive.
Tad was furious.
Mice women" he said, never do
things in poor taste.'
"Prig!" cried Sybil. "Hypocrite!
You're just as glad as I am, but
ycu don't dare admit it,"
That's the difference he re-
torted, between a civilized being
and a barbarian. Polite people
don't parade primitive passions"
1T wouldn't blame Sybil a darn
bit" interrupted Craig, grinly, "if
she did a hula-hula right on the
late lamented's well-known grave"
ooh, you two!" exclaimed Tad
and stalked wrathfully from the
room. "You give me a pain"
n r
TAD and Valerie were planning a
Il New Years party, their last in
the old house. In February they
were moving to an apartment of
their own. Valerie was taking
cooking lessons and a course in in
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