The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-05-08

I rose with Sprlghtly Vlac1ty from
her chair, flung a sparkling glance
to her mother whose beautiful face
was little pinched with the strain
under which she had lived these last
few weeks. Dance, of course
Van!" she cried, wrinkling her nose
at him with a provocative moue. Il
was dreaming about you! Aren't
you f1attered?"
She saw her mothers pinched face
flush and bloom with hope, caught
an austere but>approving smile from
Courtney Barr, with whom she had
not yet reached the intimacy that
should exist between a father and a
daughter, even an adopted daugh-
ter. If she could make them so
happy by marrying Arthur Van
Horne, why let her own feelings pre-
vent? If she couldn't have David,
what difference did it make whom
she married? And if she married
Van Horne the only menace to her
mothers reputation would be for
ever removed.
"You adorable little thing!" Van
Horne whispered, as he swept her
out upon the crowded dance floor
80 you were dreaming about me?
Pleasant dreams, little Princess Lal-
LAP" His ardent, dark face was
bending close, his black eyes free
of mockery but lit by a fire that
repealed her.
Did you really fall in love with
Princess Lalla?'" Sally forced her
self to ask coquettishly, fluttering
her long lasheS in the demure fash
ion which had proved SO effective
durig her short career as a deb
utante
Absurd question:" Van Horne
jeered softly. Didn't I convince you
at the time? Listen, Sally 1 almost
never see you alone. Enid seems to
have an Anticipated leaning toward
chaperonage."
"Chaperons are coming in
again. Sally laughed at him, hid
ing her distaste. Mother adores
being a leader of fashion, you
know"
You're so adorable tonight that
I want to run away with you," Van
told her boldly. But I'll try to be
content if you'll promise me to
come too my apartment alone for
tea tomorrow. Do, Sally! I've some
thing TO tell you. Can you guess?"
She stiffened, every nerve on the
defensive against him. But she re-
membered her resolution, and nod
ded slowly, her head tucked on one
side, her eyes granting him a swift,
shy, upward glance.
IF you look at me like that again,
I'll kiss you right here on the dance
floor!" Van threatened exultingly,
as his arms frightened about her.
Ends pathetic gratitude to her
for being mice" to Van Horne
strengthened the girls resolution to
carry it through. She dressed with
especial care for her tea date with
Van the next afternoon, pinning
the corsage of Parma violets which
he had sent her on the full shawl
collar of her Russian squirrel coat.
But before she left her room she
took the ring David had given her
from the box in which she had
hidden 1t because the sight of it
hurt her so inolerably, and kissed
the shallow, f1awed little sapphire
with passionate grief.
"Good-by, David" she whispered
to the ring, but inconsistently she
thurst it into her blue and
gray leather handbag. No matter
what sort Of ring Van gave her, it
could never be so precious TO her as
this cheap little ring that David
had given her to mark their be-
trothal.
She had visited Van Horne's
apartment once before with Enid,
but as she gave the floor number
to the elevator operator-it was one
Of the most exclusive and expensive
of the new Park Avenue apartment
houses-she thought she saw a
CLEAN Of amusement in the mans
eyes.
Almost as soon as her finger had
pressed the bell the door was
opened by Van himself, Van in q
black and maroon silk dressing