The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-11
CHAPTER xxx

n 66TIl6 LOU Sdlu IL oOAU4y, VlO4AA-
ulously, almost under her breath.
Her eyes were glowing brightly be-
hind misty tears and tender half
smile parted her lips. Bessie Rog-
ers though they would be very pretty
lips if they had more color.
She hardly knew what to say to
BERTHE Lou about the house. 1t was
a trif1e embarrassing not to know
more than the mere name and oc-
cupation of any one who chose to
confide in you. Was Mrs. Dryer 60
ing to be married? Bessie had Won
dered about Mr. Dryer. =. BERTHE
Lou never spoke of him.
That's fine" she said I'D love
to build a house, too"
BERTHE Lou turned her head and
looked at her. DO you mind if I
ask you a personal question, Miss
Rogers?" she asked.
please call me Bessie" the other
replied. Miss Rogers sound like
the boss calling me down. What
do you want to ask me?"
BERTHE Lou hesitated. II was Won
dering, Bessie" she began reluctant
ly, "if you had a sweetheart?"
Bessie was quick to reply. Il
haven't a steady if that's what you
mean"
"Well, then, it isn't too late for
you to start right" BERTHE Lou as
tonished her by saying. eff man
wants to marry you, Bessie, and
build a house for you, let him do
it-build the house, mean, even
if it's only portable shack"
She smiled, but there was a
touch of earnestness in her tones
that told Bessie a story lay behind
her admonition.
"Well, I guess I wouldn't be
saying no if cared for the man"
Bessie said uneasily, but emphati-
cally. She couldn't understand
BERTHE Lou. Did she mean girl
ought to marry just to get a
1home?
"Of course, but some girls want
marriage all their own way, Bes-
sic. They don't think much of
what the man they're going to
marry would like.
"He may want six-room cottage
with all his heart; it may have been
his dearest dream to have his own
roof and a family under it, but if
he's like most men he will let the
girl have her way-and they may
move into an apartment, or even
away from town and . if things
don't go right, they'll never have
that house-not together"
She turned her head and
blinked hard on the tears that
threatened to spill themselves on
he rwan cheeks. Bessie was silent
because she didn't know what to
say. which was the best thing she
could have done.
Suddenly BERTHE Lou turned back
and smiled at her. ct haven't any
one to help me build my house, "
she said, because I didn't know
what it was like to want one with
all my heart. But maybe some one
else will find happiness in it. That
would be nice, don't you think So,
to have people being happy in your
house?"
"Y s." Bessie replied
doubtfully. She thought it would
be much nicer to be happy in it
yourself. "When are you going to
build it?" she added.
Just as soon as L can get up"
BERTHE Lou told her. "See here"
She reached down on the foot of
the bed for a folded newspaper that
lay there. Here's whole page ad
of company that's building lot
of houses at NToonfelds. Isn't that
the loveliest name? was out there
\ once. =" She paused, and took
a trembling underlip between her
teeth to still it.
She had gone there with Rod,
shortly after they came to New
York. He'd been deeply interested
in the tiny English cottages that
were going up like magician archi-
tect's dream come true; he had sue
ceeded in interesting wealthy
builder in pretty homes at a small
cost.
But BERTHE Lou had been unable
to enthuse over them as Rod did
They were attractive, yes, adorable
even. But so small, you know
Rod; how could we entertain? It
might be all right for some one
whose future is limited, to come out
here, but what would the Frasers
think if we did,"
! BERTHE Lou remembered their
conversation almost word for word
Rod had reminded her that these
houses were larger than the apart
ment she was looking at.
But the apartment is only tenn
porary," she had argued. When
you get where you belong in the
business world, Rod dear, we viii
have a house, but it must be in g
more exclusive neighborhood thar
this. And we need a real dining
room"
Rod thought it would be coy
to have a table in the living room
Fright before the fireplace, and 6
nice CHEEKY log fire going"
But they didn't build And nov
BERTHE Lou enshrined it in hel
eknemory. 1t was the temple Of
light-have- been.
"See where it says small pay
fnt down and balance like rent'?'
pointed out to Bessie, whC
ned over the bed and studied thu
Refreshments with her.
Gee, what a swe Nlittle homel