The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-07-30

She had painStakingly copied
Molly's handwriting with just
enough fidelity to the original to
make any one who knew it believe
that the letter came from her.
Other factors affected BERTHE Lou.
InquisitiveneSs chiefly. 1t drove her
back to Rod. InquisitiveneSS plus
an aching yearning to see for her
self if he really had succumbed to
LilaS charms.
Her friends in Wayville were be-
ginning to comment upon her pro-
longed absence from her husband.
They would soon be declaring that
she had left him, BERTHE Lou feared.
And she hadn't left him. There
had been no final break, no incon-
trovertible proof that Rod was I'M
faithful. Neither had he suggested
a permanent separation.
She spoke tentatively to her moth
er about returning to him and was
convinced at once that she had been
cause for worry.
Eyes, really think you should"
''II lAsOJIlCI odlQ, OllOlA6h VIC oAAoAA
miss you dreadfully."
BERTHE Lou smiled over the relief
in her mothers voice.
I'm afraid Rod will be thinking
we've kept you too long," Mrs Ward
went on happily. THE dear boy
has been so patient. 1t must have
been terribly lonesome for him with
out you"
Mother and daughter glanced at
each other and then both looked
quickly away. Each was wondering
how near or how far from the truth
those words had been.
The mother never had accepted
Lila's friendship with BERTHE Lou as
genuine, a thing to be trusted,
though she had kept her opinion
from her daughter lest she worry
her needlessly. She could be mis-
taken, perhaps, she told herself.
BERTHE Lou would not let her
mother know what she thought of
Rods loneliness, though she suS-
pected that her mother had Won
dered at her willingness to remain
away from him all these weeks and
months.
She had surprised her mothers
gaze bent upon her in grave medl-
tation on many occasions lately. 1t
was time to return to Rod and
settle the thing or tn open her heart
to her mother and load her burdens
on those still frail shoulders.
BERTHE Lou returned to New York
unanounced. Her hands trembled
on the doorknob as she let herself
in, but she Stubbornly refused to re-
lease the tears that smarted her
eyes.
Inside the front door she put
down the small case she had carried
and turned to admit the elevator
boy with her suitcases.
When he was gone she summoned
her maid, but there was no re-
sponse. She went out to the kitch-
en- and looked around. There was
no food in the refrigerator. Rod
must be eating out.
Further inspection of the apart
ment revealed that someone was
taking care of it, for there was
cleanliness and order al around.
A woman by the hour, BERTHE Lou
concluded.
1t was too late now to think of
preparing dinner in the apartment.
BERTHE Lou set about removing the
marks of travel from her person
and getting into fresh costume. 1t
was 1ice to be back in her COM
Portable, well-furnished home
but it was purely a physical
pleasure.
There was no elation in her
heart; merely a half-dread, half
eager feeling. She was excited.
but not happy. For some reason,
though, she put on a dress that
Rod had liked.
She was in the living room when
he entered the hall. She heard
him open the door and walk to-
ward their bedroom.
Ito Be COntinued)