The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-02

corsage of orchids Marco had
bought for her.
She put them down, intending to
place them in water later, but she
entirely forgot about them in spec
ulating as to Rods possible where
abouts.
wouldn't it have been a scream
if we'd met at club? could have
sent Marco over to ask him if he'd
dance with me-" she tormented her
self, pretending to be amused.
She sat propped up in bed read
ing the latest thriller until she
heard Rod come in about an hour
later. Even then she did not re-
member the orchids.
Rod saw them as he was making
up his bed. The sight of the rich
blooms told their own story.
1t was the first time he'd seen any
evidence that BERTHE Lou was living
her life in a way that included
orchids. But i'd did not mean that
these were the first.
Rod and BERTHE Lou never ques-
toned each other. Rod often came
in and went to bed without knowing
whether BERTHE Lou was home. Her
door was always closed. Both knew,
vaguely, and with forebodings OF
disaster, that the arrangement
would not continue indefinitely.
Their marriage was a farce,
hallow mockery. Each was wait
ing for the other to make the over
ture toward a separation. BERTHE
Lou expected any day to learn that
Lila had left Cyrus. Then would
come her own divorce. For she
would not seek to hold Rod.
Rod thought BERTHE Lou would
tell him some day that she wanted
her freedom. He did not expect her
to live on in this manner.
For one thing she was too attrac-
tive to waste her life and she
loved nice things. 1t was inevitable
that she should meet. among Marco
Palmer's wealthy friends, a man
who would want to give them to
her.
The thought of BERTHE Lou mar
ried to another man was not as
agreeable to Rod as it should have
been in view of his own infatua-
ton with Lila.
He called himself a dog in the
manger over it, and set himself to
make it palmer than ever to BERTHE
Lou that she need not consider him
an obstacle in any way. 1t was his
method Of paying himself off for
feeling as he did.
BERTHE Lou understood him to be
leading up to frank request for
complete freedom. This was at
dinner, following the evening she
had called Marco. Until that mo-
ment she had hoped against hope
that the inevitable hour might be
long postponed.
She told Rod, quietly enough, that
whenever she wanted to leave him
she would do so. He would. she
hoped, have no hesitancy about do
Ing the same.
1t was CHASTITY. Two beautiful
young lives bound together with
tender ties, calmly placed on q
basis that was equivalent to a day.
to-day endurance test.
Berthe Lou could not stand it.
She threw herself into a very orgy
OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of time.
OF beauty and Of health.
Sleep became practically strang-
er to her and she discovered nerves
that she had not known that pos
sessed.
Rod rarely found her at home
now-rarely saw her. There were
no more meals in the apartment
BERTHE Lou once offered to cut her
household allowance, but Rod GRIM
ly refused.
He was eating in cheap restau-
rants and cafeterias. BERTHE Lou
applied the money he refused on
the debts he was paying off. He
protested when he learned of it. but
she would not talk about it.
The strain of their artificial rela-
ton began wearing on Rod. He
came home one day to dress for one
of Lila's dinners and saw with a
mixture of relief and consterna-
ton that BERTHE Lou was packing
her suitcase.
Ito Be Continued.)