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

DERTIE LOUIS newly-found
ID sense of security vanished in
stantly on Lilas words. IT might
have known it" she walled in
wardly.
But her audible answer was quite
different. wen tell New York
you're coming" she said with the
smiling sarcasm that had charac-
terized their conversation since her
marriage. Lila hastily turned her
back.
watch out for those little wild
flowers growing on the old cowpath, -
she warned Rod. "Broadway's out
grown its age of innocence, they
say"
"And don't buy the Brooklyn
Bridge. They're going to build a
bigger one across the Hudson, !
hear" Tommy White shouted
after him as he followed BERTHE Lou
to the Pullman platform.
They stood there, waving good-by
until a bend in the road turned
them from last view of their
friends. Then they staggered and
bumped their way through the YES
thule to their section. BERTHE Lou
sank down on the green plush seat
with a tired sigh.
There we're soft violet shadows
around her eyes to testify to the
physical and emotional strain of CIV
ing up the fiat.
Leaving it had not saddened her
overmuch, however. To her mind,
the future stretched like a golden
ribbon before them. Its new prom
Use helped her to forget the dull con-
viction that had dimmed her bright
est hopes.
The conviction that Rods progress
in Wayville would be discouragingly
slow. 1t had grown gradually upon
BERTHE Lou as she realized the i'm
possibility Of keeping up with their
old frienGs and saving money at the
same time.
1t was different, she had found,
having place of their own. They
seemed, as a married couple, to bear
a much larger share of the enter
tanning than fell to the single men,
bers Of their set. And their little
fiat had been poloular-too popular.
Lets go up and zee Rod and BERTHE
Lou" had been common phrase in
the town. And BERTHE Lou like it.
So did Rod. Too much to put a
stop to it. Their desire to curtail
their social activities we're forgotten
when the fun began.
Afterward BERTHE Lou always
wished she'd said no. 1t was the
thought of getting away from temp
tation, making a fresh start, and
escaping from Iila's unending eff
forts to embarrass her that had
helped BERTHE Lou to overcome all
but a very thiny remnant of regret
at leaving her old home, her family
and friends.
And now-now she closed her eyes
and hid the disappointment she
feared they would reveal. Lila had
fooled her. Her gay acceptance OF
Rods departure had been a mask
Shed meant all the time to follow
BERTHE Lou experienced a moment
of panic, picturing Lila In New York
The reputation of the city's i'm
mensity was appalling.
To be >harassed there-where she
had no one to turn to-not that
she had turned to anyone in Way
vile, but at least she hadn't been
without silent sympathy and I'M
Outstanding from some of the girls
and her mother-was a fate I'M
thinkable.
Rod" she said in fierce lit
tie whisper, and lifted the silken
fringe Of her eyes to gaze, terrified
at him; Rod, let's go back!"
Honey" Rod laughed at her and
put an arm around her shoulders
to draw her close. His own voice
was none too steady. Not so many
moons had passed since his Adde'S
cence and he was weighted with
the responsibility Of taking wife
to strange city.
1--WE can't disappoint the people
of New York. he told her gravely