The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-06-19
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for a moment that she was now Nan
Morgan and not Nan Carroll. You'll
drive yourself crazy if you're 60
ing to keep torturing yourself with
comparisons Of his attitude to you
and TO Iris. He divorced her Of his
own free will and accord and mar
ried you. You are his wife now, not
Irisi'
Before leaving the Office she gath
cred up the typed sheets Of David
Blackhull's story. thrust them into
the fine. flexible leather briefcase
that she had found among her new
possessions that morning. Stamped
in gold on the front was her new
name. Mrs. J. c. Morgan How
sure he had been that she would go
through with the marriage! And
what lot Of planning he had done
TO prepare these wedding gifts for
her.
Gratitude and loye-untainted for
the moment By Jealousy and fore
boding-surged through her heart.
AS she babe Kathleen O'Hara good
by for the day, Nan looked the hap
by. beloved bride that they all-even
Evans and Blake, who had known
Iris-belieyed her to be.
4
CURTIS, playing on the lawn
~ with Cop, who had grown into
an enormous police dog, and Little
Pat OBrien. saw Nan as she turned
up the fagstone path to the house.
Hi, Nan! Your trunks here!
Listen. Nan, are you going to stay
all night? Maude and E5telle
wouldn't tell me. They said to ask
you" He flung himself upon her, al
most strangling her with the
vehemence of his embrace. Are YOU
Nan? Are you? Hi! Look at Cop!
He wants 10 shake hands with you,
Mani"
Curtis. feeling himself almost
grown up at 7. had long since dis
carded the humilisting. nursemaid
nickname of Mana" with which Iris
had taught him, when he was ,
years old, to address his fathers
secretary.
Nan knelt and held him close to
her heart. regardless of neighbOrs OF
servants who might be watching.
Tears Welled in her eyes as she
looked him over proudly, with as
much love-she thought-as if he
we're her own flesh and blood. He
was very different child from the
spoiled, anemic little boy that Iris
Morgan had deserted nine months
ago. His cheeks had filled out. there
was astonishing strength in the
round arms that chung to her so
tightly.
Listen. Mani he plunged on
breathlessly, without waiting for an
answer to his other importunate
question. you know what? We
had physical 'zamination today, and
yon know what? l got A-plus!
Honest! The doctor said my weight
was just right, and my hema-hema-
glo-bin-I can spell it, too!-Was
ga. Little Pats hema- glo-bin is
SO. but betcha min'll be about $50
by next term. You are going to
stay all night, aren't you, Nan? Can
I sleep with you?'
Little Pat, who mad drawn near,
let out a WarWhoop of delight at
that innocent question of Curtis,
but there was no smile on Mans
face.
Gee, Nan, you're red as a beet!'
Curtis informed her.
Il am going to stay all night, and
as many more nights as you want
me. Curtis Nan said in q low voice,
as she gently released the boys arms
from about her neck.
Hi Pat! Mans going to stay all
the time at my housed" Curtis
shrieked and tore across the lawn
to his chum, followed by 3 madly
excited police dog.
Nan walked slowly up the path
to the front Veranda and, without
ringing the door bell, stepped
through an open French window
into the drawing room. Her eyes
few to the fireplace. Estelle had
lost no time.
Nan could imagine with what ma
licious pleasure the maid, who
adored her and despised the houses
former mistress, had yanked down
the life-size portrait of Iris Morgan
which had dominated the drawing
room, the whole house, even the life
DuT Nan. at the Punishment of
ID her rivals portrait, felt no re-
lief-only dismay. For the picture
was more conspicuous by its alb
Sence than it could have been by
its presence. It had left as inc
radicable a mark on the wall as it
had upon Morgan's heart.
Where the picture had hung there
Was now a great rectangle of paper
many shades darker than that of
the surrounding space, Nan stood
staring helplessly at the spot where
the picture had hung. What could
she do?
If John came home to find that
dark, blank space where he had
been accustomed 10 seeing almost
incredible beauty, would the terrible
thought occur to him that Nan, in
banishing his former wife's picture,
was trying as crudely to Danish her
from his heart? And would he be
forced to face the fact that his
heart was as empty without Iris as
that blank space above the fire
place?
Nan cast desperately about for a
solution. No, there was no other
picture in the house anywhere near
large enough to fit the space. No
piece of tapestry large enough or
worthy to fill so conspicuous a place.
No time to have the room redeco-
rated or to purchase a picture be-
fore John came home.