The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-10-07

Brent INC he embraced her with a
toucn of gusto that filed the heart
of the watching girl with loathing
for the whole situation.
Carmel made the most of her OPP
portunity and did not let him 60
until she knew it would be too late
for him to explain the scene away
as just a little greeting between old
friends.
Then he saw Helen.
Carmel had released him and
stepped aside to allow him to enter
the living room. On her face was
the famous smile of the canary-fed
cat.
For a moment, when Brent'S eyes
took in the erect figure of the girl
whose eyes blazed at him with utter
scorn, he, too. stood still, silent in
his CONSERVATION.
Helen made the first move. She
flung out a hand, as though she
pushed away an -encroaching dan
ger, and started toward him, to
pass through the doorway where he
stood to get to the outer door.
Brent caught her by the shoulders
and held her with a grip that hurt.
Behind him he could hear Carmers
soft laughter as she vanished down
the hall to another room.
Helen" he cried, wait, dear,
waltz
Helen looked at him with an ex-
preston that would have shriveled
his pride had he had any of the
kind that could be shriveled.
IT won't let you go until you hear
me-" Brent went on, and Helen
knew that truth lay behind his
words. She could, of course, wrench
herself away by force and rush
from the apartment without giving
him a chance to offer a defense of
his conduct, but her conscience for
babe it..
A FTER all, she, too, had kissed
N someone else, and while she
still had been engaged to Leonard.
Her sense of fairness compelled her
to curb her outraged pride and try
to become calm enough to listen to-
him.
A thought that he might be in a
position similar to her own came to
her, bringing an immensely quoting
effect. How simple that would be-
if he were in love with this other
womal-!
Brent was somewhat dazed by the
smile she turned upon him. The
chameleon-like change in her on
fused him. But his hands did not
slip from her shoulders until she
said that they had best have a talk
and turned back to the living room.
He let her go then and followed,
to take a seat beside her on the pale
green leather divan. He let her
start the conversation.
I'm sorry I intrduded upon a
date" she said, a little stiffly; but
you probably won't have any trouble
fixing it up"
She opened her bag and brought
out the engagement ring that he
had given her. This will convince
her that there's nothing between us
any more" she added, holding out
the ring to Brent.
He took her hand instead and
curled her fingers over the flashing
gem. Let me explain" he begged;
you mustn't judge me unheard."
Helen drew her hand away and
laid the ring on the stand beside
Carmel's cigaret holder.
1T wouldn't do any good to ex-
plain, even if you could" she said
quietly; 'for I came here to ask
you to release me from our engage
ment"
"Why2" Brent exclaimed, his fear
of having lost her growing upon
him with alarming conviction.
Because I love someone else"
Helen answered. feeling she had a
right to be direct with him. The
necessity for s~oftening the blow was
gone as she saw it and she was glad
that it was so.
Brent did not shrink from it as
he would have done had he loved
her, but he was diSSembler enough
to force a good imitation of pain
into his expression.
Helen waited, but he said nothing.
There was only an intake of breath
in a series of painful gasps to tell
her how her words had hurt.
I'm sorry" she said suddenly.
that we made such a mistake. but
we can be thankful for the rest of
our lives that We discovered in time
that it is a mistake
Brent answered now, with great
feeling. Il haven't made a mis-
! take" he declared. II love you