The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-12

was waiting Tor her, with MS arms
open. And the great, soft dark
ness had EMBODIED them both.
Ard, as he held her, his desire
went singing through her He lifted
her forehead to his lips, and the
wild wine of his love flowed like a
torrent from her swimming head.
He hushed her protestations with
his mouth. And, lifting her, Graded
her in his arms. And talked of love,
when he talked at all. which was not
at first, nor until he was weary with
kissing.
You'll marry me, Orchid?D he
had begged.
And he called her beautiful things.
"a high white altar" And a pale
white love-" And a "fiame-white
secret forever" Lovely, mystic
names, like poet making love.
1t rather embarrassed her. AS it
had when he talked about her
darling untouchedneSs. She Won
dered if he had known about the
way Jack Smythe had kissed her
only a week before, he would still
call her by white and precious
names.
And, of course, there wasn't just
Jack Smythe either. There was
Monty. And one or two others,
besides.
BY and by he lighted the lamps
again. And, when the storm had
abated, he opened a shutter and
they stood at the window together,
with his arm about her shoulders.
He sent her, then, to dress, and
said they would go out for little.
And that Lisa would come to pre-
pare a hot meal, for they had eaten
very little that day.
THEY decided that the boat,
Il which they had expected in
the morning, would be surely de-
layed. But when it came Hollis was
to sail for home with her And
they would be married in Boston.
"Will we cable your mother?" he
had asked.
But Ashtoreth thought not.
ooh, I'd rather tell her myself"
she said. She had her own per-
sonal reasons for that. 1t might be
little difficult, handling Maize.
Maize was so fond of Monty.
"She would want to be sure, too,
that it was all quite proper and re-
spectacle. Maize had such pie
beian suspicion of millionaireS.
Ashtoreth thought she was too
excited that night to sleep. Hollis
had sent her to bed very shortly
after they had eaten.
Later she had smelled cigarets
and knew he was smoking in the
garden, beneath her window. She
considered stealing softly down, to
surprise him again In the Chinese
pajamas.
She took her hair down, to brush
and plat it, and thought of slipping
big braid over each shoulder, and
going to him that way
Ashtoreth'S hair reached far be-
low her waist, and was, without
doubt, her browning glory. Hollis,
she knew, would love it. She sat
on the side of the bed to comb it,
and to think upon her great good
fortune
And, as she combed, her arms grew
tired and heavy, so that she rested
s1,cf tho f1iIlnU a
moment she was sound asleep.
While she slept, Hollis smoked
innumerable cigarets. and Won
dered if it was decent for man OF
his age to marry a young girl. And
if such marriages were ever happy.
AID if Ashtoreth might not be
better off with a younger man.
Wretchedly he pondered. And, when
he closed his eyes, he could imagine
the feel of her in his arms, with her
body throbbing, and her dark hair
like a soft cloud across his face,
and in his eyes.
He looked up to the room that
held her, sleeping ther. Pale and
slim, with her black hair, and her
long, black laSheS that swept her
white cheeks.
He thought of her in the big old
bed, with the wooden angels to
guard her slumber and he lit
another cigaret and another
and another until it was
morning.
And with the dawn. he knew that,
right or wrong, he would abide by
Ashtoreth's desire. For the big old
bed. with the pale, slim girl sleeping
in it, held heaven for him, and all
but God.