The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-10-09

wanted 10 i've Ills lie IOI 1IcA OAlC
could not believe it.
A smile of disillusion caught at
her lips and contorted their lovely
lines into a unfamiliar shape. II
worried Brent a trifle. He had seer
that expression on other feminine
lips. And always 1t had presaged
the beginning of an end.
Words would follow-he knew
that too-and waited. They came
sooner than he expected. He had
lighted one of his fat Turkish
c%igarets.
From behind the smoke screen he
manufactured with it he surveyed
the girl seated across the table from
him with the coldly calculating eyes
of a fox.
, She leaned over and opened her
denunciation rather softly. Il hate
you" she said tersely. You're like
a poison vine that has fastened it
self upon a young tree and is grad
ually S~trangling it. You thought
you could do that with me. Rob
me of my life-train me to grow up
stunted and dwarfed."
You're wrong" Brent broke in
sharply. Il wanted you to be a real
girl-not an empty-headed dapper.'
You wanted me to be a char
acterleSs rag" Helen retorted. lone
who would overlook your weaknesses
and come to heel at your whistle
Can't you see what you say when
you tell me chat you sacrificed
yourself for me?
WAS it fair? Did I have anything
to say about it? Did I promise you
a reward? You have no right to dc
anything for me which you mean
to make some one else pay a price
unless you make your bargain first
Everyone has a right to grow uI
free-and not be saddled with a
debt they've had no voice in &C
quiring."
"VOU were quite willing to have
l. me love you," Brent reminded
her.
But you knew I was Just a kid
Helen protested, You shouldn't
have led me on as you did. Oh, 1
know you weren't always kind tt
me, but you facinated me, and II
wasn't it wasn't cricket. You
must have realized that some day
I would meet the right man-that
I couldn't stay in loye with you
It would have been so much better
if you'd lived your life for your
self"
Well" Brent agreed a bit la
conically. II didn't, and that's that
What are you going to do about it?
Be a gutter just because you think
you care for a young upStart? A
bum, too.
Why, you poor foolish girl. Don't
you know that any man in Ennis
position who aSpireS to marry q
girl as wealthy as you are is open
to the charge of being a fortune
hunter?"
No matter what you say, I love
him." Helen declared. How car
you think of marrying me when J
tell you that?"
"That's"just another one of those
things you wouldn't understand,
was Brent'S unsatisfactory answer
Well" Helen said, and her voice
was vibrant with sincerity, II an
sure you can understand me wher
I say I will not marry you"
Brent contented himself will
raising an eyebrow, knowing tina
she would go on.
81 was wrong to think of it afte
I knew that 1 loved Bob" she sal
hurriedly; but 1 did believe I owe
you something. All that is changes
now. You will be able to conSol
yourself readily enough. And if
had not seen what 1 did and yo'
had told me you meant to make m
pay your price for the care you'v
given me I should feel just as I d
now about marrying you You'y
cured me of believing in sacrifices.
eff 1 sacrificed myself and Bo'
now I couldn't make you happy
would be a useless gesture"
Brent smiled inwardly. Let m
be the judge of that" he con
tributed.
Helen shook her head. NO" sh
said firmly. I'm going to max
my own decisions-and stick {
them"
Are your" Brent drawled. be
ginning to be amused. After al
he thought. she might be more in
teresting as an unwilling bride.
would be a diversion to spend
little time in conquering her.
And 1t suited his mood. which ha
lost all gravity-in the certaint