The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-11
1~, sse1 , - S9
- We sz@eE< s~<

] ing the subject suddenly, eff its
ever going to stop blowing. Maybe
I won't be leaving tomorrow after
all. I should think the whole side
of the mountain would be an alb
solute washout."
ut probably will be-" he admitted
How would you like to stay little
longer?"
I'D be fearfully compromised, .
she declared, "but certainly would
love it,
You're compromised already" he
said. wait until your pious friends
learn that you've visited with me
for week!"
LIE laughed boyishly. What
L. Il will Sadie say?" he asked.
But Ashtoreth did not want ia
talk about Sadie. X
"Oh, she'd say plenty" she ad-
mitted. But I don't propose broad
casting this little stop-over, you
know, Hollis.
I'm not going to WNAC and
make speech. Or hand out a
statement to the press. What makes
you think my pious friends are go
ing to learn about it,"
"Pious friends" he told her sage
ly, "have strange and devious ways
of finding out what we least want
them to know. Haven't you dis
covered that?"
az don't believe I ever tried to
keep things from people before" she
answered.
"W-w-w-ee-ee-el" shrieked the
wind. "W-w-ee-ee-ee!" And
they fell silent, to listen.
It was moaning like lunatic.
Mornfully, as if it repented the de-
vastatio nit had wrought.
Ashtoreth surprised herself when
she spoke again.
81 mean," she said, I'm always
keeping things from people. /.
I suppose everybody pretends-but
I'm the worst counterfeit that ever
! liYedl
"It was a prepoSterous lie for me
to say 1 never tried to keep things
from people. To tell the truth, Hol-
ly, it's the busiest thing I do
She laughed nervously.
"It's this uncanny wind that's
making me so truthful" she con-
feSsed. "It's as if God was flying
all around the place.
81 mean I've been making believe
all my life. I'm always trying to
keep things from people. My pow
erty, for instance. The fact that I've
never been very much to school -
I didn't tell you, Holly, that mother
and I buoght fur coats and wal
nut bedroom set with the money
daddy put away for college.
"And other clothes besides. Dress
es we couldn't afford, and hats, and
shoes and things. In those days I'd
rather put money on my back than
in my head. I know better now, but
it's too late"
Hollis laughed softly.
You're having a perfect orgy of
confessions" he said. when the
wind stops bowling you'll be sorry
you've told ME so much about your
SELF"
Ashtoreth looked thoughtful.
I'm a fraud, I know" she de-
clared. But I think almost every
body pretends they're nicer than
they really are. If we didn't, ]
don't believe anybody would like us
very much.
cit is only when you get to know
people awfully well that you dare to
be yourself with them. And I don't
know that it's wise even then.
For instance, if l hadn't pre-
tended that I was a most unusual
stenographer that first time you ever
saw me, yofl'd never have thought
about me again. If you'd known ]
was just a common, kitchen-garden
working girl, you wouldn't have
looked at me.
"Millionaires don't play with the
hired help unless the hired help
looks rather special. SO started
showing off the very moment you
| nOC1ced the ring.
Talking about ScarabS and Cleo
patra. And pretending my mother
was a student of antiquities. -"
A SHTORETH blushed. :. "Of
IN course" she said, girls al
ways tell lies to men that interest
them. When woman is absolutely
truthful with man she either loves
him beyond all reason or he hasn't
registered at all"
Hollis came and stood in front of
her.
you're being absolutely truthful
with me-" he said.
She tried to laugh. To pass it off
lightly tits the wind" she
declared. I'm afraid to tell lies.
I'm scared to death. God might
strike me dead with mango
branch. Then what would I do?"
did you mean what you just
Said?" he demanded.
why, yes" she parted. 81 guess
so. mean, never told the truth,
the whole truth. and nothing but
the truth before"
"Then I don't register at all?"
Now, see here, Hollis Hart!" she
protested. IF you think you can
win declaration out of me that
way!" You know perfectly
well you do"
He drew her to her feet. Their
eyes, as they faced each other, were
nearly on level. Gray-green eyes
blazing into blue ones.
Hollis" eyes, reflected AShtoreth,
were a sort of unholy blue, and ex-
i tremely thrilling when they flashed
like that.
but you don't love me-" he in
sisted. Nov you're telling more
lies"
How do you know I don'tfe she
asked and shrank a little from