The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-11-28
! 5SsSS ?55T WHITES, 1s

spirit, she prayed, and with the
flood of tears that followed, she
found a blessed peace.
CHEILA arrived at Andy'S apart
~ ment at almost the same hour
that Sheridan was questioning Riley
Morgan at the point of pistol on
lonely country road. She drove
there alone in her own car.
Though her face was unnaturally
pale and showed the strain of the
emotional storm through which she
had passed, she was in complete
control of herself again.
She stood silently for a moment
after Ike opened for her the door to
the living room and waited until
he had retreated to the kitchen.
Andy so far had recovered that
the doctor had permitted him to
leave his bed. With his arm in
sling, but with most of the head
bandageS discarded, he was installed
in a lounging chair at window
overlooking the apartment house
entrance. He had seen Sheila park
her car at the curb and had warned
Mercy.
Mercy and Andy had awaited
Sheila'S visit with apprehension.
Both recalled the distressing scenes
which marked their last meetings.
Andy'S attack on Sheila's birthright
and Mercy's quarrel with her fol-
lowing the roadhouse encounter.
Andy was wholly repentant, but
Mercy, jealous of Sheila's influence
over Andy and still resentful of
Sheila'S contemptuous treatment OF
herself, was warily on the defensive.
Neither, of course, had an inkling
of the soul-probing ordeal Sheila
had undergone; neither saw in the
tall, pale-faced girl who faced them
with serious, sorrowful eyes, chas-
tened, humbled Sheila.
Mercy stood with an arm across
the high back of Andy's chair. Andy
started to rise, but Sheila darted
across the room and pushed him
gently back into his chair.
mo. no. you're ILL.," she protested,
you mustn't get up" She stopped
and kissed him. Then she whirled
about and swept Mercy into her
arms.
You're a DEAR" she said, her face
pressed closely to Mercy'S bobbed
curls, its so good of you to come
here and take care of him. can't
tell you how grateful We all are.
Papa says you are a wonderful
nurse. And-and I hate myself for
the way 1 talked to you that other
timel"
Mercy, startled by Sheila's unex-
pected actions and words, struggled
from the girls embrace and sank
gaSping into a chair. This was far
from the greeting she had expected!
She tried to speak, but no words
would come. Andy was the first to
recover speech.
That's mighty sporting Of you,
Sheila," he said feelingly, ooh,
Sheila, can you ever forgive me for
what I did-what said"
Please, please, Andy" Sheila in
terrupted pleadingly, 'let's not talk
about that. There's nothing to for
give"
She sat on the broad arm Of his
chair and took his hand. at was
the truth, Andy" she continued in
8 low voice, and I must face it, no
matter how 1t hurts.
'I think, dear, have been crazy
clear out of my mind. 1t was
such a sudden change from all
had been-all I thought of myself.
My pride was all torn to pieces
to find you are a nobody, oh,
1t Is hard to bear! I kept
thinking of what people would think
if they knew how they would
sccer at me. laugh at meat me
who had always carried my head
so high.
And then, last night, 1t came to
me that was Just picturing myself
how I would have acted toward any,
body else who had suffered such
blow and that this was a punish
ment for my holier-than-thou sell
fishness.
1T made me look at things diff
ferently. I saw that / had been
quick to Judge others harshly when
maybe they couldn't have helped
Its the end of everything for
me, Andy-I have nothing to look
forward to-but ! know I'll never
again look down on anybody whose
station Of life or mode Of conduct
Is different from mine-or-or what
mine has been. have been horrio
to you and Mercy"
She broke OF abruptly, suddenly
| remembering they were not alone
She glanced apprehensiyely al