The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-07-26
CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER FIVE
THE conversation wandered idly;
Il but returned again and again
to Patricia'S new work and the new
plans. It was long since she and
Sidney Hutchinson had had a
chance to speak freely and conf
dentially; it was longer time since
there had been anything of such
absorbing and vital interest to dis
cusS.
sid, will you paint Beatrice Pal
mer?"
will I? My sweet child. I'd
paint the rhinoceros at the zoo"
And when you've painted her, will
you give her a studio tea to show
the portrait?"
His eyes narrowed and he smiled
rs it necessary"
I wish you would" he said sim
ply.
Silence. Then Sidney shrugged
pholosophically.
Consider it done. When you
speak to me thus, Pat, I Can refuse
you naughtI by George, they'll
pay for that tea, thought" he added,
with sudden fire. I've been trying
to raise my price for six months.
I'll charge them three hundred"
Charge them anything you
please" Patricia said contentedly.
After a pause she added demurely,
Three hundred is your price,
mon anil"
He laughed, a little disconnected.
well, that's fair enough!"
"Of course it Isl" she said quick
ly, that's just what I'm finding
out It's all fair. Uncle Paul buys
farming land at farm prices because
he knows there is oil there; Chris
tine says that he doesn't ask poor
little Amy Berry to her house be-
cause she is divorced, and then she
entertains that Mrs. Malcolm from
Washington, who has been twice
divorced! All one needs is a little
courage to do anything, Sid! I
shan't do anything half as serious
to the family honor as the recent
Chambers will easel"
You couldn't do anything that
would make you less than the love-
lest woman alive!" he smiled lazily.
THE fire was out and the short
il a .rnoon was moving toward its
close when they came back through
the woods. At the turn just above
the farmhouse Sidney suddenly
drew her to him, with a big arm,
her cheek brushed the homeSpun
coat and he tipped her face up for
one of their rare kisses.
He had kissed her often enough
in the carefree first days of their
engagement seven or eight years
ago, but he did not often do so now,
and to Patricia this unexpected and
almost grave embrace was full of a
new and wonderful significance.
The whole happy day, with its
talk of new plans, its laughter and
its SilenceS, seemed momentous,
and this exquisite instant the seal
upon it.
She linked her hand in his as
they came down past the farm and
cut across the old cemetery that
lay sleeping in the level lines of
sunset light. They were climbing
the old wall by way of exit when
they first saw an immense open
car standing by the fence in the
road below. In the car were the
three PalmerS.
Sidney, magnificent, tanned, quite
at ease in his old clothes, strobe
forward to greet them; Patricia
kept her place on the fence, smil-
ing under her gypsy hat, until Dan
left the wheel to help her down.
Then she went back to take her
place beside him, while Sidney was
fitted in between the pleasantly
flustered mother and daughter in
the tonneau.
II don't want you to think we
were spying on you," Dan said clum-
silly to Patricia. as the laughter of
Beatrice and Sidney promptly began
behind them. I'VE come over here
quite often to visit my fathers
grave-Mother likes TO-"
Why should I think that you
were spying on me?" Patricia asked,
widening her lovely eyes. In my
world a gentleman does not spy
upon a lady, nor does a lady suS-
pect him Of it" her manner added.
Dan flushed uncomfortably and
made no answer aloud as he watched
the rough, descending road. To him
self he said Savagely that he was
q fool.
I'VE were picnicking up by the
old dam" Patricia vouchsafsd. Have
You eversbeen there?"
He gate her a sidelong look, lost