The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-06-17
CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER TWELVE
"THEN how Soon?"
i You'll stick by me, then?"
urged Eleanor. The minute that
its possible to leave Phil, or if he
dies" Her voice broke, and the
emotion she undoubtedly felt was
the first extenuating note in the
conversation.
But you're asking me to go to
your new home with the man you've
just married" protested Cynthia.
you've met him, haven't you?
You've talked to him. You're not
afraid of any lack of chivalry on
his part, are you?"
But don't you see? The situation
is impossible"
Once again Cynthia was Mortified
at the noteof mirth in the other
girls voice.
NO situation is impossible to
quick witted woman!"
But to a decent woman" said
Cynthia angrily.
What have decencies to do with
It? All the decencieS are with you.
You don't want Phil to die, and
Dean to be Inundated. and my ia
Their to feel disgraced?"
Cynthia drew a long breath. The
amazing reasoning on the part of
Eleanor was almost Incompetent
sible. Here was one bent on crafty
ing her own desire that she was able
shift the burden of fault upon an
other.
And yet, despite her hatred, Gym
thia could not ignore the existence
of that spiritual bond which had
tied them in instant intimacy.
Somehow, too, Cynthia felt that her
hatred toward Eleanor was rot real,
but was merely a reflection of her
rage toward herself for having ever
entered into this impersonation.
The very abSurdity Of Eleanor'S
appeal lent, after Cynthia's first
amazement. power to it. Cyr shia
didn't want Phil to die; if Eleanor
loved the man. then Cynthia, per-
force, wished him to be preserved.
Cynthia didn't want Dean humili-
ated; there was something so gent
ly fine about him that she did not
wish to be in any way party to
hurting him, And most positively
she didn't want Tom SAWYER to feel
diSgraced.
When he had embraced her, lift
ed her from the ground, more than
his stout arms had effected that
embrace. IncomprehenSible bonds
between them, strong even. if that
were possible, than the strange ties
that held her to Eleanor, had been
recognized by Cynthia,
She realized, with a feeling of
inevitability that almost frightened
her. that all her argument of the
last few minutes had been adj
vanced only half-heartedly. She
would so TO almost any length 10
preserve Eleanor from going down
TO ruin whose wreckage would do
irreparable damage to others.
DUT. impelled though she was by
ID Municipalities of spiritual rela-
tionship whose wide embrace ap-
palled her, she knew that there was
an ultimate deceit of which she
could not be capable.
The moment that Carey's arm
went about her. the moment that
his lips touched hers. deceit must
definitely end. She assured herself
Of this as she uttered a reluctant
acquiescence TO Eleanor's demands.
But don't telephone me again
that you can't come" she ordered.
If Eleanor had had any faint
doubt that Cynthia would prove OBJ
durate. that doubt vanished now.
Il promise" she agreed. Again
that inner callouSneSS, so shocking
~ incomprehensible to Cynthia. ap-
pecred in her tones. Il wonder
what Dean will say about this when
We tell him some day?" a
Nothing could have been more
expository of the shallowneSs of
Eeanor's spiritual depth than this
remark. Cynthia. hanging up the
receiver, and sitting diSconSolately
on the edge Of the bed, marveled
more at this utterance than at any,
thing else that had happened to-
day.
y. HOW deep was Eleanor's devotion
Phil Jennings? Was il the
anna. the wild melcdrama. Of the
sstua ion that was attractive TO