The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-14
QUILT Vol LIPS
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Why don't you say it? Well-why
don't you say it?"
TIE had thrown down the napkin,
II sprung to his feet.
what makes you talk that way?"
Injured appeal in the girls voice.
She went to him. Darling, you
know I can't bear to have you say
those thingsl They're not true!"
ooh, they're true all right" Mark
stood, handsome and glowering. de-
flying her sympathy. Everybody
knows I'm no good. What's the use
Of pretending you don't know it,
too?"
But they don't know i'll They
don't know it because it isn't sol
I won't have you abusing yourself.
Darling, you're going to get a job.
Why, maybe this very day"
Don't go on with that onel I
know the whole speech. Maybe this
very minute opportunity is lurking
around the corner! Or sitting on
the doorstep.
That's where opportunity sits,
isn't it? All I have to do is put
on my hat and coat and go grab it!
Sure! Only I won't do it. I'm a
failure. A no-good. The kind of
fellow who'd rather stay out nights
playing cards and neglecting his
wife.
We'll, madam, to pay for last
nights little indulgence I have in
my vest pocket $40. 1t wasn't there
at dinner time last night. It's there
now. Forty dollars!
1--WE can eat on that a long while
if we don't waste it on cantaloupes
and artichokes and caviare-"
Bitter, bitter words one after the
other. Bitterness and discourage
ment and reckless defiance. It had
been three weeks since Mark and
Norma had returned to Marlboro.
During that time the girl often had
seen Mark discouraged, but never
so bitterly defiant.
"
THERE had been half a dozen
l. nights like the previous one
when he had not returned to the
apartment until near dawn. There
had been times when he had asked
her for car fare from the household
money.
There had been three weeks Of
difficulty and strain for both Mark
and Norma. She had not let him
know about the tears shed. She
would not let him see her weep this
morning!
Norma turned to the tiny gas
stove. "Your coffee's cold," she said
steadily. "Wait a minute and I'll
have some more boiling"
Five minutes later Mark was
drinking the piping hot beverage.
The outburst had ended. He was
Subdued and quiet now.
Across the table Norma began
hesitatingly, "I've been thinking,
Mark, rnaybe-I mean just while
things are the way they are-I've
seen some ads in the paper and I
have so much time on my hands,
would you mind if 7 looked
round to see if could find job
you know, just something until
you're working?"
He let her finish. "That makes it
perfect" Mark said slowly. That's
the final touch. Well, Norma, you
can look for a job any day SO far
as I'm concerned.
"But the day you find one and
begin working I walk through that
door and don't come back. I may
be hell of a good-for-nothing, but
I'm not quite low enough to live of,
my wife's wages. Not yeti"
He halted a moment before the
mirror, adjusting his tie. Then
Mark picked up hat and coat and
left the apartment.
GO once more Norma 1unched with
~ Chris Saunders. Toward Chris
the younger girl turned as toward
the last remaining stronghold Of
courage and comfort.
They met in a crowded cafeteria,
but the very hustle and hum of the
eating place provided privacy. In
the drone of hundreds of other
voices their condolences were secure.
CT don't know what to Go,
Christ" Norma's voice rose tremu-
lousy with the last words. "We're
not getting anywhere and-oh, I'm
so afraid something's going to hap
penl
Ito Be Continued