The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-10

i
dent"
The name leaped at her, dizzy
ingly black, Van Robard."
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
I lane walked without knowing
II where her feet carried her.
She was jostled in the crowds. She
had sudden desire for refuge and
summoned a taxi.
The driver thought she was i'll,
her face was so white. She gave
him the address of the Bleeckman
and stumbled into the cab
Unfolding the paper, she looked
again at the dread words. The
newspaper story smote her like
blow.
Mr.. James Van Dusen Robard
Of East Sixty-second street was
injured fatally early today, when
the automobile in which he was rid
ing skidded and struck a tree on
the Jericho turnpike near Willow
Stream, Long Island.
Mr.. Robard was returning from
a farewell dinner given in his honor
at the home Of Mr.. and Mrs. Rich
ard Waite Of Willow Stream. Po-
licemen who reached the scene of
the accident shortly after the crash
say the death car must have
sWerved to avoid smaller car,
driven by Pietro Lombardosi of
Merrick, truck gardener. LON
bardosi was dazed and could make
no statement"
There was no more. Vans clubs,
his diplomatic appointment, the
name Of his college. Words, words,
words. Lame felt herself suffocat-
ing under the weight Of them.
She was bowed down by the pity
of it, the waste. Yesterday he had
been debonair and smiling; today
he lay broken, voiceless. She stifled
the moan that rose to her lips.
The taxi driver looked at her
curiously as she alighted, and FUN
bled in her bag for change. There
was none. She thrust bill toward
him and fled.
She never knew how she reached
her rooms. She found herself on
the couch, face down, shaken by
fearless Sobs.
After an con she falt a hand on
her shoulder. She opened her eyes.
Give stood over her, his face a mask
of pity. I'm sorry" he said.
He brought hot tea and made her
drink it. She looked with wonder at
the lighted lamps. Twilight had
fallen. She remembered and
moaned again.
Give propped her up with pill
lows. He talked to her in a low
voice. She looked at him with great
brilliant eyes.
Mother told me today" she said.
He did not comprehend. Pain
fully she explained. "She told me
who my father was. She thought
Van was my half brother. Somehow
she never had learned he'd been
adopted"
TLIVE held her hands, stroking
~ them as though she had been
a child. Don't talk about it I'M
less you'd rather" he said.
Il must. I need to talk. It hurts
here" She touched her breast"
"All right, then"
She said, 81 must tell you. When
I left here this morning I had made
up my mind. I was going to leave
with Van. felt I couldn't endure
it here"
He frowned. That's all over now.
Forget it,"
mo, it isn't. It was just as
wicked as if I'd done it. I was bad,
clean through. The nuns at the
convent used to tell us that intent
to sin is just as. bad as the sin it
self.
Il couldn't see anything in life
for me but Van. 1t didn't seem to
make any difference that I was
married to you. I tried to forget
that"
Lets not discuss it now. Later"
But she persisted. "I was pun
ished for my sin. I can see that
now. God punished me by killing
Van" Horror shone in her eyes.
I'm responsible for his death. L
I" Her voice broke on a note of
hysteria.
Firmly Give said, This is all the
sheerest nonsense. You're tortur-
ing yourself without reason. Van
drove his own car-they'd been
drinking-and the car skidded. It's
bad curve. How could you be re-
sponsible for that?"
81 AMI ami"
He said, I'm going to give you
a sleeping draught. You'll be ILL.,"
He mixed it for her. She drank
unprotesting. Long after she slept
he sat with his head in his hands.
In the morning she was quieter,