The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-11

THE chauffeur sprang to the
= curb to open the door. The
boxes were piled inside. Myra
stepped into the car, sank back
with a sigh OF blissful relief and
gave the hospital address.
The car whirled away. Ellen
watched until it was lost in traffic.
She had a special reason for
wanting to walk, but she did not in
tend that Myra should know it.
She had an absurd and foolish de-
sire to walk past Dreamland again,
not to go upstairs, but just to stare
up at the garish windows.
She had the idea that if she did
that something would be settled
definitely and forever. For days her
mind had gone back wistfully to
Dreamland, until she no longer saw
it as it was, but dreamed of it as a
place of youth and romance. She
wanted to dispel that vision.
She walked briskly away from
Park avenue. 1t still was early to go
to the law Office, but it was too hot
for briskness and Ellen was genu-
inely weary. Her steps slowed. Per-
haps her impulse was foolish one.
She was done with Dreamland.
Several times she almost turned
back, but she kept on. There be-
fore her was Dreamland. Surely
no place of which to dream! She
stopped across the street and
stared up at the open windows.
She could see a patch of pink wall
and one of the gilt columns sup
porting the ceiling.
AS she stood there feeling more
and more lonely, the orchestra be-
gan to play. A spangle of tinny
notes f1oated out to the hot street.
Ike Dorgan's Blue Cotton Boys"
we're rehearsing for the evening.
Ellen knew then that she should
never have come. She had been
foolish, foolish to keep q tryst
with an empty building.
She hated Dreamland, had
hated it from the first. Surely
she was not going to weep on the
street. Oh, but she was!
She looked around blindly for
some place to hide herself. Already
two or three people were staring
curiously. She could not stapd
there on the street and cry like a
fool.
THE traffic lights changed. FL
i len darted blindly for the OPP
posite sidewalk. She narrowly es-
capped death beneath the wheels OF
a taxicab and the drivers enthus-
iastic curses fingered in her ears
as she plunged into che building
housing the dance hail. Here in the
dark hallway she would find sanctu-
airy.
She ran for the familiar recess
beneath the stairs. Before she
reached it the elevator descended,
diScharging one passenger.
ELLEN Rossiter" cried familiar,
childish voice.
1t was Tony.
"Why are you crying?" Tony
asked quickly. Whats wrong?"
I'm not crying" Ellen denied,
tears streaming down her face. ct
4 think I've got something in my
eye"
You mean both eyes, don't you?"
the other demanded as Ellen fun
bled for her handkerchief.
Ellen, without replying, fished for
her pocket mirror and began to dab
with a handkerchief for the imag-
mary object in her eye. Tony had
chosen the right means to stiffen
the Rossiter pride.
"It's out now" Ellen said in a
trembling voice.
Subject closed, in other Words
Tony relieved her. That's o. k. by
me. I'm no Broadway columniSt."
She waited while Ellen re-
placed the handkerchief and mirror
and powdered her Redeemed nose.
Finally she spoke with some en-
barrassment, did you come to get
that $40 back? I can't let you have
it right away, but"
"Of course I didn't come for
that" Ellen protested. II meant
that as a sort of parting gift to you.
I-you know I won't be working
here any more.
I'm to be married Friday and we
sail for Europe Saturday"