The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-01-16
Chapter 40
VENICE PUTS OUT FEELERs

e'A Chapter 40
 VENICE PUTS OUT FEELERS
 Because I don't love you" Ven ice told Rollo.
 Rollo opened the front door.
 "Your'e a little fool" he snapped as though he almost pitied her.
 The door shut behind him.
 T am really" said Venice to her self. But not the kind of fool Roland Wainwright thinks I am. '' Her mouth twisted in wry little smile.
 A crisp golden January gave way to a February that was primarily bleak and grey Leaden skies re- flected Venice's most prevalent mood.
 With the dropping away of Ro- land Wainwright from her scheme of things her gaieties took on a simpler, more natural trend. There seemed less artificiality about her futile eddying in the whirlpool of social activities. This intangible touch of stability gave her new ease, but vitality was still lacking in this freshly acquired popularity. She could not explain it to herself but she went about with an inner wistfulnes that was poignant and nagging.
 The courses at Columbia became bright beacons which she eagerly looked forward to. They shone with actual warmth through the gnawing emptiness of her dun-col- ored days. The English literature class every Thursday evening in terested her but the short story course gave her genuine stimula- ton.
 Sullen February slipped into a biting March of irritable winds and occasional rain and sleet. Her mood again depicted by the wealth er.oe What had become of Drake Farrelly? On entering each party her eyes went this way and that in vain search of him Repeat ed walks in tn ePark brought her no sight of his slim figure and easy swinging gait. She looked uI his address in the telephone bool and one Sunday took a bus tt Tenth Street and wandered through it in the hope that he migh emerge. She walked quickly ol the opposite side of the house witt boxes of stinted frs in the win iows. A small girl with a blacl bob cut in a straight fringe acros her forehead came to the windo1 to press a snub nose against tn pane It must have been hi younger sister. Venice hurried t Sixth Avenue and then retrace her steps briskly back to Fiftl again. Her eyes discreetly stol towards the brown stone house a she went by. The front door open ed and short elderly gentlema with white mustache and patche of white hair showing at the side of his derby hurried out. Drake father. He was like an olde Drake, neither tall nor short, bu unlike Drake, inclined to be ros and rubicund.
 venice boarded an uptown bu feeling something of a fool. Whs was the matter with her? Wa this love? You couldn't be in loy with some one you had talked but two or three times who pt forth no encouragement or re' was probably merely piqued bt was probably merely qipuied bt cause she wanted him for frien and couldn't have him. That WI human nature. Withheld fruit She mustn't be ridiculous. Sf thrust Drake Farrelly from h' thoughts and forced her mind play about new idea for a sho story. It was going to be abo' ( Lita Chase sort of person.
 in the course of the next fe weeks she put out a few tentati' feelers towards getting in toue with Drake. She felt that she mu tell him something if she cou only get the opportunity. Odd enough she wanted him to kno dbout Guy as her paid escort, u actual painstaking manufacture her past. He would be shocked ar dlsgusted no doubt but it: migl sf1Uw him that the rlmors held 6cttlal worth. It would be love to confide in someone and perhal d1B could make him understan lie a confessional after a Tor 61fbored sin. He was not tru ffI1erested in her anyway. SO the N5s nothing to be lost.