The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-23
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

I NbAEIEH FOhI 1~I HHEE
ELLEN's heart was beating tenn
~ pestuously. Larry waited fol-
his answer. Suddenly the girl said
what she had not meant to say.
'No-I-I-I didn't get married. >
Over and over she had told her
sick and guilty soul 1t would be SC
easy to explain everything. Now
it was too late. Ellen never had
seen Larry more deeply moved
more desperately serious.
you couldn't! You couldn't
marry any one else. Tell me you
couldn't, because you belong to mel"
That's an odd thing for you to
say" she faltered.
Il know it is" he agreed with
short laugh.
She sat perfectly still, her blue
eyes on his and one Of her hands
clasped in Larry's. He leaned
nearer.
You mean I hadn't any right to
say that?"
L guess that's what I mean, "
she said, little uncertainty. "You
see you didn't say a word
1T didn't occur to me-" he said.
family scowling. Its damned hard
for me to be honest now. It's hard
for me to remember how SNUG and
complacent I was during those DAYS
before I got that last note of yours.
Its easy enough to remember
how I've felt since-half crazy from
thinking I'd lost you.
do you know why I came here
tonight?" he demanded.
mo, / don't know"
ut was because thought it would
help cure me-help me see this
place was no fairyland. When I
saw you again and thought you
were lost to me, I almost turned
and ran.
Then I thought I'd have to show
you that you couldn't hurt me,
though really you'd hurt me worse
than any one ever will again. So
1 danced with Tony. She told me
and that's all there isl"
That day you wrote the note to
me at the store-you didn't feel this
way them" Ellen questioned.
mo, didn't" Larry confessed,
cropping for the words, 81 wanted
mother to meet you because ]
liked you.
Il liked you a lot from the first,
Ellen, but didn't realize I loved
you, that you were my whole life.
And then mother"
Didn't want to meet me-" Ellen
completed the sentence.
He went on, neither DENYING
or affirming her statement. "I was
content that things should drift
along with us until you showed me
they just wouldn't drift"
But you were engaged" she
pointed out, wondering that the fact
that had once made all her DAYS
so wretched seemed now of no i'm
portance.
True again. But that didn't
seem important to me. I did think
OF telling you, thought of it several
times, but I never seemed to find
just the right occasion. You know
how that is, don't your"
LIE stopped and then went on
A. 4 again. you'd understand
better If you knew Liz Bowes. She
slips in and out of two or three
engagements every season.
There was time when thought
[ cared for her enough to be en-
gagged, even to think of marrying
her. Her family was delighted and
mother was too.
But then Liz came home from
Europe. I had your last note and
knew I'd lost everything, everything
in the world, Ellen.
L went out to your house that
night, Ellen. Did you know that?
Your mother told me you never
wanted to see me again"
Mother did what she thought
was best" Ellen said slowly.
You hadn't any idea what I
went through that night" Larry
said passionately.
She shook her head in correction.
Il think do know"
How do you know? Tell me
how9" he demanded hungrily.
But she only could look at him,
her lips unsteady, her eyes bright
with tears and her hands pressed
in his.
Can you understand, Ellen, how
man might subconsciouSly think
a girl would wait when there wasn't