The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-07
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The air was filed with soft snow
flakes. swirling and dancing.
He looked down at the girl be-
side him. Her eyes were eager,
bright as a school girls.
IN MINISTER said on impulse,
ID I'll race you to the corner!"
Il was more than half Of long
block but he finished only a step or
two ahead. She came up, laughing
and breathing deeply. her cheeks
pink.
OH" she said. that was fun"
Exercise is what I've been need
ing. I guess" he agreed. Now that
you're warmed up We can walk"
Bannister adjusted his long,
swinging stride to the girls. Let
me know if walk too fast for you, "
he cautioned.
You won't"
They set of briskly. The girl
seemed content not to talk, as was
Bannister. Presently they passed
the corner lot where, in school days,
his gang had played baseball.
They reached the park. II was a
park like hundreds of others in as
many cities. but with the snow
falling a little faster now than it
had been. Winthrop park had real
beauty Trees and shrubs took on
queer shapes with their glistening
white covering.
Why, they're all like Christmas
treesl" Juliet France exclaimed.
Great white Christmas trees. Look
at that big one there. Isn't it
beautiful"
ID ANNISTER agreed that it was.
ID They went on to the rustic
bridge over the lagoon which, a
little later, would become a skating
pond. There used to be a Zoo" he
explained, but that went the way Of
all municipal appropriations. Far
Their up this path there's a place
I used to like. It's high enough so
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Then went on until, standing at
the top Of the gradual incline, Ire
mont spread out before them. There
was little to be seen except an ex-
panse of white, dotted with
myriad of lights. The wind was
colder on the hill and Bannister
drew closer to the girl as he pointed
out familiar landmarks.
Getting cold?" he asked.
She denied it. Just the. same"
he said, wed better be Starting
back. It's good walk"
The retraced their steps. The
sky had been cloudy when they left
the house but now it was much
darker. At a street crossing that
was slippery Bannister took the
girls arm. He held it the rest of
the way home, assuring himself it
was no more than courtesy. The
streets, really weren't safe.
They reached the white cottage
and stepped into the cheerful
warmth and light. Bannister, help
ing the girl out of her coat, recog-
nized a familiar odor.
Popcorn" he exclaimed. Aunt
Hates making popcorn balls!"
His aunt appeared in the door
way. I'm not making them" she
corrected. They're made"
Bannister disappeared into the
dining room
He returned with a bowl filed
with popcorn balls. Take one" he
urged Julie. They're one of Aunt
Hates specialtieS."
They look marvellous" the girl
said, smiling.
Kate Hewlett looked at her. II
believe the walk did you good,
Juliet. Put a little color into your
cheeks
1t was true. There was a light
in the girls eyes. too, to match the
glow of her cheeks.
Bannister helped himself to a
popcorn ball and sank back into a
chair. signing with contentment.
He was to remember the afternoon
always because it was followed al
most Immediately, by the most
shocking event of those two weeks
of drama and tragedy.
Ito Be Continued
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