The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-05
CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN
VTALERIAS eyes were wide and
' filled with tears. Her soft, red
lips dropped disconsolately. She sat
on small stool near Peter, gazing
pleadingly up into his face.
Peter thought he had never seen
her look more childlike and lovely,
but he was not moved by the
thought
"A bunch came in after you lett
-" Valeria began.
Peter said stonily, "You were 60
ing to wrap packages. You had
frightful headache"
Its terribly hard to refuse, some
times. I didn't want to CO."
And perhaps you can explain the
other times you've been at Dirk's
place"
There was a look in Peters eyes
that was new.
you're being cruel and unfair"
she sobbed. eff you could only see
how it happenedl I wasn't to blame,
and 1 could explain if you would
only try to understand, Peter"
He stood up, looking down at her.
He said tensely, You can't explain
anything. We're through"
Valera slipped the ring that
looked like drop of white fire
from her finger. AS Peter made no
move to take it, she laid it on the
table. She was trembling. You're
breaking with me-"
I'D have to be able to trust my
wife"
Valeria's voice rose Shrilly. What
you want is an angel for wife. All
right, go out and see if you can
find her!"
Her bitter taunt rang in his ears
as he left the house.
Tony and Ann had dined. They
had gone to a musical comedy, but
the feeling of depression had not
lifted.
The big box with its gay wrap
pings was in Tonys car, still I'M
opened. Tony had looked embar-
raised when Sarah had walked out
of the bedroom with it, saying,
Ann, after all your trouble you've
forgotten to give Tony his Christ
mas present"
But Tony did not dive down into
pocket after Sarah had left, say
ing, And here's your present, Ann"
Ann decided that he was waiting
for the constraint between them to
lift.
1t was while they were driving
home, darkness gathering about
them that Tony said, 1--we little
something for you at my place,
Ann. TIL drop by and pick it up
He parked the car in front and
stepped out. Ann said, on impulse,
It's cold out here. Mind if 1 come
in with you?"
Tony said slowly, why, of course
not"
Ann had never been inside Tony's
apartment, though she had waited
outside for him many times while
he went in for a quick change. He
-
ate out, and shared the services of
maid.
He opened the door and they
stepped into the gloomy, box-like
living room. Fumbling for the
switch at the door, he said, Not
much to see. Just lot of furniture
thrown together"
The light flashed on revealing a
scene of wild disorder. Chairs in
every position, cigaret trays filled
with ashes, cigaret stubs on the
floor, a table covered with glasses.
And bottle, bottles. Everywhere.
The light fell upon a couch in
the alcove. Flung carelessly there,
where TonyS nice new robe should
have been, was bright green
negligee, dripping with lace.
There was no alibing away that
negligee.
Ann scarcely heard Tony's
furious, Damn that grill"
Ann heard herself saying clearly,
please don't say anything at all
to me. I couldn't possible bear it.
And nothing you would say could
make any difference"
Tony had stared at her, had seen
something in AIMS eyes that had
sobered him completely and thor
oughly. He said harshly, THE trou-
BILE with you, Ann, is that you have
a monogamiStic mind"
The word did not register. Ann
/ was walking out of Tony'S place,
/ closing the door. She was walking
/ quickly, dazedly through the snow.
How far she walked, she did not
know. A lnog way, she was sure,
because her hands and feet were
chilled, and she was in the center
Of town.
CHE passed several restaurants
/ - where persons were coming and
/ going. Before one of the smaller
/ places she stopped. She and Tony
had eaten there a number Of timesi
Ann went inside and ordered a
pot of coffee. TWO cups of coffee
would give her strength to go on,
wherever she was going. She would
find a movie where she could sit in
4 the darkness. She would stay there
until the telephone in Sarah's apart
ment had stopped ringing or Tony
became tired Of camping on the
doorstep.
She never wanted to see him
again. Going of on Christmas eve
and getting drunk, forgetting that
he had ever thought of an engage
ment ring. Spending the money for
her ring on bottles of Scotch and
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