The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-07

and told a certain serious first
claSSman between dances that she
loved him feverishly in spite of the
fact that she was going to marry
some one else.
1t thrilled her to hear this young
naval officer threaten to end his life
if she should do this. And yet it
hurt her, too, for she was fond of
him. Dennis Davis, older and less
brilliant than most of his classmates,
was not an especially good catch"
His family had lost their modest
fortune. He had no pull" in the
Navy. Elaine often wondered why
she bothered with him at all. She
only knew she would rather be
kissed by him than by any other
man on earth.
And that was the way things
stood with Elaine Chalmers at the
moment she was handing her best
friend and dearest enemy, Hortense
Stokesbury, a cup of tea that Octo-
Der afternoon at Graycastle.
What about your plans for the
Ohio campaign?" asked Hortense
casually.
I've put things in notion"
Elaine told her. II wrote to the
old caretaker-Penny, we call her
and told her I wanted to come on
for a weeks rest. haven't written
to the victim himself"
Cant you ask him on here for
house party instead of going out
there?" suggested Hortense.
1--WE considered that" Elaine an
swered, "but I don't think could
swing it. This chap must be all
of "a years old now and is prob
ably tied to a job. In letter
Penny wrote my mother last year,
she mentioned that he still lives
next door with his mother, so I
guess he isn't married. His mother
and mine were childhood friends"
Whats he like?" inquired Hor-
tense, struggling with anchovy
paste and cracker.
TRY to remember that I haven't
seen him since was a child"
Elaine answered Grossly, land that
I was too young to be very thick
with him. He's apt to be attrac-
tive. The virile type. He always
liked boys better than girls, re-
call. I must cure him of that"
oh" said Hortense, lighting a
cigaret. She saw that Elaine wished
to close the subject. isn't that a
pimple on your nose, darling?"
Il hardly think So" Elaine re-
piled, stealing a worried look in
the mirror. I've just been wonder
ing, Hortense, why you don't diet.
Your figure was gorgeous last
year"
MYTH this exchange of civilities
w the two friends kissed and
parted. A few moments later
Elaine sat down at her desk and
wrote the following letter which
Hortense'S questions had inspired:
Dear John MCNEIL: Here's a
letter from the pesky brat you
once called me thatD who used to
advise you so extravagantly-time
out here while you look for my
name at END OF letter
THE idea is this. I'm at college
at Graycastle now and am planning
to run off during fall vacation for
a visit to mothers old home which
used to be, and hope still is, the
house next door to you.
IT had such fun there when I
was a kid that I've always wanted
to go back. Just a whim, but I can't
seem to get away from it. suppose
it will be a disappointing visit since
we can never recapture the old
childhood spirit. but at least I'm 60
ing to attempt it.
1T would help a lot to find one
familiar face there besides Penny's.
In short, when I arrive will you
come through the althea hedge and
greet me in the old garden? I'd
adore seeing you again and talking
over old times. You'll find me aged
though not decrepit.
otherwise the same Elaine Chal-
mers.
"P. S. cot course there would
have to be one) Do you remember
how you turned out the entire
neighborhood to look for your Eagle
Scout Badge? Well, I had stolen
it for purely sentimental reasons.
I hid it in the old globe in the
library. Maybe it's still there. E. c.
(unrepentant)."
When she had addressed the en-
velope she looked through her desk
for stamp. failed to find it, swore
ioftly and lighted a cigaret. Pres
emily she noticed the time, picked
up her italian grammar and saun-
tered out to her next class.
The letter to John Mcneil was
to lie on her desk for a few days
unnoticed. Until Fate was ready
for it.