The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-29
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
II ATHARINE said very softly into
n the telephone. John. I wish
you'd come ovel-if you can get
away. that Is. Is there bridge or
=omething2"
She was al the instrument IN the
lr7r hall Of the Parker house. Zoe
not 10 feet away Gerda, for
tre moment. was with Zoe. Katha-
rine had explained that MISS Zoe
had a splitting headache. She
wanted to call DR.. Kaye. but Zoe
had protested.
John said yes. there was bridge.
but ne could manage it.
"Gracia-Mrs. McIlvaine-just ran
in. he said. She'll take my hand"
In spite OF her relief. in spite OF
her fear for Zoe. Katharine could
not refrain from making a grinace.
or course. Gracia wOuia b over
As soon as she knew John Kaye
was IN Innicock. GraCia had put on
her Frettiest frOck. msJe up her
plump lace as sedUctively as she
knew how and veEy casually hap
pened in" a. The Strykhursts'. Just
like Gracia. And. If she could man.
age It, she would break her engage
ment TO that nice army officer and
marry John Kaye herself
She's years older than he is"
Katharine said rather angry.
had refused to permit herself to be
undressed. She was lying on the
bed. her evening sandals. stained
with mud and dew, dragging the
pretty coverlet awry. Her face was.
lead color Her blue eyes. open
wide. had a sort Of dead look in
them
Gerda asked If there was anything
else she wanted At a negative
shake OF the head. the maid went
away Katharine sat down beside
the girl
Zoe, won't you talk about it? It
would help. maybe"
Zoe twisted her small body about
so that her face was again burrowed
into the pillow.
Go away. why don't you? Leave
m alone. Oh. I'm dying that's
what it is This awful feeling =.
1 can't stand it," Suddenly she
sat up with one violent movement.
clutching her head in her hands.
I was going 10 marry nim-do
you hear? I didn't believe what
Fanonfa cold dfI,Ft ro~o ,,.t.ot t1osl
been in the past. But now I've seen
him with that-that devil. Now 1
know how ne feels. Why. he never
wanted me for minute. 1 was
fool. He was laughing at me
laughing all the time"
Il ATHARINE did not try 20 stem
N the tide of the other girls SUI
fering. It was dreadful to look upon
the rawneSs and newness of the
wound she had received.
That's why I want to die. Kay.
You've got to help me. I can't
couldn't live after this. Couldn't
face it. The way he's been laugh
ing at me. And that woman. 100.
Did you see her look at me. as if
she was amused?"
At the recollection Zoe grosned
again.
Katharine said. very gently. you
made a mistake. dear. That was ali.
We all do that And you're only
20. Do YOU suppose there is a sin
gle person Of 40 today who can't
look back on an early mistaken"
I'm through" Zoe said with
finality. "Life-it's done for me.
KAY. You don't know-ah. you don't
know. What wouldn't I give to be
like you! Nothing seems to hurt
YOU"
Katharine said nothing to this.
There was nothing one could say.
Zoe was like a deaf woman. a blind
woman She was aware of nothing
but her own raw wound.
There were steps on the stairs and
Katharine. distracted by the re-
spOnsibility OF her charge. was re-
heved TO see DR.. Kaye at the door.
Johnny. can't you give her some
thing TO make her Sleep"
Zoe overheard. She rose, sway
Ing giddily.
DR.. Kaye. YOU can't do anything