The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-01-07


was.
The bookcases with books in warm
bindings, the gay chintz hangings,
the antiques, all the lovely things
she and Allan had planned for this
home were for Valeria. The simple
curtained windows through which
the garden could be glimpsed, the
Aubusson rug for the living room,
the beautiful old Venetian mirrors
all for Valera.
She had been helping Allan fur
nish place for the woman who
had taken her husbands love.
No, that was being melodramatic.
Accusing Peter of unfaithfulnesS.
How could Valeria steal something
from Ann that she had never had?
Her head was throbbing terribly.
Peter was in there, walking through
the rooms with Valeria. Perhaps
Allan was telling them about the
white chintz with the blue and null
berry flowers, about the ruffled
white curtains at the windows.
assist him with more ideas, would
be insisting she come over to see
the place. Not once, but many
times. Not because he needed her
help, but because he was lonely.
Because he was buoyed up by her
imagination and interest, and he
thought he was in love with her
Il couldn't bear coming here, Ann
decided. I've suffered enough al
ready"
She would give up her job. If
she had gone the week before when
she had learned how Allan felt this
last terrible hurt would have been
spared her.
They were coming out now. A
tall young man stood in the door
way. That was Peter, and that was
Valeria beside him. Ann felt Suffo-
Gated.
She heard Allan say, I'll hurry
along. 1 have a friend in the car
waiting for me-"
why didn't you bring him in?'
Peter asked.
Its girl friend" Allan laughed
"She wouldn't come in. Some crazy
notion she might be intruding
Good night"
Peter walked a little way with
him, stopping not far from the car
He could see girls head silhouetted
against the window. There was
something vaguely familiar about
the way her head was lifted. Sud-
denly he had wild desire to see
her closer. But Allen was in the
car and the motor began to throb.
DETER walked back to Valeria
l. and helped her into his car.
They we're scarcely off the grounds
when he said, wal, I'm not going
on with the house."
"Peter!"
"Millicent was right. 1t was a
foolish thing to do. I'm sure Ann
is not coming back. You didn't be-
lieve she would, either. You
thought it would be good for me
to have something to do. l can't
go on with it,
But, Peter, I don't see how you
could stop the work now. Things
have been ordered, men engaged.
There's the time Mr.. Vincent has
spent in planning"
I'll take care of the expense, but
I'm going to stop the whole bust
ness. Ill close the place, or sell
it,"
What in the world has hap
pened?"
Il don't know. I just decided to-
night"
Valeria was silent. Peter must not
be allowed to put this ridiculous
impulse into action. 1t might end
everything for her. 1t would give
her no excuse to be with him.
Lets not talk about it, she
said.
Its settled" Peter said. "I've
been wasting a lot of time when I
could have been looking for Ann.
And doing things she would like me
to be doing"
What things?" In the darkness
Valeria's lips curved contemptu-
ouSly.
working on a plan I have in
mind about KendallWood-if l can
persuade grandfather it should be
DONE"
More of those tiresome plans for
building up that horrid factory
town, Valeria decided
Lets drive a while" she said.
There's a wonderful moon tonight.
Had you noticed?"
Peter hadn't noticed. He glanced
up now, and thought the moon
looked cold, remote, unfriendly.
Valeria was thinking, He treats
me as though I were an inanimate
wall beside him instead of wom-
an"
Would he stop the car so they
could look at the river for a mo-
ment?
Peter looked at Valeria and
smiled little. But he stopped the
car, lit a cigaret and looked at
the moon, at the water. 1t was
picturesque. The moon had turned
the river to silver. Now and then
soft clouds Scudded across the sky.
Then the moon would appear again
and the waves would pick up the
silver sheen.
VALERA was dressed in white,
' a frock with many tiny ruff
f1es poisoning into little cape
let over her shoulders. The tiny
ruffles futtered in the breeze