The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-25

compressed when she again
climbed into the open roadster. She
frowned, noting how dark, racing
clouds had obliterated the wester-
ing sun. "You might have changed
that tire beforehand" she criti-
cized. Now we won't have time for
dinner before the show"
The suggestion of tears in her
voice had an eXasperting effect on
the already irritated young man.
His jaw hardened; his voice was
brittle in retort Sorry I'm such
a muddler, Miss Prentice. My birth
day blossoms are delayed-and I
can't even get you TO show with
out calling forth a blowout and a
storm. Now if I were a person.
age like, say, Walter Cotton, valued
Metropole Oil efficiency expert, the
nassy old weather would know bet
ter than to disbehave."
Marcia's tanned cheeks warmed,
and angry fire, unknown to the
primary class children who adored
her, glowed in her blue eyes. well,
you've suggested the comparison
yourself Alan"
He laughed unpleasantly. That's
one way Of stealing the jump on
you, my darling"
She WINGED. 1t hurt to hear
Alan call her my darling" in that
light, sardonic tone he resorted to
more and more these days. Five
years before, he wouldn't have
spoken like that. Since then, they
had postponed their marriage sew
eral times. Their first serious quar-
rel had been over her stubborn re-
fusal to break off what she regarded
as an innocent friendship with
Walter Cotton.
IT wasn't, she reasoned, as if her
n former sutton were near by, call
ing on her, taking her places. Poor
walter had been stationed in the
Far East four years now. Years
marked by the small carved stones
linked on to the friendship bracelet
he had given her before sailing for
Java.
Surely Alan can't object to your
wearing such an inexpensive trifie,"
had been his argument when he
c!asped his parting gift on her wrist.
only one ornament had dangled
from the silvery chain then-a
dainty rose quartz heart. "Just a
memento Of another you wouldn't
accept" he added with one of those
appealing, melancholy smiles of his.
She had been awfully sorry for
Walter. So it had seemed a small
enough concession to accept the
bracelet. Afterward, though, she
might have discarded it, if Alan
hadn't made such an issue of her
wearing the thing. But what harm
was there in keeping a gadget and
receiving travelog letters from a man
she might never sec again?
Other stormy sessions followed.
And she went on teaching in Hyan-
mis-. BY now she was used to Alan's
sudden RACES and repentant after
maths. Meanwhile, three more to-
kens had joined the pink heart. A
jade elephant from Burma. A
fragile carnelian leaf. And, lastly,
the tourmaline Buddha. The ar
rival of the Buddha, few days be-
fore, had stirred Alan to fresh
wrath. THE nerve of that guy"
he storned. Seems like he's found
a darned clever way OF reminding
you of the swell time you've missed
by passing him up! All these touch
ing little mementoes from places
you've missed seeing with him. And
now this Buddha thing. That's
him all right-a plump Buddha
biding his time until you change
your mind"
And maybe I will yet" she
f1ared back.
Almost, there had been no birth
day celebration together this year.
Desultory raindrops splattered
the windshield. Alan said sullenly,
eff I step on the gas we may beat
this storm. Want to chance it? Or
shall I put the top up?"
ID light then Marcia didn't care
IN if the rain spotted her new
rose linen frock. The evening was
spoiled at the outset. mo need to
tear up the road" she answered
stiffly. I'm not in party humor.
I'd rather stop and say hello to
Aunt Lizbeth."
"Okay," he responded with an in
different shrug.
Marcia closed her eyes to press
back a rush of hot tears. A few
miles beyond, bend in the road
would reveal the row of brilliantly
painted ROSTERS that directed mo-
florists to be on the lookout for
Benjamin Prentices roadside shop,
and the quaint Cape Cod cottage
beyond. Uncle BENCHES antiques
we're as famous to tourists as Aunt
LiEbeth's patchwork counterpanes
were to the members of the Prem
tice clan.
But, upon rounding the curve,
no dramatic white head was visible
through the shops closed windows.
Moreover, the wooden rooSters had
a neglected look, bent sidewise.
THE old boy must've shut up
shop early" Alan commented as
he stopped the car.
Marcia looked about, perplexed.
But he makes such a point of not
closing up before 7:30 while Sum-
mer people are on the roads!" She
got out quickly, expecting him to
follow.
But he said, I'll put the top up
and stay out here. Tell Aunt Liz
beth I'm smoking my vile old pipe"
1t was understood that Lizbeth
Prentice wouldn't stand for any
smoking in her immaculate house
She found her great-aunt with
dinner preparations.
Mice to see you, Marcy. Where's
your young MANI"
out in the car, enjoying one of
his tantrums." Marcia tried to
effect by blushing to the roots of