The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-27
FOLLY and FAREWELL :: : =: =:
By Marie BLIZZARD
@ Hob NeA Sersa.. lae

was over. That was the night Dix
carried her tenderly across the pave
ments and set her down tenderly in
puddles of water which neither OF
them noticed.
And that was the night that he
kissed her sweetly but he did not
speak OF love and she was content
to wait.
May came with her sharp sweet
ness, and melted in June'S mellow
warmth. All of life had quickened
for Linda. 1t was full Of real things
she hadn't known before. There was
work and love and friendship. Real
friendships.
Her old crowd she saw frequently
and talked beaus and parties and
clothes with them, as girls do, but
the GARDENERS were her real friends.
To Mrs. Gardiner she told her
whole story-the story of her moth
er and her father and her own lone
linesS-and into her sympathetic
ears she poured the story of her
love for Dix Carter.
Mrs. Gardiner was still when
Linda had finished and something
like fear came into her quiet eyes
as she thought of her son and this
girl. Pete had not spoken to his
mother of the things she knew he
must be feeling, but she guessed and
did not want him to be hurt.
This wise woman saw the lack OF
emotional balance IN Linda where
others saw only the calm, poised
and sensible thing for which she
stood. Mary Gardiner knew that
Linda was made to be hurt and to
hurt others. No one else in Lindas
life ever perceived that So no one
could ever help her when she need
ed help, as she did many times in
the years that followed.
A ND Pete was her good friend.
L n Pete who wangled tickets for
the few shows that came to the
local playhouse. Pete who slipped an
| ivy plant on her desk from under
his shabby topcoat. Pete who always
had a well-thumbed book to draw
from his pocket and read aloud
when they went to walk late after
moons.
Pete who bought an ancient car
that had long since lost its identity.
He called it Horace Greeley" and
in Horace's noisy arms, they sped
about the countryside.
Truly, Lindas life was different
and richer and happier until the
time for Dix's commencement-an
departure-drew near. With her
heart heavier and her smile coming
more slowly, Linda checked off the
days on her calendar.
And each time she saw Dix she
waited for him to speak, to say
something that would make all this
sweet enchantment real so that if
this were to be all she ever had to
look back on, it would have a SEM
blance of substance and not vague
dream. But Dix did not speak, save
of himself.
He was going to Europe. Business
was something that didn't mean
much to a college man unless he
inherited good spot" He thought
he would try to develop his voice.
He thought perhaps a year in
Rome -.
A whole year?" Linda's heart
L n was in her eyes at last. and
the thing that Dix had tried to pre-
vent, had tried to escape from with
in himself, was there. He was only
boy.
He was ashamed that he felt so
moved, ashamed that he didn't want
to leave her. He hadn't wanted to
care
| 1T will be only year, Linda, and
then I'll come back. Will you wait?
:. will you still remember me?"
I'll wait for ever and ever" she
said, rubbing her nose on the rough
tweed of his coat.
That was the way he left her to
weeks and months that heightened
with waiting, with nothing but little
vague notes filled with talk of music.
He was paSSionately involved with
his music, as he was always to be.
He told her of his social life and
she tried to read between the lines.
She knew Dix and she knew girls.
But there were no other girls for
him. The thing she had to fear was
vastly more formidable.
ITO Be Continued