Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 182, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 November 1926 — Page 28

NOV. 5, 1926

SONIA A Story of Dangerous Love

By VIDA HURST

Through \ DR. DON STILLWATER. SONIA MARSH, young, poor and pretty, obtains a positoin in the San Francisco real estate office of JED THOMAS, his uncle MAXINE LARUE, head ol her da. partment, invites Sonia, VIOLET, FERN, JINNY and FRANKIE to her llQUor party. ' WALTER D. HENDERSON, a wealthy bachelor of Berkeley, disapproves of Sonia living with Maxine. Sonia quarrels with BERT DONOHUE because of her infatuation for FRANKLIN CRANE, whom he says is a periodic drinker, and retains his position in their office because his wealthy lather was a friend of Jed Thomas, but Crane explains that he is absent to take his invalid mother on long auto trips. Maxine notices Jed Thomas' unusual interest in Sonia Sonia visits her sister VERA and sees an old friend. TOM UNDERWOOD, who is now engaged to wealthy SIDNEY MAINE. Maxino with whom Sonia lives admits that her elderly friend. MAC MACGREGOR, is married. Crane tells Sonia his engagement to Sidney's cousin. Genevieve Erickson was arranged by his wealthy mother, that he never intends to marry the girl, although the engagement cannot be broken for fear of the bad effect on his mother’s health. In despair Sonia promises to marry Henderson soon if she does not change her mind. ANN and SAM MARSH, Sonia's parents, are favorably impressed with Henderson. Crane asks Sonia to give up her thought of marrying Henderson, hoping that a turn for better or worse in his mother’s health will permit him to break his engagement. Henderson offers an engagement ring to Sonia, but she tells him she loves Crane. He leaves the offer open m ease she should change her mind. While out walking. S.vdnev informs Sonia that Dr. Stillwater is thinking of locating in Sam Francisco, and that his mother approves oi his son s interest in Sonia. When nearing the office they meet Crane who worries until Sonia informs him she has not mentioned their love affair to Sydney.

CHAPTER XXXI The winter weeks slipped by in a dream to Sonia. She lost all sense of time during the first month of the year. She was surprised when the office calendars satd February. Her days had been spent working in dreamy preoccupation. Her nights before the fire in the apartment or dancing, always in Franklin’s arms. She had purchased material for the new evening gown which her mother had promised to make for her. And some persistent trace of the school girl Sonia had made her spend much more than she had planned on brocaded silver cloth. Anna immediately objected, writing that it was top expensive and too old for a young girl. But it was impossible to change it, so she was forced to make it up. When the dress came, Sonia drew it from its tissue wrappings, with, enraptured eyes. It was her dream gown, made simply, but with the alluring lines Anna knew how to give. Sonia held the shimmering creation against her slender body. “It’s perfect. I wonder what Franklin will say?’’ When she wore it that evening he stared at her in wonderment. “You’re like the fairy princess from some old Arabian fairy All she lacked was the emerald Walter had bought for her. His price was too high but she could not resist closing her eyes and picturing it flashing against the silver cloth. That night when they had returned very late to the apartment, Franklin whispered, "Sonia, you have bewitched me. You are like a poison in my blood. You’re driving ne mad.” Intoxicated herself with his passionate phrases, she cried, "Oh, do I really do all that to you?’’ He seized her, roughly, crushing the new dress. “My God, yes! I can’t sleep for thinking about you. Something will have to be done.” “Is your mother well enough to tell?” He groaned. "No, but she is getting stronger all the time. Darling, I can’t wait much longer.” “Neither can I,” she admitted, naively. ‘But we’ve been wonderfully happy. It’s been a perfect month.”

He was pondering, eyes remote. “I "wonder —you won’t misunderstand me if I ask you this, Sonia?” ‘Silly! What do you think I am?” “Couldn’t we have a week-end together at my shack over in Marin county?” Her eyes widened, hut she did not wish to appear shocked. “Alone?” “Why noti? We’re going to be married." Delicious shivers chased up down her spine. But she answered slowly, “We don’t want to be indiscreet.” “If you loved me you wouldn’t think about that.” “But that’s the very reason I do. If people began talking about us it would cheapen everything.” “Sounds like a sentimentalist, Sonia. I thought you were past that.” “But after all,” she cried, eagerly, "if we are to be married, I shouldn’t like to spoil things.” Warnings of Don’s clamored in her ears. Maxine’s words, “The minute you’re sweet to them—blng!” She dared not take any risk of losing him. She decided, wisely, that it would be easier to hold him off than to have to run after him. She put one hand against his flushed face. “Don’t be angry with me, but I love you too much to take any chances.” He drew away from her. “I’m afraid you don’t love me at all.” “Oh, Franklin ” “Well, you’re too modern to be a prude, Sonia. Our love is all that matters. There couldn’t be anything wrong if you looked at it like that." But she shook her head. “Don’t try to persuade me, dear. Something tells me it wouldn’t be best. I can’t explain just how I feel." "You’re afraid, Sonia.”

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"No, I’m not afraid in the way you mean.” < “I never thought before that you would be selfish.” She answered with some spirit, “That is unjust! You seem to think it would be a simple matter.” "It would. No One need ever know a thing about it. And there need be nothing wrong about it. I have two rooms. You can have one of them and b as safe as you like. Think! We could have together every minute for two days!” “It would be glorious but —I don’* know what to say—l just don’t think we should, though.” He kissed her goodnight but his disappointment had cooled his kisses. ..’’lt’s for you to say, of course. But if you really cared for me you wouldn’t begin worrying over what people would say.” His reproach hurt her deeply. As a matter of fact, she had been surprised at her own level-headedftess. Inhibitions which she had scorned all of her life seemed to be holding her back. She felt that even if she tried, she could not break away from them. She was sitting half-dressed before the fire when Maxine came home. “What’s the matter, old dear 0 The weight of the whole world on your shoulders?” Sonia lifted brooding, serious eyes. “Maxine, I know you neither like nor trust Franklin.” ’Not so fast. I admit I didn’t. But he seems to be playing the game with you.” f “He has asked me to go to hi3 shack in Marion County for a weekend,”' Sonia said, bluntly. But Maxine was not so surprised as she had expected her to be. “Are you going?” “I don’t think so. - Something tells me not to. It’s as if I were refusing without my own volition.” “It’s a good word,” Maxine said, admiringly, “whatever it may mean. If you’re wise, of course, you won’t go.” “But he’s acting funny about it. He hardly kissed me goodmight. He seems to think I love him—” “The bunk! And don’t you pay any attention to it.” Sonia’s eyes filled with tears. “You wouldn’t say that if it were Mac. I can’t bear for him to think I don’t trust him.” “That may be all true,” admitted Maxine. “Bht you are expecting te <narry Franklin, aren’t you, Sonia?’’ “Why, of course!” “Well, then, don’t let him, of all men in the world, think you’re easy, Bias fast ffnd loose with all the rest of them if you must, but not with the man you expect to have marry you. That’B my advice and I’m Sticking to it." "I can’t hear to hurt him,” Sonia repeated. “I want to be everything to him he wants me to be.” She threw back her head. “And I do trust him, Maxine! I am sure I could go to his shack, and unless I wanted it to, nothing would ever happen.” \ "Perhaps,” Maxine agreed, doubtfully. “I know I could. But I don’t want people to have a chance to say anything about us. If it wevon’t for that, I’d go.” There was silence for a moment, then Sonia spoke again. “I don’t suppose you’d consider going w r ith us?” “My God, what for? Your boy friend would certainly love that.” “J mean it," Sonia concluded. “Perhaps Mac could come, too. V{e girls could have one room and they could have the other, and in the day time we could all keep out of each other’s way.” “A dandy idea, but I can’t believe you’re serious.” / "Never more so. Then Franklin couldn’t say I was afraid Yet there really wouldn’t be anything wrong about it.” “You think Mac and I would be chaperones in the eyes of the world?” "At least it wouldn’t look as bad as it would for me to go alone." The idea seemed to amuse her friend. "Dear babe in the woods, if Mac can get away and Franklin seconds your invitation, which I don’t think he’ll do, I’m game.” - “Really, Maxine?” "Sure! Conie on now, let’s get some sleep.”

When Sonia repeated her suggestion to Franfkiin he was not particularly pleased with it. “I must say, I don’t think much jf it,” he replied. “Why not? I thought you’d be delighted. They wouldn’t be in our way and we could be together two whole days, as you said.” “Not as I said at all,” he answered, shortly. Her eyes dimmed. “If there was nothing back of your suggestion except the desire to be alone with me for awhile, I can’t understand.” He took her hands. “Sonia, darling, that’s all, honestly. Just to get clear off to ourselves. It’s torture to ha&B to leave you after beirig with you every night. I should like to hold you in my arms one whole nightlong and see the #un rise over Tamalpais.” “Oh, I wish you could.” “Won’t you come, then?” “Not unless you’ll ask Maxine.” In the end he asked both Maxine and Mac. Mac not only accepted, but thought he might be able to get away the next week-end. “This is a good time to go,” he said. “It’s too early for the crowds yet. How about the roads?” ,‘T’ll take care of that,” replied Franklin. “I drive up there any old time. All right, it's a go, then.’ Sonia wag radiant. Now that he had issued the Invitation Crane was in a good humor again. “I’m going to love you to death,” he warned. But she -laughed at him, confident in her own to handle any situation. Unafraid!— (To Be Continued)

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THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

FRECKLES AND HIS FRIENDS-By BLOSSEB

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