Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 188, Indianapolis, Marion County, 12 November 1926 — Page 28

PAGE 28

SONIA A Story of Dangerous Love "... ..... —i ßu V/DA HURST

Through DR. DON STILLWATER, SONIA MARSH, young, poor and pretty, obtains a position in the San Francisco office oi THOMAS, his uncle. MAXINE LARUE, head of her department, invitee Sonia. VIOLET. FERN JINNY and FRANKIE to her liquoi party. Sonia quarrels with BERT DONOHUE because of her infatuation for FRANKLIN CRANE, whose father was a friend of JED THOMAS. Maxine notices her employer's interest In Sonia. Sonia visits her sister VERA and meets TOM UNDERWOOD, who is engaged to wealthy SIDNEY MAINE. Maxine, with whom Sonia lives, admits that her elderly friend, MAC MCGREGOR, is married. Crane tells Sonia his engagement to Sidney’s cousin. GENEVIEVE ERICKSON. was arranged by his rich mother, that he never intends to marry the g.r , although the engagement cannot he Token for fear of the bad effect on the health of his invalid mother. In despair,-Sonia makes a conditional promise to marry wealthy WALTER HENDERSON, whom her parents. ANN and SAM MARSH, favor. Crane asks her to give up Henderson, hoping that a turn for better or worse in his mother's health will permit him to break his engagement. She consents. Henderson leaves the offer open for her lengthy consideration. At the theater Sonia sees Crane with his fiancee. He is very attentive. The uncertainty of her own part in his life troubles her. She demands that he choose between her and his fiancee. He says he loves only Sonia. Dr. Stillwater lias lunch with Sonia. When Sonia refuses to spend the week-end alone with Crane at his summer cottage, lie invites Maxine and her friend also, but he postpones the trips, saying his mother is worse. Sonia calls Dr. Stillwater, who arranges for a hike in Marin County. He asks if she loves him. but she evades the question. CHAPTER XXXVII On the boat return to San Francisco, Sonia found herself wondering if Don really had proposed. It seemed impossible, sitting beside him, listening to bis pay, inconsequential chattel' of incidents in medical school, or ;'ic more serious stories of lives with whioh'he had come into contact, at the hospital Utterly impersonal, his dark eyes gazed cheerfully into tiers. He loved his work. She could see that it was like a great flame, lighting rip his life. No girl's refusal could break Don Stillwater, she thought, regretfully. Mis wife would lead a. satisfying sort of life, playing the “Good Samaritan” to poor families, when his professional skill was no longer necessary, going with him on his trips to Europe. He had a way of repeating the most ordinary stories with so much sympathy that Sonia found herself utterly absorbed. She preferred him to Walter Henderson. He was so young and full of enthusiasm, in spite of his experineoe. Burning with a desire to share his gifts with a world - iddnn with self-indulgence on ore si' 1 ,. 1 u with grinding, fib.ie'C ’ • be other. Sows' shining. The color ' •’i-'cks from her day or* • if it wore not for Fun 1 a < • . s i, o would have been gird o walk through life by Don's side. Sheltered without heing restricted, always amused, always interested! But even the merest wisp of a thought of Franklin brought him dancing before her eyes, sweet, tender, irresistible. No other man in the world could give her that delicious, terrifying-, sinking feeling she experienced when she saw him. Leaning against •Don, she closed her eyes. Supposing she were in her lover's little shack tonight? Close in his arms? Could she even consider anyone else? A group of tired boys and girls sat on the upper deok, singing snatohe sos popular songs. They were eloyingly sentimental, but something wild and passionate in Sonia’s heart responded to the lilting harmony, i * * * When she opened her eyes she found Don looking at her. curiously. Hts face wore the seientifio, investigating expression, which she resented. “Did you ask me something?” she Inquired, suspiciously. “It doesn’t matter. You were lost In dreams, weren't you, Soiia?” She could not deny it. “Won’t you tell me what they were?” Her. green eyes were baffling, secretive. She determined that at least her thoughts should remain inviolate from even him. When he left her at her door, he paid, “I may not see you again, my dear.” “Why not?” “Why should I? T have no intentions of whining over something I can’t have.” “But I do enjoy being with you so much. T love to talk with you.” “Just now it’s better not. When I return from Berlin I shall hope to see more of you.” She said, perversely, “You think you’ll have me out of your mind by that' time?” “Out of my heart, Sonia. The world is full of a number of things, although it’s rather difficult for me to see them just now.” His voice was so controlled she suspected him of teasing. “Well, I dic]n’t think your declaration was very serious. I suppose you can scarcely wait to get to Berlin, where you can start flirting to your heart’s content?” “On the contrary,” he said, in a

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voice like steel. “If I thought you had one single atom of real affection for me I’d drag you off by the hair, if necessary. I’d marry you tonight.” Without another word he walked away, leaving Sonia humiliated and bewildered on the steps of her apartment holise. Inside, she found a note from Maxine, telling her to call Franklin. Without waiting to remove sweater or tain, she picked up the telephone. “Did you just get in?” he asked. “Yes, I’ve been hiking with an old friend of mine.” “Not Walter Henderson?" “No, -'Franklin. How is your mother?” “She’s better tonight. I think she’s going to be all right again. I want to see you.” “Isn’t it too late?” “No. Mother is asleep. I could run over for a little while, if you want me t 0...” She was aching tired and dusty from her long tramp, but she could not refuse him. “Ail right. But doh’t start for ten minutes.” “I’m starting NOW.” Her relaxed nerves tightened like taut wires. She flashed about the room, turning on lamps, lighting the fire and incense in lvia,xine’s brass bowl. Then, dropping her clothes as she ran, she jumped into a hot bath. She had just time to start dressing when the door bell rang. She ran to admit him. Franklin seized her in his arms. He devoured herewith kisses, hard, stabbing, painful kisses, that bruised Sonia's white flesh, hut left her clinging about his neck. “Oh, how I love you.” "I want you to.” “I could eat you alive like,some flesh-eating cannibal. Two gulps and you’d be all gone . . .” “What a gorgeous sensation! I'm sure I’d love it . . .” They were stammering words and phrases, hut half conscious of what they implied. "Sonia, our week-end shall he next week. Mother will be all right fur awhile.” “Max isn’t sure he can arrange to get away so soon.’ “He''l have to. He can manage it some way. If lie doesn't. I'll take yon, ary way.” “You wouldn't dare!” “You watch me. If that bad actor doesn't bring his sweetie along, we’re going alone.” ** * * She shivered in his arms, torn between the desire to be carried off and the knowledge that Mac must go. She could not trust herself to go alone, not if she felt as she did tonight. x He sank ujwn the davenport without releasing her. “I must finish dressing,” she objected, weakly. “Do you think I’m going to pass up an opportunity to hold you like this —all soft and cuddly. I love you —love you . . . ” Little voices within hei*dinned in her ears: “If you weaken the deast bit,” "There arc experiences in life no woman wants to endure’” "Our Sonia is always a good girl ." “No!” she cried, tortured by them into resistance. She did not, want to resist. She wished only to be swept away on that sweet, intoxicating tide which seemed to engulf her. But the inner voices would not leave her alone. "Franklin, please .• . . ” “1 love y0u.... ” “Oh, don’U” she wailed, raging at those restraints which pushed her from him like invisible hands. “I hale everything and everybody that keeps me from you.” “Nothing can keep you from me, Sonia.” She brushed her hand across her eyes and sat straight. “But something does. I’m not responsible for it. I deserve no credit for it.” Her voice was bitter. Something in her chilled tone carried conviction. "I see,” he said. She was silent as he rose, fumbling for his coat and hat, kissing her triumphantly. “I have to go now. sweetheart. But you’ll sec. You’ll see.” When he had gone she sank onto the cold floor in tears. Every nerve in her body ached for him And she let him go • • After a long time she rose and wont to lied. But not to sleep. 'Hie comfortable indolence her day with Dor had brought was shattered irrevocably. She wondered if Mac would arrange to go next Saturday. What would she do if he did not? No longer capable or very desirous of controlling a situation which was clearly becoming too much for her, she decided, shivering, that she dared not go with him now. Even with Maxine and Mac along there would be opportunities which she knew he intended to seize. She was amazed and angry at the strength of her inhibitiefris. To be tied against her will to girlhood ideals! Standards of conduct, which had been drilled into her heedless ears for years, had suddenly twisted into a rope heavy enough to force her away from him. She told herself that it was a good thing, even while she rebelled. She wished to marry Franklin, to go to him with nothing clandestine beftveen them. ~ But all the ’ warm young blood in her veins fought for him- In her sleep she was sobbing for him. stretching out empty arms. She awoke to darkness. Tears were streaming from her eyes. “Why is it?” she cried. “Why is life so hard? Always snatching away the one thing you'want most? Hundreds of girls marry the man they love. Why-t'an't I?” For the first time she wondered if her life might be controlled by a sinister fate over which she had no influence. The future was not the clear, untroubled crystal she had thought, but a clouded surface, dark and disturbed with forbodings! (To He Continued)

OUT OTTR WAY—By WILLIAMS

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NOY. 12, 1926