The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1922-07-15
The Inevitable
Ivy
BY LILY WANDEL

"hen he invited Linda to the house
party she said in a take-it-for-eranted
way: "Of course, Mrs. Thornton will
be chaperon."
Duquenne laughed lightly. Don't
you thlnk my guests require change:
Livery party has the same chaperon-
sou KNOW some of US call her the
INEVITABLE Ivy! How about asking
your aunt?"
Linda nodded carelessly, ques-
tlon on her lips regarding the SWIM
ming at the lake. She was one Of
those slender, cut tot steel girls who
take part with intense earnestness in
all KINDS of violent sports throughout
me gay ana are ready after dinner
with cruel freshness for hours Of
dancing. Duquenne congratulated
himself that he had the endurance
and vigor to keep up with her. His
girl with the bobbed hair, he called
her TO himself with possessive smile
she mad the challenging eyes that
Deckoned and scorned, delicious little
mannerisms that tantalized-no won
der he was in love with Linda Van
Dorm. 1t seemed impossible that a
snort time ago he had loved Cecil with
smooth satin-black hair, long earrings
and sophisticated, artificial airs. And
there had been many before her.
When his love affairs reached GER
tain point he invariably arranged a
of n Nov
would be a carefully selected crowd
of young people, and he felt as young
as any of them, yet he was always
sure to have Brownwell, not more than
five years his senior. but decidedly
mfddle-aged. Brownwell always made
him feel especially fit But as sue
cessful as these parties were. they
never fulfilled their purpose. His
love affairs melted away. The thing
had happened once too often and he
was tired of It, He wanted to settle
down. Besides, he wanted Linda.
Mrs. Thornton and Brownwell were
eliminated He felt that without ex-
perienced eyes watching the clumsy
gait of his love affair and it's many
plumbers he might be more successful
The first day at camp did not begin
very auspiciously. Duquenne was so
busy that he had not moment to de-
vote to Linda. Candace, the cook and
housekeeper, bothered him with me.
nus. 1t seemed Mrs. Thornton had
been in the habit of making them out
beforehand and simply handing Can
dace the ready lists. Miss Clarke. the
new chaperon, refused on the plea Of
headache. Duquenne made out a
couple Of bills Of fare he remembered
seeing in restaurant and was
amazed when Candace sarcastically
asked him where he expected her to
get the things for the dishes he had
ordered. Mrs. Thornton knew just
how often they could obtain fresh
meat and that fish was their main
standby.
They were interrupted by a vigor-
Gus call for towels from nearly every
bedroom. Duquenne's man Parks de-
clared that after each house party
there was a shortage Of towels, but
that he had expected Mrs. Thornton
as usual and she had always brought
a good supply along.
The dinner was not q success. The
guests were more or less in a peeved
humor on account Of the house ar
engagements Mrs. Thornton had al
ways quietly designated the rooms for
the guests and everybody had been
satisfied. Candace had made an un-
fortunate combination Of dishes-a
mere fOrerunner of what was to
come. Duquenne made great effort
to be genial and attentive but his
mind was on numerous details and he |
felt that Linda was inwardly sulking |
because, through Candace's poor judy |
ment, she had been ushered to the |
smallest bedroom.
After dinner things took new and !
decidedly unexpected turn for the
worse. A few of the youngest guests
grew rather boisterous. Miss Clarke
was quite incapable Of controlling
them and retired to her room In a
huff. Duquenne grew nervous-such a
trOllC uuu6T CIldper-
onage was unthinkable.
With morning came more gloom.
Some Of the guests were decidedly
cool and Miss Clarke informed him
that If there should be any more diff
6culty she would leave at once. She
also complained bitterly Of Candance
and the hot water supply. Duquenne
found himself in a perpetual state of
apology. He was tired, irritated, dis
usted. The whole house seemed in
state Of confusion.
The next morning Miss Clarke an
bounced her intention Of taking the
noon train back to the city. Duquenne
cent a telegram to Mrs. Thornton and
ate in the afternoon she arrived
The next morning at breakfast
oeace reigned. Perhaps it was the
we'll planned breakfast, or Mrs. Thorn
:ons gracious manner: at any rate ev-