The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-10-06
CHAPTER XXXVIII


sex was at the bottom of very
nearly everything.
Minimum" he said, and nodded
grayely, as Mrs. Thorne recounted
the latest phases of the situation.
"Sybil." he continued ominouSly, us
at a particularly dangerous age. The
reckless age I call it. She has out
lived the diffident and bashtu
period of girlhood."
But Sybil was never diffident,"
interrupted Mrs. Thorne, NOR bash
full"
Mr.. Crandon silenced her with a
polite glance.
"Girlhood is always shy" he in
formed her. "Jazz and gin, and all
that sort of thing"-he raised his
eyebrows to indicate repugnance OF
youths follies-"they are nothing
but gestures of defiance and indie
pendence. AS I was saying, your
daughter has outlived the shynesS
of girlhood, and has yet to achieve
the prudence and circumspection OF
middle age. Women of her age are
always rash. They see ahead OF
them the end of youth, and that
sends them hurting down the prin1-
rose path.
your daughter, very likely, Graves
the love life that circumstances have
denied her, and is prepared to cast
aside all the inhibitionS and repres-
sions imposed by convention. Proof
of the strength of her desires lies
in her willingnessto f1aunt the tale
of her marriage in society's deco
rouS face.
Mrs. Thorne fdgeted uncom-
fortably.
"I am sure" she corrected him
prirnly, that my daughter does not
crave love life
"Unconsciously Mrs. Thorne-rln-
consciously" Mr.. Crandon assured
her. Women are always torn be-
tween the cravings of the primitive
ego and the restrictions put upon
those cravings by the conventions
of society,""
ooh, dear. Oh, dear"
Mrs. Thorne drew a black-bor-
dered handkerchief from her little
black silk bag, and pulled the rib
bon strings together nervously.
st don't know what I'm going to
do" she faltered. "Sybil never was
one to listen to her mother, and now
with her poor father gone-Thank
God, Mr.. Crandon, that my dear
husband never lived to see his
daughter disgracing us all"
Mrs. Thorne wiped her eyes and
her thin little nose.
Mr.. Crandon waited for proper
interval to elapse, for the consider
alton of the departed Mr.. Thorne
and his probable reactions to Sy-
bills impending divorce. Then,
clearing his throat, he madea gen.
tie suggestion.
"If you could only persuade your
daughter to be Analysed" he haz-
arded. Suppose you try, dear
lady"
Mrs. Thorne shook her head
hopelessly.
ut wouldn't do any good" she
predicted. give limited at it before
this, but Sybil only laughs"
It annoyed Mr.. Crandon to hear
of people who laughed at his pow
erS.
Struggling his shoulders, he dis
missed Sybil with wave of the
hand, and launched into a tech
meal contemplation of egos in gen.
eral, and a Reckless Woman in par
ticular.
It always amazed Mrs. T'horne to
hear him talk so exactly like book.
Presently her hour was up, and Mr..
Crandon helped her on with her
wrap.
TNHAT night at dinner, against
4 her own best judgment, she
preached the subject to Sybil.
''Mr. Crandon is so anxious to
meet you, DEAR" she said, and tried
to sound very casual about it. HE
feels sure he could be a great help
to you in all your perpleXities and
-er-emotional upsets."
Mrs. Thorne hesitated delicately.
mfr. Crandon?" Sybil crushed
her napkin, and rose indignantly to
her feet. "Now, mother, that's
rather the last straw! It's not
enough that every one in BoSton's
talking about me-but my own
mother"
Mrs. Thorne pushed her roast beef
plaintively away, and began to cry
softly.
Sybil flung from the room, and
upstairs. They heard the door OF
her room slam and then the whole
large house seemed strangely quiet.
go on up, VAL" suggested Tad.
Mother and I will have our coffee
in the drawing-room. See if you
can't persuade Sib to come down"
Valerie brushed the top of Mrs.
Thornes head with her lips.
Don't feel badly, Mother
Thorne," she consoled "Sybil is
fearfully upset, and she doesn't
know what she's saying. Just wait
till I tell her we're having straw
berry Shortcake for dessert"
Valerie ran blithely up stairs, and
opened SYPHILIS door quietly. She
lay across her bed, with her face
buried in the pillows, and the taf-
fet bedspread dragged to the floor.
"Sybil." Valerie touched her
lightly on the shoulder. I'm awfu'ly
sorry about Mr.. Crandon. Maybe
it was a mistake-taking your
mother to him. But, honestly. Sib
1 think he's done more rood than
harm. He may be a fraud and \
that don't know--but he's saved
Mother Thorne from neuroSis.
"She was simply pining away,
Syhil. and right on the verge of q
nervous breakdown, when Mr.. Gran
don begain feeding ner egos and