The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-05-22
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

ID OBERT HENLEY CALKMAN
N III sat with Robert Henley
Calkman II on the mezzanine Of the
Taft hotel and discussed the wealth.
err and such matters. Roberts ia.
ther was tall and broad, like his
son, but his hair was gray, as was
his carefully barbered mustache, eX-
cept for scattered lines of black. Hi;
expression was serious, but not Sc
we're, and his voice was decidedly
agreeable to the ears.
your mother thinks she would
like to see the opening of young
Alexander at the theater up the
street tonight" he told Robert. "She
suggested that you might enjoy it
too, but 1 reminded her that yoU
doubtless had your own program
and we might better excuse you"
you're a prince, Dad" Robert
declared. "IlI go if mother wants
me along, but I'd promised to go out
tonight before you came, and >
Back to see Marjorie, suppose?'
Mr.. Calkman shook a significant
finger at his son. 1T must be case
Of real love, all right"
Robert shifted his position un-
easily.
At length he moved his chair
nearer his fathers and said in &
low voice: Il want to talk to you
about something, Ded. You're going
to think I'm cad after tell you
something that's on my mind. But
you're the only one who can advise
me-"
"Of course, I am, boy. Anc
there's nothing you'd do that would
make your dad think you were'n
four-square on everything. VIVA
is it?"
Robert hesitated. He was hall
afraid of being misunderstood, hall
afraid of hurting his father. But
what are your ideas about mar
rage, dad? Do you think love is
essential to happiness?"
''Damn!" said Mr.. Calkman with
feeling. ''Is that a rational question
OF course love is essential to happi-
neSsl Did you seriously question
it, or does that lead up to something
with a little more sense in it?"
81 can't be specific" Robert
apologized. 1--WE got to talk in gen.
eralities just now. Let's agree thai
love is necessary, that deep, over
towering love is desirable. If e
young fellow is engaged to a CIR
and suddenly discovers that he's no
really in love with her, is he justi.
fled in trying to find way out, Of
should he go ahead and see i
through?"
"Hmm Z. And you can't be spe
cific. That's too bad. Too bad. tt
so much easier to deal with con
crete problem than beat around al
abstraction. Very fortunate
But I answer this on your owl
terms. The man who marrieS ;
women he doesn't love is an imbe
cile
Nothing substitutes for love
sn. Respect, admiration, rever
ence are not even distant relation
of love. Yes, I'd say that he shoulC
find a way out, mind you, with ever.
dQNd1ltd5C III Tic ,NOU4AS MO1llc1l Ia
vor. But way out, surely"
But Roberts face showed that h
was not at the end of his difficulties
Well, that's that" he smiled
But to get back to the first ques
ton, Dad. Can you tell me wha
one should consider after love whel
he is thinking of getting married?
sTF ! follow you," said Mr.. Calk,
L man, you're in a more distress
ing predicament than I like to think
But you're honest and I'll gambl,
on honesty, even when I'm blind
folded as am now -. We agree
that love comes first. With low
one might overcome any number o
deficiencies. But even with love
there are certain other factors tina
ought to be considered. Compati
bility of tastes and temperament
intellectual congeniality, resources
Il could name others. The BIZ
thing, son, is to get wife wh'
loves you as you love her. who vii
make a real home for you, bea
children, and through it all preserv
her own interests and individuality
cite your mother as the ideal"
You're right there" Robert de
clared. by the way, Dad, doe
mother share this view with you u.
of marriage. mean?"
@What? Oh, I think, so. View
never discussed it, but your mothe
refused to marry me the first tim
proposed because I was rathe
better of. than most. while her par
ents were merely comfortably rich
But love was there and the differ
ence Of q few millions was forgot
ten"
But suppose mothers parents Ia
had no money at all. In fairly clos
circumstances, you know"
= probably never should have me