Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-05-15
Strong's Inhibition
By Elizabeth Jordan

couldn't picture himself telling then
anything of the kind.
He made as fine and hustling ano
successful q young partner as his
father had expected. ana that is say
ing a good deal. The Judge Dragged
Of him ShameleSSly-couldnt help it
Judge Strong had no such inhibitions
as his sons. Ii the Judge wanted tc
say something pleasant he said it
He said it a dozen times a day if he
felt like it, and he usually felt like
it. He told David again and again
what a comfort he was TO him; what
a rod to his declining years, or words
to that effect. and David listened with
his lovable grin. He'd have liked to
course, he couldn't. That damned in
hibition-sometimes he thought of il
as that-wouldn't let him.
When he had been in his fathers
Office two years and vas earning q
really excellent income he proceeded to
do the neXt thing that was expected
of him. 1t was quite amazing how
invariably he did the right thing, ex-
cept in the little matter of the damned
inhibition. Thus far the exception had
not disturbed him OF any n else, be-
cause no INT else expected him to be
other than he was. But when he fell
in love with Penelope Case, the most
charming girl in town. and did it with
characteristic thoroughness, Penelope
almost Immediately revealed that she
expected more of him than other had
done.
DO you really love me, David?" she
asked wistfully the night she had
promised to marry him, and when the
ring with which he had thoughtfully
provided himself was safely on her
finger. The question embarrassed Da-
yld, but did not surprise him. His
courtship of Penelope had been word
less, but full Of action. Every day he
had sent her flowers or music or books
or candy. Every evening he was in
her home, ready to take her to the
theater or to a picture or for a drive
or merely to sit and look at her wor-
s%hipingly and talk to her. He talked
very well on every subject save his
emotions.
DO you really love me David?'
Penelope repeated.
Her lover moistened lips that had
suddenly gone dry.
Haven't l told you 500" he muttered
Il suppose you have" Penelope adj
mitted, by asking me to marry you:
and even that sounded exactly as if
some one had put a photograph record
into you and set it off. When the
time came you wheezed out, Penelope,
will you marry me?' and I fell into
your arms on the spot, for I'd been
waiting for that six months. But
should have waited longer-I really
should. I ought to have made you
make love, to me. l suppose" she add
ed thoughtfully, its too late now"
"Penelope!' David cried in acute
embarrassment. What do you mean?''
Exactly what I said. l suppose it's
too late to expect you to make love
to me. Why should YOU, now that
you've got me? It's clear enough that
you don't know how to make love.
And l have a dark suspicion" she went
on slowly, that since l didn't put you
through a course of training when the
time was ripe, you'll never learn
David was at her feet-but only in
spirit, of course.
I'm an awful chump," he confessed
wretchedly. I've always been that
way. II never can say what I feel.
But II feel it all right, Penelope"
Penelope studied him with interest.
DO you, really?"
Eyes, l do-you bet 1 do. And !
listen to other fellows spouting cascades
OF words about their emotions and I
envy them. But any time I try I find
myself crawling down into myself and
drawing myself after me-if you know
what I mean
1T sounds rather involved" Penelope
admitted, but I think I know"
She was still studying him. David
felt a chill breath over his happiness,
lake a frost over a garden.
You can't doubt me- he muttered
mo, I can't doubt you. I'm simply
wondering if l a always remember
to take your love for granted
"Penelope!' David had cried out in
agony. II can't talk about it-but
I can show it in a thousand other
ways!"
II know. Right there-dependable-
ready to die for me any time IL a
snowy, spectacular manner Just as
you've been with your mother and sis
ters. 1t satisfied them. I'm wondering
if it will satisfy me all my life!"
you're a queer girl" David spoke
with a wan grin. He was not surprised
Penelope, a college graduate, was the
most modern as well as the most
charming girl in town.
Il suppose l am. I'm affectionate
too. Awfully. And I'm wondering how
I'm going to feel when l come VI
against that-well, that inhibition Of
yours, all the time"
For Gods sake, Penelope, don
make a mountain out of a mole hill
But David knew this was a crisis. Pene.
lope knew it, too, and had meant K
follow it up. Something in his eye.
checked her. She saw that he wa.
really suffering, and the maternal in.
stinct awoke in her.
"All right, Davy," she said tenderly
I'll take you as you are-and b1
darned glad to get you" she added il
a different tone. And they both burs