The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1931-07-08
4

you think I feel? People have been
saying l broke up Gaylord's home"
well, didn't you?"
II guess you had something to
do with it. A man doesn't go all
| the way without some encourage
ment. I'd never have told you I
was crazy about you If you hadn't
said you were unhappy"
"Oh, you wouldn't" Irene scoffed.
"How about that night at the Har-
| mons barn dancer"
Dad GIN"
"Of course. Lay it on the drinks.
might have known you'd make
| excuses!"
"Well, I wasn't drunk when I told
you I'd fallen for you, and I'm not
drunk now. I'm off the stuff and
| I'm telling you I still love you.
don't want to hear any more talk
about mistakes"
| Irene looked at him in amaze
ment. Derry'd never shown so much
spirit before. What had come over
him anyway?
Dear me-" she murmured sar-
castically, AREN'T you impressive
when you're giving orders!"
Never mind being smart! Just
listen to me-"
Listen to you!" Irene flared at
him. "It wouldn't make any differ
ence what you said after calling
me a fool, you conceited idiot"
| "Conceited?" Derry echoed not
Winding the "idiot."
Eyes, conceited. To think a girl
could love you and not care for
Gaylord. Just because he's rich"
"Just because he's rich he's what
you want, no matter how much you
pretend otherwise. You don't give
a snap of your fingers for him. You
couldn't care for anyone, l guess
Irene laughed. Gust because I've
discovered that I don't care for
you?"
Derry WINGED. $50 you have dis
covered that?" he said fiercely. 1T
has nothing to do with the fact
that 1 haven't any money!?
Irene looked at him disdainfuily
"You will persist in your conceit,
she said as though merely muslng
aloud.
Then Derry laughed. "My mother
warned me what to expect" he re-
marked with no small degree of dis
gust. well. wanted to do the
right thing. You can laugh" he
added internationally as Irene con-
tinued to smile. "Of course 1 love
YOU. but 1 don't want to be known
as a home wrecker.'
Irene regarded him mockingly.
Haven't you found that it adds to
your reputation?" she sneered.
Derry looked back at her, his
eyes blazing with anger. IF all
girls are like you," he said tensely.
Il won't need a reputation
Irene did not understand this
but she chose to appear offended.
Derry Meade" she cried "if you
say another thing like that I'll slap
your facet"
II guess you don't quite under
stand" Derry said quietly, "but you
will later and when you do you'll
see that the jokes on you."
"You needn't try to excuse your
self by talking in riddles" Irene
retorted. "If you ever speak to me
again after to-day III" She
paused on the verge of threatening
him with punishment at the hands
of her husband, but remembered In
time that she had no right to that
husbands protection. 1t was a faint
hope that Gaylord would forgive
her. She knew this and did not
wish to risk ridicule.
do you intend to stay in Oak
dale?" Derry asked. you said a
while ago you weren't going to-
What are you going to do, Irene
Did you come out here to tell me
you've made up with Gaylord?"
'Never mind what I came for.
thought you were a gentleman, but
now I'm not a bit sorry for YOU
you needn't be if you go back
to Gaylord" Derry told her. II
suppose / could expect you might
do that. But if thought there was
aonther man in the picture Id
wiring your neck right now"
you've become terribly ferocious
since 1 went away, haven't you?"
Irene tainted him. whats come
over you anyway"
Derry looked at her thoughtfully.
Then he said soberly, You're
through with me, aren't your
Irene avoided his eyes.
yeah, it's final all right" Derry
continued. II can see that. Well
l suppose L might as we'll tell you
myself about what's happened to
me. I'd rather like to see how you
take it. First, there's just one
question I want to ask you. Did
you ever care anything at all for
me or were you playing with me
all the timer"
"Of course I cared for you" Irene
insisted, "but caring isn't love,
Derry. "Maybe you'll find that out
some day. too"
"I'u take your word for it"
Derry assured her, "since you seem
to know so much about love. l
thought 7 loved you. but maybe l
only cared for you.
Irene did not like to hear this
and was not satisfied that the
tone he used seemd to belle the
words. 1t was too much like losing
something that belonged to her.
Don't be mean to me. Derry"
she pleaded, suddenly becoming gem
tie again. II didn't mean to hurt
YOU"
Derry lauguhed. "Just like a
loaded gun, huh? If anyone plays
with you and gets hurt it's not your
fault. oh, no, not at all"
~ didn't ask you to fall in love
with me-" Irene reminded him.
mo" he said bitterly, you only
did all you could to make me do it.
that was all. You didn't need to
ask me-"
Irene hedgfied again. Cant we
come to an understanding she
urged. I'm getting cold"
"Of course we cam" Derry
agreed. I'm satisfied. l just
wanted to know that you cared a
little for me. 1t will make it easier
to believe that you wouldn't have
thrown me over If I'd been able to
offer you the things Gaylord can
give you. I shouldn't blame you, I