The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-06-10


 guests had walked by twos on the adjacent beach or sat in dim cor ners of the big porch that fronted the ocean, but she had been kept in- doors singing and dancing. Her success, professional and social, was in no wise boresome to Beryl She liked people and enjoyed being in a crowd because in spite of her directness she maintained a pro- tecting reserve.
 She sighed audibly and Irene had the impudence to tell her she should go to bed if she were so tired.
 Beryl wanted to answer: And leave you alone with Prentiss?" In- stead she said: We're all going to bed. Prentiss, get your hat. This is an old-fashioned household and not a speakeasy. You may sleep until noon to-morrpw but we can't"
 Irene sat up in anger. "How can you be so rude?" she flamed.
 Prentiss laughed. "Beryrs right" he said apologetically. T only came in for a drink, but !" His voice drifted away while his eyes fingered on Irene's face as though to say its beauty could be blamed for his delay.
 Irene pouted. I'm awfully sorry not to hear the rest of that story about the time you were robbed of your fathers payroll" she said re- gretfully. Weren't you just scared to death?"
 Idiot!, Beryl thought. Irene had only to look at Prentiss to know he run, dns hn tn nf anything. But then, of course, her question would give him chance to declare himself on the subject. What more could a man want?
 I'm getting to be a cynic," she said to herself.
 Why hadn't Prentlss told her that story? We'll, she wouldn't be scared to death of anything her. self. Maybe it's not fun to tell a person like herself a hero story. Maybe it's only interesting with someone who will say, "Oh, oh!" with wide round eyes and a round, rosebud mouth.
 Maybe that was why-because she didn't have wide, round eyes and a round, rosebud mouth--that Prentiss had not gone on with his story after she came back with the refreshment tray. Oh well, she cared only because Tommy was like that too.
 Beryl said goodnight to Prentiss with a detachment of mind that pleased Irene who thought it was due to pique. Then she went di- rectly to her own rooms refusing to gossip with Irene about the par ty and Prentiss Gaylord.
 Thank heaven, there was one real blessing the old house afforded. That was a room of ones own. Beryl thought as she closed the door behind her, that she'd turn tiger cat if forced to share a room with Irene.
 Alone she found that she was too confused to think logically. What would all this lead to-her secret love for Tommy, Prentiss Gaylord's coming into the situation, his ad- miration for Irene, and Irene's greedy grasping at his interest ? Where would it take them? . Better to live on the surface" she whispered in the dark, holding one of her one-sided conversations with her father. Life gets messy ! when you dig too deep, doesn't it. Pater? Unless you're very, very wise. And I'm not wise. I'm :. I'm crying. My throat hurts And so it did. The throat felt tight and hot and queer. Neither it nor her thoughts would let Beryl sleep. She tossed in a hot bed until long after daylight arrived. Then, really alarmed at last, she got up and gargled with an antiseptic. The thought of cool shower appealed to her.
 She was enjoying the shower when Irene banged on the bath room door and said: For Pete's sake, will you please stop making so much noise and let people sleep?"
 Beryl turned off the shower and Irene started to go back to her room. A few paces away she stopped and listened. From the bathroom had come a sound like that of falling body.
 (TO be COntinucd)