The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-23

Prentiss was thrilled with his
thoughts. Now he was awakel Now
he was alivel Here was a girl who
could prove to him that he'd been
sleeping.
Habit fastened itself upon him.
Am an egotist?" he asked HIM
self. what does the girl think2
Does she know anything about this
pounding IN the brain, this power
full urge to take another, certain,
human being in your arms, to know
through the sense of touch an &C.
stasy that can not be imagined?"
He stole a glance at Irene. She
was wearing the organdy dress with
the dainty ribbon bows land she
still remembered her mothers ex-
preston when she appeared in IT'D.
Her mother knew that It was the
second dress that had been intended
for her wedding. Irene had con-
fided this after Mrs. Hoffman's
death
She looked like Prentiss
could not say what she looked like.
Floweplike, yes, but what aid exue-
riors mean? He could not tell from
stolen glances at her what was in
her mind And they were driving
too fast for closer scrutiny.
He had in mind certain inn to
which he would take her to dinner
if she would go, and it was far out
on the island.
He'd suggested the drive with
some reluctance, fearing she would
think it inconsiderate of Beryl.
Irene had sensed his thought and
got around it by saying wistfully
that she didn't think she should go.
Then she left him for mo-
ment to instruct her mother to in
sist that she 60.
They came back to him together
Mrs. Everett simpered a trifle over
her part, but she succeeded in con-
Yincing Ptentiss that she had per-
suaded Irene to go out for while.
She's been in all day looking
after Beryl," she explained with a
fond smile Of approval for her
daughter.
Thank you, Mrs. Everett" Prem
tiss said, but don't say for a
while? I don't like to think Of time
when I'm enjoying myself"
We'll, not too late, please" Mrs.
Everett conceded, and Prentiss felt
as though she had consigned a pre-
cious treasure to his care.
n
TIE didn't care much for Mrs.
i 4 Everett and he'd heard that
daughters often were like their
mothers. But as he waited for Irene
to get her hat and wrap (the latter
at his suggestion) he reminded
himself that Beryl was not much
like Mrs. Everett.
1t didn't follow that Irene had
to be either, even if there was
closer resemblance between them.
Environment would count. Prem
tisS should have realized that his
ability to consider these matters at
this time meant that he was not
falling in love blindly.
The girl he married would not
develop as the wife of a small town
groceryman. And now, because he
was intelligent, he should have
realized that this though was not
conducive to future happiness. -.
Would he be snobbish about his
wife's family? And didn't he know
that if he thought he could make
Irene what he wanted her to be-
if he feared what she might be-
come-that he did not love her
the real Irene-that he saw in her
only a reflection Of his ideal and
loved that reflection? Didn't he
know that when one loves truly
ideals are forgotten?
Perhaps a little love is sufficient
to muddle a mans brain. Or it
may be that a thinking man-no
matter how great his capacity for
emotional feeling-can never eS-
cape appraising the object of his
affection.
Also it might be that Prentiss
was at that age where one is both
young and old. Loving with the
fervor and zest Of youth and
analyzing with the caution of age.
Whatever it was, as they raced
along now over the smooth high
way he was eager to reach the
place where he could talk to Irene
and look at her at the same time.
When he told her where he
wanted to take her, she was thrilled,
but she would not agree to stay
out to dinner until he had promised
to telephone her mother.
She reasoned shrewdly enough
that if Prentiss had admired Beryl,