The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-19
CHAPTER FoRTY-FTvE

VXTHILE Gaylord waited at the
w hospital for the moment when
doctors would know whether Irene
was TO live or not. Tommy Wilson
sat slipping hot chocolate in the
Everett living room.
There had been a benefit party
at neighborhood gathering place
and Berry, had attended it to repre-
sent the Everett family.
Her mother still was avoiding her
friends as much as possible and
meant to continue doing so until
she could announce that Irene
again was with her husband in
Oakdale. Mr.. Everett never could
be persuaded to 90 to such affairs
Tommy had come to take Beryl
home at the suggestion of Mrs
Everett, who wished people to as
sooiate the two together, SO they
would think less of the attention
Tommy paid Irene.
Refreshments had been served
when Tommy arrived, so Beryl
asked him to come into the house
wnen they reached there and gave
him pot of chocolate and some
fruit cake.
Tommy appeared to be preoccu-
pied. How could Beryl guess that
it was calculus that occupied his
mind? She assumed he was think
ing Of Irene. He had asked about
her sister on the way home,
Tommy had undergone a curious
experience. He had found himself
unable to analyze his feelings when
he learned that Irene had gone to
Oakdale and no one could tell him
when she would return or whether
she eyer would come back.
On that last evening they had
spent together, the thought that in
a few weeks more she no longer
would be Prentiss yT'fe had held
his attention and it hU, stirred him.
Gaylord never had seemed to
Tommy anything but a usurper
Since her return to the east, he
had told himself that his lack Of
emotion on seeing her again was
due to anger. He wanted very much
to explain this in some satisfactory
way Only an explanation that al
lowed him to believe he still loved
Irene was satisfactory
Tommy really was an idealist.
He did MT want to fail out Of love,
as did so many young people. He
wanted to love as a poet and to re-
member forever. 1t was disappoint-
ing to know he could feel coldly
toward Irene.
The reminding of his affection
as the days passed made him think
better of himself. Perhaps he
wasn't SO tickle after all. Tommy
concluded.
THERE were times, naturally,
4 when he mulled over the pros
pect of telling Irene frankly that
he no longer cared for her.
That would be paying her of as
she deserved. But then he had to
ask himself if he could get away
with 1t, or if he would regret it
later.
And wasn't it discreditable for
him to think of paying Irene off?
She was not responsible for what
had happened. How could he make
her believe he didn't care for herr
Shed laugh at him.
No, Irene wouldn't laugh. Beryl
would laugh if you told her any,
thing she didn't believe, but Irene's
blue eyes would fill with tears.
Who'd believe there were girls like
Irene in the world2 Maybe there
wasn't another one.
He'd be sorry all the rest of his
life if he hurt her now, when she
appeared to need him as she never
had needed him before.
Irene seemed to realize now what
a muddle she'd made of her life.
She couldn't even talk about it
without sobbing.
TOMMY thought about the many
L times Irene had said, "I've
learned my Lesson" or in even sadder
tones, Il don't know how 1 could
have done such a thing. Oh, Tom
my. I must have been craZy!"
Tommy felt that she was turning
to him for comfort and understand
ing as she had so often before. He
was flattered subtly.
1t was as though Che sensed this
in everything she said to him)
Irene considered herself far inferior
to him in faithfulness and loyalty.
She was leaf in the wind.
She had said that one stormy day
when they drove through a barren
wood and the dead leaves scurried