The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-21

heard some one say that youth is
intolerant. but that its earnestness
Is necessary to the movement or the
world. Well, maybe she could get
a jump on life by practicing toler-
ance before she grew old.
Maybe she wasn't justified in set
ting her own standards for other
people to follow. Maybe Tommy
wasn't weak in loving Irene. 1t
wasn't Prentiss, it was Tommy she
was judging.
How about it, partner" she
said softly aloud. IF I were 40,
would I be able to admit that pos
sibly I'm wrong?"
But she wasn't 20, and when she
went back to the living room and
saw Irene curled up in a pic
turesque pose in one corner Of the
sofa while Prentiss sat beside her
Qike charmed bird, Beryl
thought), all her philosophizing
vanishing.
Her disgust welled up stronger
than ever, and she was sorry that
she had brought third glass for
Irene.
The little mink should be spanked
and put to bed if she got what she
deserved, Beryl thought. But Irene
was years too old for that and one
had to treat her as a grownup.
Prentiss drank the lemon mint
and ate the thin, brown cookies.
Beryl knew that it might as well
have been cider and doughnuts for
all the difference he'd have known.
She wished he would go, for she
was very tired. The party had been
a strenuous one for her. Other
guests had walked by twos on the
adjacent beach or sat in dim corners
Of the big porch that fronted the
ocean, but she had been kept in
doors singing and dancing.
q t. r.
HER success, professional and So
L l. cial, was in no wise boresome
to Beryl. She liked people and en-
1oyed being in a crowd, because In
spite Of her directnesS, she main
tanned a protecting 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: Were all going to
bed. Prentiss, get your hat. This
Is an old-fashioned household and
not a speakeasy. You may sleep
until noon tomorrow, but we can't
Irene sat up in anger. "How can
you be so rude?" she famed.
PrentisS laughed. "BeryPs right y
he said alphabetically. It only
came in for 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 pay roll" she said re-
gretfully. Weren't you just scared
to death?"
Idiot Beryl thought. Irene had
only to look at Prentiss to know he
wouldn't be Scared to DEATH of
anything. But then, Of course, her
question would give him a 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 Prentiss told her
that story? Well, she wouldn't be
scared to death Of anything her
self. Maybe it's not fun to tell a
person like herself hero story.
Maybe it's only interesting with
some one who will say, ooh, ohI'
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 Prem
tiss had not gone on with his story
after she came back with the re-
freshment tray. Oh, we'll, she cared
only because Tommy was like that,
too.
q
DERYL said goodnight to Prem
- tiss with a detachment of mind
that pleased Irene, who thought ii
was due to pique. Then she went
directly to her own room, refusing
to gossip with Irene about the party
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