The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-16
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again she was much disheveled and
out of breath, but happier than
she'd ever been before in her life.
did you come out alone, with
just the chauffeur" Irene asked
when Beryl entered the house. Il
thought successful people always
had a a coterie." She stumbled
a little on the pronunciation Of
"coterie," but got it out in the be-
lief that Beryl wouldn't know the
difference anyway.
Whatever that is" Berry replied
good-naturedly.
We'll, you might have let Mother
know" Irene declared. "She was
worried half TO death because you
weren't on the 1851"
I'm sorry" Beryl said to her
mother. L expected to beat the
train here, but I was a little late in
getting started"
Irene also addressed her mother.
Didn't I tel your" she said. Beryl
sensed the undercurrent of accusa-
ton in the words and resented it.
Several people wanted to come
with me-" she said coldly, "but I
=" She stopped. After all it was
not necessary to tell the neighbors
that she had been too skeptical Of
the reception that awaited her at
home to risk bringing strangers
into it.
L decided I'd rather come alone, "
she added haughtily 1T took a
little time to convince them that 1
was used to going about unescorted."
Irene turned away, biting her
tongue to keep from further display
Of her temper.
A little later a member Of the
party, feeling sleepy, remarked that
Beryl must be tired.
Some one else, thinking it an
occasion for an all-night celebration,
wanted her to sing for them, but
from that Beryl asked to be ex-
cused.
HER refusal seemed to be a cue
IL Il for the gathering to break up
and presently she was alone in her
room, where she had wanted to be
to stand face to face with this be-
wiidering event in her life, to ask
"Old Faithful" what he thought
about it, and to suffer with an in
tensity that shamed her over Tom
my'S attitude.
1t had been bitterly disappoint-
ing. He had not been more inter-
eSted than anyone else and she had
wanted some special demonstration
from him. OF course she was a
fool.
She stood by her window staring
down at the gate where Tommy
was saying goodnight to Irene and
a sense of the irony Of fate swept
over her.
Here she was, going to bed with
the ring of plauditS still in her ears
sound that she knew would be
priceless to Irene.
And there was Irene, down there
saying good night to Tommy-some-
thing that she, Beryl, would give all
the worlds applause to be doing if
she and Tommy were sweethearts.
She turned quickly from the Win
dow as the lovers kissed. She didn't
mean to be spying. Then she
heard Tommy go whistling down the
street. Irene must have made him
very happy.
Poor Beryl. The very thing that
she had secretly hoped would i'm
press Tommy, make him realize that
there is some one else on earth
besides Irene, had driven him far
Their away.
Irene was ready to claim every
thing to which she had the slight
est right. And it was salve to her
wound, the wound inflicted by
Beryrs rise to greater popularity
to feel that Tommy was her slave
that she had only to yield little
to have him begging for possession
of her
WTHEN Tommy left her at the
w gate, he had at least hall
promise that she would marry hin,
soon. 1t was this sudden softening
on her part which had begun soor
after Beryl arrived that caused his
indifference to BeryFs success to
continue through her hour of tri-
umph.
For several days he lived on hope
while Irene wavered. She would,
she wouldn't. 1t was hard to live
with Beryl's success, but on the
other hand it was interesting, too
Telephone calls, flowers, fan mail
invitations.
They did not come in great num-
bers, but there were enough to make
Irene feel that she was at least
in contact, even if it was only BY
a family relationship, with the life
for which she yearned.
At one time she had thought Of