The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-18
CHAPTER NINETEEN

IT was Friday and Elaine Chal-
4 mers was leaving college for a
weekend in New York. Her mother
and stepfather were now in their
Fifth-av house, and Elaine was
about to combine a dutiful visit
home with a weekend Of gaiety.
AS a porter carried her bags away
she paused in the doorway OF her
room to bid gcod-by to her friend,
lIortense Stokesbury, who was ap-
plying herself to Renaissance art
on the chaise lounge. Stay as long
as YOU like, Hortense," Elaine said
These rooms are more comfortable
than yours
Thanks" replied Hortense
though not Eraciously. 1t was not
pleasant to be reminded that
Elaine's was the choice suite OF
Graycastle.
III stay till time to dress for
dinner. Then I'll lock up after me
Well. good by. Don't wreck Candy S
rhythm at the Windmill Club to-
night. He's still playing there
isn't hep"
Yes" answered Elaine But
don't worry about his rhythm. He
taught it TO Duchin and Vallee. By
the way, darling, Go you mind if
tell my parents I'm spending fall va
cation with you in Boston?"
"Of course not" Hortense assured
her. Are you actually going
through with that Ohio trip?"
Yes" Elaine replied, swapping
shut her handbag. Have a smooth
time at West Point tomorrow
which reminds me, if get any mail
from Annapolis today or tomorrow
put it in a plain envelope and for
ward it special delivery. will you?
You'll find envelopes and stamps in
the desk"
That night Hortense found the
expected Annapolis letter in the
school mail office and. being genu-
inely conscientious about promises
took it to Elaine'S room to read
dress it.
She knew that Mrs. Deal was
alarmed at the mere thought of
having a poor young naval officer
for a Son-in-laW. 1t amused Hor-
tense to send this letter to Elaine
under the offiCiOus Mrs. Deals very
nose She hoped, too, that Elaine
would end by making some such or
binary marriage as this one-it
would be quite a joke after the wide
sWathe she'd cut as a debutante
While rummaging for a large
plain envelope to enclose the An
napolis missive, HortenSe CHANGED
on a sealed letter directed to John
Mcneil, 1910 Garfield Avenue,
Worthwhile, o. So Elaine had
written to that Ohio chap and for
gotten to stamp and mail it! Well
she'd attend to that one, too. She
did. Presently the two letters were
mailed.
ELAINE, her mother and step
II father had dinner en- famille
that night. Elaine thought, look
ing from one to the other,
They're just the same, only more
So"
She did not see them often, since
the very rich must work hard going
from place to place. changing houses
and clothes with the seasons and
SuppreSsing their enthusiasts.
Elaine found her mother a bit
more Cutlery and thin and acid
her beauty not so much faded as
sharpened. Elaine called her Gwen
and did not greatly love her.
AS for her stepfather, Elaine
actively dislikcd him; a heavily
handsome, moroSe man like the
villain in a fashionable play.
Elaine diverted conversation from
Deauville to Worthwhile by asking
DO you ever think of going back
to Ohio to visit, Gwen? To your old
home, I mean?"
God forbid" said Gwen Deal
"NothingS left but that mauSo-
leum and old Bertha Gibbs I do
my duty by both. I keep them"
Higate Deal looked up from his
plate with heavy-lidded eyes. And
you're a fool, Gwen. to do it. What
does rank sentiment profit you?"
The house is not entirely mine TO