The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-12

Il Bassett were both young, high
schooled, good-looking and intelli-
gent, we'll born, we'll bred and up
and-coming, But while Perry did
a good many things well, Florence
did only one.
The things Perry did we'll were
the good old thumpingly American
things of baseball, football, hunting
and fishing, politics and salesman
ship, whereas the thing Florence
did we'll was dancing.
But people were wrong. For while
the many-sided Perry was notice.
ably competent, the one-sided Flos-
sic was superlative. But Spring
view didn't know it. And Perry
didn't know it.
Perry thought Flossie was the
most beautiful girl in New England
whereas she wasn't beautiful at
all, only extraordinarily ornamental
and chic; and the sweetest-where-
as, though she tried hard, she was
constantly breaking over and being
little bit catty, and he didn't
know that the exquisitely delicate
and individual rhythm that inhered
IN every moment of her small.
shapely body was something UNIQUE
IN that part of the world. Flossie
didn't know it either. In fact no.
oody knew it until CUNNINGHAM
Wolff came along.
n
II was Cunningham VOLTS bust
ness to know about such matters.
he had put in the whole of his 81
ears studying them Stage babv
stage child, chorus boy, instructor
IN various dancing schools. director
OF pageants and amateur shows all
over the American map, who would
know If he didn't? When SPRING
view put on it's annual Junior
League show for charity, Eppley
Simmons, who had millions. said
he'd foot the bill for a director
Cunningham Wolff was going to
cost $500 for two months. So
when Cunningham Wolff and F1os-
sic Dassett's dancing was unique in
those parts, those parts believed
him.
AS for Perry, he was chagrined.
This new conception of Flossie
didn't fit in his world. He didn't like
1t during rehearSals, when it was
Flossie this and Flossie that. and
isn't she too divine!" from the girls
and men who had been quite con-
tent to take her in their stride I'M
til Cunningham Wolff came along:
ne loathed it on the big night
when the show-which was prac-
tically all dancing-went over with
a bang, every other number piv-
oted frankly on Florence Rassett.
pirouetting, languishing, leaping
under the direction and mostly into
and out of the arms of Cunningham
Wolff-for he danced the male lead
an his own show-and he was very
miserable indeed taking her home
afterward.
You're like another person." he
said, after certain passages of words
that had fixed him in that conclu-
sion. THAT Wolff guy has turned
your head. You think more of him
than you do of me-"
" A T the moment" Flossie Bassett
L a said tartly, having had good
deal to stand from her beloved, 81
certainly do! You've behaved like
a jealous, crochetty old dod, and I'm
ashamed of YOU! I'm not only
ashamed Of you, I'm bored with you!
And mad with you'll You-you think
I'm a piece of your property, and
this is just about as good time as
any, Perry Benedict, to show you
I'm noti"
Listen, kid" Perry said earnestly.
"any couple that really care about
each other are each others prop
erty, see? How'd you like it If /
spent all my spare time high-hatting
you and hugging another girl In
public and"
"That'll be quite enough" Flossie
said icily, and opened the door on
her side of the coupe and stepped
out. you're the only person in
town that such a disgusting idea
has occurred to, the only one who
hasn't liked my dancing and told me
so, and"
II told you So"
"Yes, but you didn't mean it. And
the only one who hasn't seen what
Cunny Wolff has done for me and
how darned nice he's been about 1t
all. He's the best friend I've ever
had, and If you don't like it-well.
] don't know that I care!" said Flos-
sic Bassett, who was gone before he
could answer.
TT Is doubtful II Perry quite knew
l. the depth of his own caring until |
that moment sitting there alone
staring after her. Their engage
ment had been one of those born |
to-be affairs that are so easy to
take for granted, and that's the
way he had taken it. He had a |
bitter moment alone with himself.
He cursed himself for a fool, but |
still he considered Flossie's conduct
very reprehensible and be didn't |
think, she rated an apology. He
sent around a huge lot of bowers
next morning and hoped they could
eOmDroI1ise on that He reg Iiv had /