The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1937-08-06
What Happens
When a Man
Who Has
Reached Middle
Age Thinks He
Is in Love With
a Young Girl?

GTEPHEN CREsSMoRE looked ap-
: praisingly at his wife, Brenda. across
his birthday cake He thought: How old
she looks Lines around her eyes. Fur
rows at the corners OF her mouth Her
cheeks sag The next moment he re-
preached himself for the unkind inven-
tory
He decided that the blinking yellow
candles on the cake accentuated facial
defects, that his wife was actually quite
comely for her age She was 40. And he?
This was his forty-eighth anniversary.
Almost half century of living Forty
eight years Twenty-Five OF them spent
with Brenda. The span Of his marital
existence stretched out before him like
a roll Of tape Brenda nagging him
about his health. His rubbers. His diet
Forcing lettuce and coddled eggs on him.
as though he we're child. Insisting
that he spend month In the country
each Summer Urging rhubarb and sui
phur IN Spring The gymnasium in
Winter
something She had kept him in good
physical trim that was true, he thought.
but she had played too strongly the role
OF mother He had never known sweet
heart during all their years Of married
life.
Wen he knew one now Joyce
Sheriff. Her caressing voice seemed to
sound In his ears now
'Stevie You're so clumsy With
cocktail shaker Let me Ak the drinks
You Just sit there and charm me with
your smile
The darlingi She could make even
reproach sound endearing He had met
her four months ago at a party given In
the penthouse apartment Of Bruce Ban
nard, Barnard was one of the hackers
OF Reno Renie," and had entertained
the company on the opening night.
Joyce was star OF the cast.
Stephen Cressmore recalled now the
glamour OF their first meeting. Joyce.
slender, 1.-THE. with the body OF dancer.
In quaint apple green dress of some
soft clinging material and made with
big puffed sleeves. sitting In a wicker
lounging chair on the balcony The
moon, q silver disc, cast radiance over
r. and faint fragrance from the spray
Of gardenias she wore on her shoulder
waited toward him.
LIE HAD seen his enchantress often
- since that memorable evening. But
not often enough to suit him He was
fed up on lies-lies to Brenda about
pressing work at the Office about
meeting out-of-town clients" about
company banquets"
Well, they were all over nowl He was
TO meet Joyce at her apartment at 10
o'clock. They were sailing the following
midnight Reno Renie" had proved a
flop and Joyce was opening In q new
show In Paris. He had everything ar
ranged for his departure
Day after tomorrow Brenda would re-
ceive his letter-his confession-and word
OF the financial arrangement he had
made IN her behalf She and Stephen,
Jr, and Madeleine, Donald and Leila
would never want for anything. Brenda
nagging, but generous Brenda. would ac-
cede to his request he felt certain. get a
Reno divorce SO that he could marry his
beloved Joyce Joyce OF the clinging
arms, the deWy mouth.
BY the time he returned to New York
everything would have blown over; there
would be no more gossip TO embarraSs
him. and he and his beloved could take
an apartment or a house somewhere ou,
on Long Island
Don't you think SO, Stephen?"
Stephen came to with 8 start. He
realized that Brenda's question was ths
tail-end Of a peroration. He stared al
the salted almonds the fruit salad pilee
high with whipped cream and maras.
chino cherries. the bowls Of jonquils anc
th1 cleaning silver candlesticks tryins
to dredge into his subconscious for whaj
1t might have retained of Brenda's las
remarks. No use He had been too deepl,
enmeshed in visions of moon -drenchec
steamship deck.
Sorry, Brer, didn't hear you
''Woolly-wits." chided Brenda, her lip
pulling down at the corners Well
here goes again: I'm reading over th,
Blue-book. This is the last Of the month
you know"
Stephen Cressmore sighed The Blue
book was list Of reminders for eacl
month-reminders OF odd Jobs which. |
not jotted down as they occurred dali
TO Brenda, might be forgotten. It wa
christened the sBlue'' book becaus
Brenda hated TO keep 1t. Stephen TO rea
1t each month NOW Brenda intoned til
notations monotonously.
Stephen Cressmore, listening to tn