The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-15
CHAPTER

little Tempe Hyde forced herself
on him in the library-quite tax
ing advantage of his shyness there
Jeremy Tucker had been a man
stepped in shame. Not that he had
actually done anything sinful, or
even anything particularly out OF
the ordinary, as youthful customs
90, but he had, after all, kissed
her; returned her kiss when She
first kissed him. He hadn't wanted
to do that. He hadn't planned it,
or thought of it, or done it deliber-
ately. 1t had just happened.
During the few days that had
elapsed since then Jeremy had
been forced to associate with the
other young people at the mansion,
but the old look of soberness and
sadness had crept back into his
eyes. Gayle saw it on the first day,
wondering. She did not question
him for which he was very CRATE
ful). But she did take him in hand.
Jeremy Tucker, l d%eclare!",
she chided in a friendly way. Il
have just noticed something. You
are going downtown right now and
get yourself some new glasses
IL say"
eyes, sir, you must! Jeremy
get some rimless ones, or m S
that are flesh tinted and don't
show or tiny gold rims. Make the
doctor fit you for looks as well
as lenses. These rims are black
and unbecoming on you and they
needn't be-"
He inspected, himself in the mir
ror and saw that it was true. So Le
took her advice. When he had the
improvement was so marked that
all the people in the house COM
mented. It became his one ray of
brightness in an otherwise week
of secret shame.
He came down on call to do his
bits in the new play. He came on
call to pose for the newspaper pho
tographers. But he declined Bills
invitation to go downtown shipping,
and he declined to go swimming
with the girls.
Especially did he avoid being
with the girls, for he knew Tempe
was among them, and he couldn't
bear to face her again. He had
been kissed by Tempe, had kissed
her in turn and then had run.
This strange feeling he had was
disturbing all the more because he
couldn't understand it. Some week
ago, when he and Gayle were re-
hearsing for the first play, he had
kissed Gayle. 1t had been exciting,
even embarrassing, but distinctly
pleasurable. Also, he had repeated
ly gazed at Lola Montesa's dark
red lips and meditated on the OBJ
vious fact that they were kissable.
He was not opposed to kissing per
se-that is, he recognized it's ex-
istence, and importance in It's
proper place. Nevertheless, the Ii
brary affair with Tempe Hyde dis
turbed him. He was angry at him
self and at her. There had been
no pleasure in kissing her, no plea
sure in retrospect; only a sudden
impulse, followed by lingering an
ger and shame.
He heard and overheard the talk
around the house as excitement for
the new play grew. He learned that
Cholly harrington was making
merry more and more about the
"peripatetic drama" at The Oaks,
and that other columnists had tax
en- up the campaign of fun and
ballyhoo as well. He saw the photos
printed in the dailies, but was not
much interested. Rather did he slip
back into a reading of archeologi-
cal books; he was soon spending
hours at a time again in his grand
fathers library.
Meanwhile, though, his grand
father was becoming a new man.
The old fellow was sensitive to the
doings around him, the doings of
youth. He did not observe Jeremy's
morose state, but he did hear more
and more of the excitement about
M play and the party afterward.
A few times he butted in on Bill
md Gayle.
"You cannot do all of this work
yourselves" he roared at them.
HPlenty of capbale physical labor
BELLA