“THE MELODY GIRL”

Franklin Times, Volume XXII, Issue 8, 20 January 1932, Page 7

“THE MELODY GIRL”

BY RUTH DEWEY GROVES

Beryl Borden, secretly in love with Tommy Wilson, succeeds in delaying his elopement with her half-sister, Irene Everett, but fails to convince him that it his duty to his family to finish college. Later Irene postpones the marriage date believing she is to become a radio singer. Securing an audition, she permits Beryl to go to the studio with her. While waiting in an ante-room Beryl sit down at a piano and croons melodies. One of the directors hears her and gives her a private test. He promises a contract later. Irene fails and is furious when she hears of Beryl’s success. Beryl’s hopes of

a radio career dim as time passes and no word comes from the studio. At last a letter arrives and she slips away for the interview. Beryl is elated when presented with a contract but her victory is hitter-sweet for her family and Tommy believe she robbed

Irene of her chance. Beryl’s debut rfs' a success, and she returns home laden with floral tributes. Burning with envy Irene decides to marry Tommy immediately. They plan another elopement but Tommy’s aunt dies and again the wedding is postponed. Irene is disappointed because Tommy is not the sole heir, but Mr Hoffman wants a housekeeper and offers inducements to Irene

to marry and take charge of the home

NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY. CHAPTER XVIII. Aunt Emma’s sister, Ernestine, went home and the Hoffman menage was left without a housekeeper. Mr Hoffman did not wish to engage a hired one with Irene so soon to he installed in the place. No use spoiling the girl, he reasoned. The part-time maid came in as usual hut things went a hit to pot. Mrs Everett came over with Irene a time or two and restored the house temporarily to a semblance of order but to this Irene objected. Her mother agreed with her when she pointed out the folly of letting Mr Hoffman get any wrong ideas about her doing housework.

Beryl stayed away. She couldn’t

endure being around Tommy and Irene vwhen they were together. The way Tommy’s eyes followed Irene in a sort of worshipful daze fairly tortured Beryl. She could understand that there was no reason why Tommy -should love her but how on earth had 'happened to fall for Irene?

She’d have acted differently, however, if she’d been still in the cashier’s cage of her stepfather’s store. Then she might have seen for herself how Tommy was faring at home in to meals. He was doing the marketing, and buying canned goods by the armful. That would have been all right but he never bought fresh vegetables and fruit to go with the tinned products. All that Beryl knew of his hunger for home cooking such as his aunt, had provided was evidenced in his appetite when he came to eat at the Everett table. “Whoever said,” she thought, “that people in love have no appetite: didn’t know so much.” Ordinarily when Tommy came to the house and Beryl was at home she found an excuse for departing as soon as she could. One night when she was particularly miserable over Tommy’s blindness she went to her room. She was unhappy for a particular reason. Beryl had granted a date, and it was an unusual date. It was with a young man who might, very possibly, want to make love to her. She'd had dates before but they we e friendship dates. Usually with a boy she’d known all her life and who couldn’t be suspected of being in love with her. When she did think there might be something of the kind in a boy’s mind Beryl refused to go ouL with him alone. She had a feeling that even if she were ridiculous in being true lo Tommy she was better for being true to herself. To-night as she changed into one of her lovely new party dreses —dresses , that wrung Irene’s soul with envy—she actually suffered the remorse of unfaithfulness. Her love for Tommy was a very real thing. She belonged to him wholly and unalterably. What did it matter if he knew nothing about it? It was her love and it was for her to tend or neglect it. Now she had chosen deliberately to neglect this love. It was the fair thing to do, she had reasoned, when she made the da‘e. Fair to herself. Cert.fnly she could never kill her love fojr Tommy if she did not try. Prentiss Gaylord could make her forget Tommy if anyone could. Prentiss—son of the man who made Velvetan, the soap she sang to advertise. She had met him at the studio, ile had come to New York especially to make her acquaintance, he had told her.

“f might, have gone to Samoa on a .tramp boat some fellows f know picked up on the coast,” he added by way of impressing her with Hie measure of his desire to meet her. “But, T had to know the girl who owned a voice like yours, so I came east instead. You don’t mind if I speak right out

(Copyright)

and say I think it’s great, do you Miss Borden?”

“I love compliments,” Beryl admitted frankly. “Well, then, maybe I can tell you how I feel about your voice and you won’t laugh at me”’ He paused then plunged on. “It’s like a soft couch when you’re tired and a hot drink when you’re cold, and ice when you’re too warm and a lot of other soothing things.” Beryl smiled. “I’m not much on romantic speeches am I?” he conceded, and Beryl wondered at. the wistfulness in his tones. I “I wish I could say that your voice takes me back to the hours I spent at my mother’s knee,” he went on, “but I don’t remember my mother. She died when I was a year old.” i “And my father died when I was a baby,” Beryl confided, establishing a bond between them. This bond had developed until Beryl felt that Prentiss must be becoming seriously interested in her. j He had asked several times for a date and had always been refused until to-night. Some friends of his were giving a party in a cottage on the ' South Shore and he wanted her to go. Beryl had said no and he had begged her to reconsider.

She had telephoned him that afternoon accepting the invitation. This was after she’d heard that Tommy was coming to dinner. It came over her in a flash that she couldn’t endure things as they were much longer. It wasn’t enough to stay away from Tommy. She would have to stay away from home, too, when he came to the house. More than that, she’d have to make a fight to interest herself in someone else who would put Tommy out of her mind. Her popularity with the public hadn’t done it. Her new clothes hadn’t done it. Prentiss hadn’t done it so far hut she had not given him a fair chance. Tonight she would he different. She would not laugh at him if he became sentimental nor would she hold him at arm’s length if he grew tender. But even as she put the finishing touches to her toilet and tried to harden her mind with worldly thoughts she was thinking about Tommy. She remained in her room until Prentiss called for her.

Her relief at his arrival was so evident that both Tommy and Irene thought she must be growing fond of Prentiss.

Irene had opened the door for Prentiss and held him in conversation a few moments before she ran up to tell Beryl that her escort had arrived. Beryl knew this. She had seen the car at the kerb and was putting on her jaunty little summer evening jacket when Irene opened her door. “Who is he?” Irene asked breathlessly. “Prentiss Gaylord.” The answer was unsatisfactory to Irene. “Yes, I know his name is Gaylord,” she said excitedly. “But who is he?”

Beryl smiled at her. “You mean,” she replied, “what relation is he, if any, to Gaylord, the big bubble and lather man from Oakdale.” Irene was offended. “Oh, well, of course, if you must be sarcastic when you’re asked a civil question . . . ” she began but Beryl cut her off. “Prentiss is the little bubble and lather man,” she explained. “He’s his father’s son. But let’s go down stairs. I suppose you introduced yourself?” “Of course I did! I had to be polite, didn’t I?” “Yes, I suppose you had to be,” Beryl answered dreamily Irene flounced out of the room, muttering to herself Beryl followed a few minutes later She had delayed to open a bottle of new perfume that Mr Gaylord, senior, had sent her. He had said he might name it for her. Prentiss was talking with Irene when Beryl joined them. Tommy was looking on with a scowl. Beryl went up to Prentiss and put out her hands in greeting. Laughingly she said, “You’re a little late. Don’t you know you mustn’t keep an important person waiting?” “Be yourself, young lady,” he retorted. “Your boss held me up.” Beryl expected that he would pay her the usual compliment, “And are you pretty!” She wished he would, for Tommy’s benefit. But he appeared to have nothing of the kind in mind. Although he grinned at her she saw that he was looking over her shoulder at Irene. In his eyes was a light that she had never seen kindled there before.

CHAPTER XIX

After the first flash of dismay in which Beryl realised that "Irene had entrapped Prentiss’ admiration she wanted to laugh.

Wasn’t it funny that, just when she made up her mind to encourage him he should follow in Tommy’s footsteps and succumb to Irene’s shell of beauty ?

Driving to the South Shore beside Prentiss in his black and chromium roadster Beryl pondered the effect of this new conquest upon her sister’s attitude toward Tommy. She could ponder undisturbed, for her companion had fallen strangely

quiet. Was he thinking of Irene? Beryl sighed, unheard against the wind that rushed against her face. There would be no problem for her to settle If Prentiss should transfer his attentions to Irene. She could slip back into her hopeless passion for Tommy. But did she want that? Perhaps a little effort on her part

She moved closer to Prentiss. Beryl did not know exactly what she was doing. She’d never vamped a man. What would it lead to? How far did girls go and still have a retreat? WhaT if she did not want Prentiss to care for her, to make love to her? What if he should do it and she found it abhorrent? Wasn’t it cheap to lead a man on and then draw back? Hadn’t he a right to feel offended when a girl did that?

All at once Beryl drew away from the man beside her. She was out of her depth and knew it. Prentiss heard her laugh, and turned to look at her.

“I’m a little rotter,” she said to him. “I was trying to vamp you.” “Yes, I know,” Prentiss said. “Was I that crude?” Beryl asked. Prentiss did not answer at once. Beryl was a new kind of girl to him. Not nicer than any girl he’d ever known, but astonishingly different. She brought new thoughts to his mind. “No,” he said slowly, ‘I wouldn’t say you were crude unless one judged you by crude standards. I should say that, without knowing it, you were being extremely subtle.”

“I’m afraid,” Beryl admitted, “that I don’t understand.” “I’m not sure that I understand myself,” he told her. “There’s an idea among certain girls that they’ve an obligation to live up to all the things that have been said against the youth of to-day. When they go after a man it’s something more than hammer and tongs, tooth and nails. It’s . . .

well, never mind.” He paused and Beryl said: “Go on Scold me. I deserve it.”

“They’d laugh at you,” Prentiss declared, “hut, I’ve a notion that none of them ever get near the real thing, that thing that figured in the history of great loves. There must have been subtlity in that.” Beryl, embarrassed, attempted a joke. “Slow, but subtle,” she said with an awkward little laugh. It was coming to her now, the reaction of her behaviour. Fighting impulses had been a life-long habit with her. She wondered why she had given in to these two —first to act as she had and then to confess her error. Couldn’t one be a fool about honesty? Prentiss spoke, as though he had read her mind.

“The queer part of this is that you did it’” he said. “Why did you?” The honesty in her nature, which Beryl had just been questioning, was still in control. It dictated her answer.

“Because I often want to do things that I won’t let myself,” she said. “Was it just an impulse? Didn’t you have a reason?” he pressed. Suddenly Beryl became suspicious of him. “Say,” she asked, “are you trying to analyse me or something?” Prentiss laughed. “You’re right,” he admitted. “I have been studying psychology these past two years. But you’ll have to admit that I have a personal interest in this case.” “Oh, then I'm a case!” “You’d make a dandy study. You’re so darned honest. Oh no, you wouldn’t either. You’re not complex enough. You’re as clear and definite as a blue flame I”

Beryl made a face. “You mean you can see right through me,” she interpreted and smiled at the thought. Imagine the shock it would be to him to trace her impulse in question to its source and find that it began with another man! He was far too attractive to be without all conceit.

Prentiss’ next remark gave her a jolt. “Of course you’re struggling with obstacles between yourself and some man you’re interested in,” he asserted calmly. “If you thought necking a pleasure you’d have begun it long ago —when you were five, say.” “My goodness!” Beryl gasped.

“You’re not mercenary,” he went on, ignoring her exclamation. “I looked for that at first. You weren’t after Dad’s money and I’m sure you’re not in love with me. You don’t even need me as a stepping stone to success in a career. You had a good start before I met you. That leaves only a man.”

Beryl wanted to giggle. She thought of him talking like this to Irene. She did know something of psychology at least that it was the science of the human mind. But Irene, who never read a book! Irene had received a carnival doll as a gift once with a card that read: “Because you have a book.” She looked at Prentiss and announced: “You’re a lucky boy. No girl will ever fool you.”

“It could be done,” be said dubiously. “but I don’t think it will be.” Beryl settled back in her seat, a strange smile upon her lips. Tommy wasn’t quite a fool, either, she thought.

“Life itself is something of a .jokesler,” she said softly. Prentiss whose thoughts had been far nfield, started: “What?” he asked. Beryl did not answer. They had arrived at the cottage on the South Shore, and some of Prentiss’ friends had come out to greet them. Beryl was welcomed, literally with open arms. It was known she would sing for them. She had no more private conversation with Prentiss that night. When they left they had another girl with them, a girl who lived on the

North Shor-e. Something had happened to her escort. Beryl didn’t know exactly what. She only knew that their hostess had asked Prentiss if he would mind dropping this other girl at her home. The girl was quiet on the drive and Beryl sensed that she was emotionally upset. Beryl was glad of her presence. Had Prentiss forgotten Irene? Beryl wondered because when they had danced together at the party he had seemed just as he was before seeing her sister. She had rather dreaded the drive home with him. It might be that second thoughts on her conduct earlier in the evening would give him a new set of ideas about her. He might attempt experimentation.

All that had been in her mind when she dressed lliaf. evening was gone, gone for good. In its place was a high, fine feeling of escape. Better to be again living only for Tommy. There, in the world that she had created for just the two of them, dream world though it were, she was safe. Going back to it she felt that she had new faith in herself. She didn’t like having her mind cluttered up with changing emotions. It was painful to he hopelessly in love, but it was familiar pain, a dear pain, if there can he such a thing. * She was glad not to have to talk about herself with Prentiss and glad to have a third person present. She wondered what would happen when the other girl left them. Would Prentiss follow up whatever had come into his mind at the party and try to make love to her?

No, it seemed that he had been merely caught in the feeling of the moment—which was one of adulation and flattery toward her. He had liked being the one who brought her —a celebrity—to the party. This he told her on the way home. Beryl felt a touch of scorn toward the young man. Still his was a natural attitude and he had been honest as well as extremely decent not to take advantage of her own letdown. When they reached her home and Prentiss said he was thirsty she felt that it was not a ruse to stay with her longer, so she let him come in. There asleep on the sofa was Irene. (To he continued).