“The Melody Girl”

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3441, 10 March 1932, Page 6

“The Melody Girl”

RTTTH D GROVES.

Chapter XXXI

Mrs Everett agreed that Irene’s plan for frustrating Beryl’s attempt to prevent her marriage to Prentiss was perfect. She helped Irene to dress with unusual care, and gave her all the money she had available in the house. Irene stayed in her room until Prentiss called and then she went down to him immediately so that he would not talk with her mother in the living room where Beryl might overhear. Irene affected extreme agitation. She wanted Beryl, if she saw her, to think she was upset over her coming interview with Prentiss. To Prentiss she explained nervously that she wanted to talk to him alone —her mother had left the room when Irene entered it, as the two had arranged. She wanted to “go somewhere and talk with him.”

“But don’t you want me to speak to your mother —to tell her that we’re going to be married?” Prentiss protested.

Irene smiled vainly at him. “Not yet—please,” she begged. “I have something to tell you first.” “All right,” Prentiss agreed, “but you know you said you couldn’t really say ‘yes’ until I’d asked your mother.” He laughed. “What an old fashioned sweetheart you are 1” he exclaimed happily.

Irene took his arm. “Let’s go,” she said, and ushered him toward the hall. Prentiss became serious. “Is there something wrong?” he inquired anxiously. “I—i’ll tell you,” Irene said, loud enough for an eavesdropper to hear. In her voice was a hint of tears and trouble, that ought, she thought, to satisfy Beryl that she was on her way to sacrifice herself.

Prentiss helped her tenderly into his car, his hopes at the moment less buoyant than ever they’d been before. They had not driven far before he told her he’d have to know what was on her.mind. Irene had been entirely wordless during the drive. “It’s mother,” she said, as though with great reluctance. “She thinks we ought to have a fussy wedding. I’m all tired out arguing with her that the sensible thing is for us to be married quietly and go back to Oakdale right away, as your father wants you to.”

“Then she doesn’t object- tr your marrying me?” Prentiss asked eagerly.

“Well —she said she’d like us to have a longer engagement.”

“I don’t believe in long engagements,” Prentiss stated firmly. “I couldn’t have any kind of wedding at all here at home,” Irene said wistfully, “without inviting hordes of people. We know everyone in town.” Prentiss had visions of such an occasion. “Can’t we be married all by ourselves?” he asked.

“I think that would be the loveliest way,” Irene agreed.

“I’vß got to leave day after to-mor-row at the latest,” Prentiss informed her. “In fact I should leave tomorrow. Dad wouldn’t send for me if he didn’t need me. There was a threatened strike at the factory when I left and I’m afraid it’s been called.” “Meroyl Can you handle strikes?” Irene breathed reverently.

“Well,” Prentiss said, “I have ideas that fit in between those held by day and the labour leaders. But that’s not the topio of the moment,” he added hastily. “Will you marry me today, Irene?” “To-day?” she gasped. "Oh, Prentiss —not" before to-morrow 1 ” “Why not to-day?” he insisted. ‘‘Now! You look like a bride. Let’s drive right into the city. We can have It over at city hall in no time. Of course, if you’d prefer a church —”

“But to-day!” Irene gasped anew. “Doesn’t it appeal to you?" he asked. “To me It would be a great way to do it. I think people miss a lot by delaying in order to make preparations. Just think —you left the house for a drive with me—-you were Irene Everett. 'Wouldn’t you get a kick out of going back as Irene Gaylord? A sort of surprise for yourself, you know. And it would make the whole thing so much easier for me."

Irene glanced up at him. He was not the lover of the night before. He was thinking of convenience —of business convenience. Well, she didn’t mind, but she’d like him t,o be more ardent before she gave in to him. He’d never be so ready to neglect her then. So she would not yield until Prentiss had duly coaxed her. She knew, while he was about it, that he was heading for the city, but she did not protest. Soon after she consented to marry him they reached the Queensboro Bridge. The great city’s northern towers spread out before her in a magic mist. It did not seem possible they could be so real. But Irene did not look long at them. . It takes some minutes to cross over the Queensboro Bridge and it is always a* thrilling experience to those who bow to achievement. Irene s vision was filled with pictures of herself as the bride of a rich man’s son. The towers of Manhattan, as seen from the bridge, were out of her sight before she had given them a second thought. “Drive down Fifth Avenue,’’ she said and Prentiss obliged her. Their progress along the world-famous street, halted at intervals by the trafflo regulations, was like a trip to a

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fashion exposition to Irene. There was a dress she could buy to-morrow —displayed in a window with all the accessories for a perfect costume. She could walk in and buy the lot. No asking of prices. And there was smart travelling equipment. She’d have a case with solid gold fittings.

But it was not these things that brought on the fever of anticipation which had seized her. As they neared the corner where the famous jeweller’s establishment which bears no identifying sign on the building is located she put a hand on Prentiss’ arm and looked up at him like a child who sees a big platter of cakes. “Don’t you think we ought to get the wedding ring now?’’ she breathed softly.

"I’m glad you thought of it,” Prentiss told her, and turned into a side street at the next corner.

Buying the wedding ring naturally led to buying an engagement ring. Irene was disappointed over the size of the solitaire. She wished she hadn’t been so hasty telling herself she might have known that Prentiss’ funds would be low at the end of a vacation. If she had waited until they reached Oakdale she’d have been able to order what she wanted. Prentiss surely would let her have accounts wherever she liked. Well, an engagement ring was only the beginning. She wasn’t quite so affectionate the rest of the way to city hall as she had been before they bought the rings, but Prentiss thought her slight withdrawal from his side the result of increasing shyness, and loved her the more for it. Presently her pique vanished, dispelled by the golden promise of the future that lay before her. She was radiant enough during the marriage to satisfy Prentiss that she loved him. He kissed her with everyone watching, not the wedding kiss, but another. Irene was thinking that she must get an armful of orchids — yes an armful—to take home. They would help to impress Beryl.

The two witnesses to whom Prentiss had telephoned .from the jeweller’s accompanied them up town for lunch. They were young men who were employed at the hotel where Prentiss had been staying. At the end of the meal the maitre d’hotel brought in a tiny gem of a wedding cake, decorated with real oldfashioned garden pinks placed delicately among the icing flowers. Prentiss had ordered the cake for just the two of them, but Irene was again disappointed. Why couldn’t he have had something that they could take home for her mother to show to all her friends? She looked at the cake, and barely suppressed a sniff. That thing I Everyone would laugh at it. Why, even Clara Dannigell, whose father was only a night watchman on a North Shore estate, had a cake a foot high, with a bell on it and artificial orange blossoms that could hardly be told from real.

(To be continued.)