Show Daughter Prudence's r T NOT NOT- INTERESTED SYNOPSIS SYNOPSIS PART PART ONE At At a amerry amerry amerry party in the studio apart- apart apartment apartment merry ment of Carter Blake New Now York Pru- Pru Jerry G Geraldine donee's donees dau daughter meets meota Duane idler He lie admires admires ad admires ad- ad Allerton wealthy wealth mires her tremendously and she Allerton gets getsi a abit abit abit likes him But bit exhilarated with unfortunate resenting his assumption as assumption ns- ns results Jerry leaves of familiarity the party abruptly the story turns to Jerrys Jerry's childhood and youth at nt her home in Des Moines Only child of ot a wealthy w althY father rather whoa when she bhe is twenty she tee feels Is the call of ot Art and asks Tier nor parents to let her go to NewYork NewYork New NewYork York for study With Ith some misgiving mis misgiving mis- mis giving r. r the they agree to tier her going In Now York Jerry makes her home with a n. Mrs Delaney actress who with I MimI an Theresa a Ii painter occupies the the house Jerry takes an Immediate Is talented talented tal tal- who liking g to Theresa and eccentric and and- the two become fast friends Jerry now d devotes votes herself herselt to Theresa who returns her liking ClI CHAPTER IV Continued IV-Continued Co Continued c ti c J 6 6 VArt Art Trailers That Is what I l lam am m I 1 suppose an Art Trailer frailer Oh no Jerry youre you're o re a student If It I you want to fo amuse ls yourself studying Art Art Art- Its nobody's bu business hiess but ut my own I Jerr Jerry fini finished hed promptly when Rhoda hesitated again I Rhoda laughed agreeing Rhoda begged her to stay for dinner promising to cook most delectable things on the grill to take her out out anywhere anywhere any any- where she liked med to go to the theater generously ly profuse In her enticement But Jerry would not be persuaded She said she had to go home and fix something for Theresa who was looking lookIng lookIng look- look Ing wretchedly ill who had no proper regard for for- food or rest or exercise ex and who certainly required a strong coercive hand to force her into reason making heaps of money Rhoda said surprisingly doIng doIng doing do- do Ing marvelously Theresa Yes why not noti But why then then why for r heavens heaven's sake then why WIlY do doesn't she get a decent room and eat a decent meal once in ina a awhile while I thought thought- Well you U. U thought wrong It Isn't the money with people like me Theresa Theresa- like all of us Its It's that burning up Inside In In- side side we we can t can t help It Dont Don't try to know w what Im I'm talking about about old face Angel-face the more you think about it the l less ss you'll understand 1 0 0 M a aIt It was the next the next morning when Jerry slipped sUpped softly softy upstairs with a a breakfast breakfast break break- breakfast fast tray that Theresa asked her diffidently diffidently diffidently dif dif- almost apologetically If she would cafe cace to see a few of her things Oh I 1 I should love to to Jerry cried flushing with pleasure Theresa was vaguely surprised a little troubled at her eagerness If you ou wanted to see them why didn't you ou ask me Oh I couldn't ask Theresa I 1 thought perhaps you'd rather not show me I me I was Just hoping you would suggest suggest suggest sug sug- gest It some time timer For the first time In the weeks she had known Theresa she really took time to do a thing quietly deliberately and with comfortable easiness She spent the full morning with Jerry showing her dozens of 01 little sketches unfinished bits of landscape lovely heads delicately draped figures without without with with- out number numb r discussing them meanwhile meanwhile mean mean- while with an nn Imper Impersonal onal Judicious Interest In In- In Interest Interest terest that charmed and fascinated Jerry She touched upon their beauties of composition and execution generous generous- generously ly Iy but without personal warmth And she pointed out their defects with a a keen eye and an unsparing tongue And then she said I 1 have saved my best till the last Jerry This Is Is' Ismy my one passion my darling and my adored It was t typical of ot Theresa There a that she shedid shedid did dirt not k H ep p It on display her darling and nd adored but packed d awny away with tender care cOle In a dark closet obviously the one thing In her life Ife that received her tender care Jerry almost held he her herI breath as Theresa brought It out removed removed re re- I moved the protecting wrappers and turned It about for her to see It was a cruel green ocean lashing great waves Into white foam an ocean of blackening shadows and shifting lights At first glance Jerry saw only the turbulence of a multitude of Waters waters wa Wa- waters and then looking cI deeper standIng stand stand- Ing lag ou out with s sharp arp Incisiveness once she had discerned Its presence presen e riding the highest wildest wave of all stretched the slim sUm white body of a woman triumphant white white face tare upraised upraised up raised dominant white arms flung wide wide wide-a a Joyous Jubilant fearless tearle s figure figure figure fig fig- ure of youth swept swepton on the black waters waters waters wa wa- wa- wa sprayer with 1 the white Jerry cried out enraptured I Theresa I 1 Oh Theresa Therea I 1 It Is s beautiful beautiful beau beau- I 1 i It Is the most most thing most thrilling g thing I ever saw It makes you feel teel so full fell of nf freedom freedom Theresa nodded her clerk eyes alight with pleasure Dm Um freedom v. v been working on It for years ears Jerry A thousand or more 1 I think think I used to spend the summer on the coast coastIn In n Maine with Ith my ray nurse when nurse when I was wasa a kid you ou know I adored the ocean It Is the only really tre free really free really rt re re- thing thing I 1 ever ver saw sav It knows no law but Its own Oh Oil yes yes I know I what scientists say a about out the moon ard the tides No no what little moon mOOD By ETHEL HUESTON Bobbs Merrill Co Copyright by br the Service riding the heavens could harness a fathomless ocean I 1 I 1 used to sit like an nn ugly blackbird on the highest rocks and adore the ocean In a storm A hundred times I 1 went home drenched to the skin soaked but exalted with rapture to be soundly whipped for my mischief and put to bed in disgrace She paused smiling at Jerry Go on go goon on on she begged feverish feverish- ly Tell me First I 1 suppose It was Just a personal personal per per- emotion I emotion I wanted wonted to ride the waves I chafed at my ray bondage to solid sordid earth I thrilled myself to a rapture by fancying myself swept high on the topmost t wave And so be before before be- be fore long long my my thought a n mother to the thing I suppose suppose t It really seem seemed d to tome tome tome me I I. I saw he her tb the Ocean Rider a lovely lovely lovely love love- ly slim sUm white wom woman n triumphant on I the waves I worshiped It It was agod a agod agod god to me I have only been able to work on It when the passion passim Is hot upon upon- me so It has been a very slow thing A dozen tithes times In a storm I have gone off oft to the Islands to do another another another an an- other bit on my Ocean Rider It Isn't right yet et The rhe ocean Is good enough but the Rider I Rider I haven't quite got It There was brooding discontent In Theresa's vol voice e. e The light In her eyes Its It's Its It's not right I 1 wonder Jerry Jerry- Her voice took ook on a sudden wheedle wheedle- Jerry had never heard In It before I I wonder would wonder would you mind mind would you you let let me use your eyes I have wanted a h hundred times to ask you but but but- Oh Theresa I shouldn't mind at all nU allI nUI I I should love It Why didn't you as ask me before But she looks so lovely to tome tome tome me the way she Is Im I'm afraid you will spoil her Theresa shook her head hend Not right Its It's her eyes Ive I've known It aUthe all aU the time time that that Is Ive I've felt there vas something lacking And when I 1 saw sav you I 1 knew new what It was She must t t d II II III I 1 I r l 1 1 t tI I That Same Afternoon Jerry Posed for ff forthe forthe the Eyes o of the tho Ocean Rider have the light In her ber eyes that you had when you came first to the city as you were when I saw you first I 1 Ishall Ishall shall never neer forget it that it-that that sort of ot radiant assurance Look I Her eyes are too deep they are too subtle for tor a afree afree afree free wom woman n. n Jerry flushed Theresa that Is Iron Irony I Eyes like mine for a free freewoman freewoman freewoman woman Why I dont don't know what freedom Is I haven't the nerve to find out when hen I have a chance I 1 am bound hand and foot to toot to conventions to to convictions to to Prudence Yes that is what I 1 mean You dont don't find that blithe and buoyant confidence con con- confidence con con- that triumphant joyousness of ot surety In freedom freed m Itself Only In Inthe Inthe inthe the pursuit of ot it In e eyes es that have seen freedom she freedom she waved a light hand hund toward her Ocean Rider like Rider like this tills subtle understanding Inscrutable inscrutable inscrutable- Perhaps Perhaps perhaps you mean meun li U- U cense ense Theresa Instead of freedom Theresa smiled at ut her her- gentle dence Yes I get the distinction But unfortunately Jerry one must try both before one knows which Is which Theres There's the pity of It And the eyes are faithful registers they record It all ull So my brave bruve little Ocean Rider has got to have not have not e eyes es that have known freedom but which hold a vision of ot It It unrealized That same afternoon Jerry posed for the eyes of ot the Ocean Rider Byer who must know not freedom but cherish a adream adream adream dream of 01 itI ItI It I 1 think I missed my calling after all aU she said I should be a model The other th r night I was a corpse corpse for Rhoda and now Im I'm a mermaid for tor you And she sat sweetly patient In a abright abright abright bright light starr starry eyed eyed with delight that she could be of service while Theresa worked passionately on the eyes that were not Just right And when she had finished and declared the result far tar e exceeded cee ed her expectations expectations she kisser kissed Jerry Impulsive I ly for tor the first time not on the lips but on the brilliant eyes which could couk see visions Jerry herself saw sate no difference difference dif dU- dif dif- ference terence In the picture felt that Theresa 01 of Importance had unessential overestimated trifle the but she was glad an was pleased with her Theresa almost happily hap hap- tripping As she as v-as the before betre In the days almost as pUy memories of such sorry studio party room she the stairs to her ber own down vision MImi a radiant was stopped by and sliver silver filmy gown of silk In tn a linger finger Jace cautioning la lace e who hel held 1 a n to Insure silence across acro S her lips Ups CO Gb quick Shi I She whispered Sit caller You have a and nd get dolled up the looking best thing you ever saw i life Ufe In your o lr toward expressive eyes She turned the extent of he her herra the ceIlIng ceiling- to convey ra give glye III I took him In my room to a chance to fuss up a little after yo you Theresa Shall 1 I messing about n out with make male tome guise tea no longer starry Jeny's Jenys e eyes es were but cold as Ice Who is la It Sh hell he'll hear you Duane Allerton the the thing Ive I've seen In n years I I l CHAPTER TER V Jerry Meets a Genius Jerrys Jerry's sl slender hand upon the flimsy b banister r of the stairway grew suddenly sudden sudden- ly tens tensa so o th that t. t tl the blue veins stood out clearly learly upon the delicate whiteness whiteness whiteness white white- ness of her skin shin Will WUI you tell Mr Allerton Allerton- she said sold gently but with firmness that I 1 Ido Ido do not care to s see e him I ISh I- I Sh for heavens heaven's sake 1 begged egged MimI Hell hear you yott Ill I'll tell teU- teU him youre you're out I Ill I'll ll give him a cup of tea If It you dont don't mind to put him in a good humor and then then But Im I'm not out and Im I'm not busy and Im I'm not engaged Im I'm Just not Interested Jerrys Jerry's enunciation was perfect the hallway narrow the open She went Into her ro room ni and closed the door Theresa In a similar circum stance would have slammed It furiously furious furious- ly but Jerry was not given to furious as a means of expression She closed It softly Mimi MIral left alone distracted an and bewildered bewildered be be- In her predicament threw out both Jeweled hands In a remonstrative remon remon- anxious gesture Now what can you do with a girl like that she slie walled wailed The awer a came from the farther doorway Mimis Mimi's doorway where Duane Allerton stood and laughed but ruefully Not much Im I'm afraid Not especially especially espe espe- keen about se seeing me Is she With a visible effort Mimi pulled herself together together- dimpled used the thelong thelong thelong long lashes to the best possible effect tired poor thing she said sympathetically You must excuse her ber She works so hard you know Oh she does J I understood that she did not work ork at all I mean she she she-er-she's er she's tire tired l. l any riny- how And nervous she's frightfully nervous Dont Don't hold bold It against her Cant Can't I give you a cup of or tea tea tea- Oh no thanks I 1 feel I 1 shouldn't pollute her atmosphere any longer than Is absolutely necessary A Awfully Awfully Aw Aw- w- w fully good goodof of you ou thanks very much He went downstairs at once and let himself out Into the narrow street And Mimi knocked on Jerrys Jerry's door opening It it herself herse f without waiting for fOI foran foran an answer Jerry she began plaintively you have hurt his feelings Just terribly poor boy boy and and so good Now that's positively not nice Go and cheer him up If It you ou like said sailI Hes lies Jerry JerlY easily comforted He wouldn't wait wait wait-i I mean mean menn- You might at least have Introduced me The looking best thing thing- i Jerry learned afterward vard that he had gone to Rhoda for her address and two du days s 's later he went to her n again aln I to ask her to Intercede for him to r remonstrate remonstrate re re- with her disagreeable prote prote- gee from the Middle West He asked Rhoda If It Jerry was a flirtA flirtA flirt A IIA flirt echoed Rhoda v vaguely guely Good heavens I dont don't know What Is a flirt They used to say In college e that she was but they meant It nicely every everyone one was crazy cray about h her r. r That's Iowa you know A girl who Is quite wickedly awful In In the Middle Vest west seems like an an angel el from heaven when she's transplanted to Greenwich Dont Don't t task ask me anything about her herT I i dont don't know She's a lovely thing and I t think a lot of her It did cUd not remotely occur to Jerry that she was unhappy Instead she she felt that she slur was quite Joyous car care care- free flee She took tool a great deal of pleasure pleas pleas- ure In doing things for tor Theresa mak malc ing log her Theresa comfortable comfortable Theresa who cared as little for c comfort as a n honey bee for snow SIJ She scoured the market for tempting delicacies and und became er very Proficient In preparing them nicely nice nice- nicely ly Iy on her little grill One day Theresa There n asked if she would mind rummaging through n a couple of old boxes for her In search of a particular bit of tinsel she particularly needed for n a costume Jerry Jerr flushed with pleasure Oh will you let me May Mav I go co through t the c drawers and eve thin everything and fold things up Ill be quiet very quiet Theresa laughed at her Go as far as you like she said generou generously ly Funny thing tiling about you ou Jerry Yo |