Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-03
CHAPTER XXvTI.
Hunger Strike.

The appetizing smell Of warm food
drtfted Into Jeesica's room. In spite
Of her determination not to eat, to go
Ola q hunger strike that could not help
but alarm Mark, she began to realize
that she was hungry. After time
she caught herself smiling eagerly.
The smell was really delicious. She
hadn't been so keen for food In a long
time. She began to wonder what IL
was that sent out such an appetizing
aroma.
At home, the smell Of cooking was
confined largely to the kiohen itself,
and when the food was brought TO the
table she merely accepted 1t az good.
wholesome food But tonight she was
Favenoue. She could have eaten any
thing, including hear-meat, or even
that mysterious something called tripe,
which always evoked a slight shudder
In her.
Another knock on her door, bat An
spite of the tantatzing odorg, si1e set
her Lips stubbornly.
"Jessica-" It was Marks voices.
sDinner's ready, you must be starved"
She was starved, but he needn't think
for all that. and SO she did not an.
Ewer.
Come on, Jessica, be q good sport.
This is a camp, you know, not q hotel.
Mrs. Morse has enough to do without
fixing special trays"
At that, Jessica rose and crossed the
room. She flung the door open and
met his glance. her own scornful. But
as she stared. her eyes wandered from
his face to the room beyond
A small table had been drawn out
into the center of the room. Over it
swung cheerful light with an Opaque
glass shade.
The table was spread with a clean
white cloth and on 1t were various
dishes throwing out fragrant steam.
Her small nostrils Quivered, and Mark
found 1T necessary to repress a smile.
His face was quite grave as he spoke
TO her.
do you object to eating with me?
is that it? III carry my plate out on
the porch IL you say the word. Only
I'd rather not hate eating alone.''.
There was a note in his voice that
had never been there before. 1t was
note that savored of tenderness. After
ell, he did not blame her for being flu
rious with him. And then the strange
ness of this wild country when she
wasn't used to anything of the sort, to-
Eether with the fact that she was so
very young, was enough to brighten
her, too.
We're going to be up here quite
some time, Jessica," he said almost
pleadingly. It's going to be very
uncomfortable If you won't be friends.
at least outwardly. Try to remember
that I didn't want to do this. I have
my own plans and I've already. told
you about them. But you wouldn't
listen to reason. you wouldn't stand
for any interference. I had to do It."
Mrs. MOrse was lowering about the
door of the kitchen, not wanting to
listen to what was being said, but
anxious because she didn't want the
good meal she had prepared to grow
cold while they talked.
Jessica saw her and drew back into
her own room. Her young face was
set into hard lines.
TN not hungry" she said very dis.
tinctly, so 1t won't be necessary for
Mrs. Morse to fix a tray. I hope you
enjoy your dinner"
She closed the door In Marks face
not exactly slamming It, but closing
1t dectsively for all that. And now for
the first time, Mark was genuinely
worried. Suppose the silly little idiot
made up her mind not to eat! Suppose