Evening star., 1927-10-09
THAT WAS THAT e. z:x4:: x:>:
By Sophie Kerr

would have to take Edison Payne with
them, in any case. as he was
stranger, and so forth and so on.
"Oh, he was going with us, anyway,
was he?" asked Rollo Some nerve
I'll say" And. of course. if he was GO
ing to behave that way. there was
nothing for jamie to do hut ShruE her
shoulders and determine tn aggraVato
him further with Edison Payne. Hap
PLY. the sunburn had turned to n be-
coming tan; the scratch on hcr hand
had healed: her WEAKNESS was gone.
leaving n sense OF strength and we'll
being from the long hours in the open.
Even the snake had roceded. jamie
devoted herself TO getting ready for
the party at NltaS.
She had Il green and silver gown
that would stand up against the bril-
liant flame or tanGerine that Nita
would undoubtedly wear. It would re
mind Edison PAYNE of the green leaves.
the silver brooks. She would wear it.
She felt a little mjaeiving lest he
shouldn't be so good socially as he Wa>
on the nature stuff, but when he an
peared looking as handsome rs a
movie hero in his evening clothes, her
apprehenSions were set "A rest II was
a delicious moment for jamie when sh,
casually said to her hostess. "Oh. my
dear. YOU don't mind, do YOU that We
came so early? You've met Mr.. PAYNE.
OF course"
If he loved the great outdoors with
an everunsatistied passion. il is fair
to record that Edison Payne was also
an accomplished dancer. He was graf.
ifyingly anxious 10 dance as often as
possible with jamie. She had a won
derful evening. and when Rollo. who
hadn't been called away on business
after all. cut in on n f0X-trot she
talked to him with a sort of yo,i.funny-
little-boy nobody takes -you-scriouslv
manner that irritatcd him excessively.
jamie like this wasn't jamie at all.
Nevertheless, he tried to arouse hcr
resentment by being devoted to Nita
Baldwin. but she didn't even sec him
doing it. Nita was inclined to rub in
his troubles. too.
jamie must be crazy about this
Payne lad" she told him I've never
seen her so interested. He certainly is
a Ritzy one"
'Ritzy-blah" replied Rollo.
Don't let jealousy lead you on TO
SAYING the wrong thing, Rollo He's
sweetle. SO handsome And he surely
does swing a mean toddle. if YOU get
pie nave heaps of money"
Why don't YOU get 4 couple of gold
medals and hand them to him? You
girls and your judgment Of men Ii
YOU chose your hats with as little
sense as YOU do your suitors--"
You're taking it very hard. aren't
YOU? Cheer up, old dear--the worst
is yet to come
1t looked that way to Rolo. He
didn't get anywhere with attention to
jamie: he didn't get anywhere with
non.attention.
The party at Nita's was, from
JAMES standpoint. however, a glow
ing triumph: but Edison Payne. calling
the next night. bewailed it's artificial.
ity.
You wouldn't want never to see
people, though, would you?" asked
jamie.
oh. no, I suppose not. But the sky
and the stars and the vastness Of the
night dwarf that sort of thing, don't
you think? Last night. as I went
home. | was thinking of what pyg-
mics we are, with these immensities
above us"
Then you didn't enjoy dancing
with me?" asked jamie. reasoning.
temlnine-wise, from the general to the
particular.
More than I can tell you. But
know something much better. If
you'll do another walk with me-I
think I've found the only bed ofpink
moccasin flower within 90 miles. To
see them noddinG in the breeze is
lovelier than any dancing that ever
was"
jamie looked at him thoughtfullv.
There was a peculiar quality in his
conversation. 1t reminded her of
nothing so much as reading aloud
from book Of essays. Yet AS she
noted his rapt expression she cast
this thought from her as unworthy. !
She said that she would love seeing
the moccasin flower more than any
thing she could imagine
Well make a picnic of it," he cried
Joyfully. We'll build little fire and
have supper along the way"
There's very good roadhouse ont
in Green Valley" said jamie.
But he laughed at her.
No roadhcuse dinner can compare
with the meal We'll cook in the open, "
III have our cook make some
sandwiches and little cakes" offered
jamie.
Certainly not. Sandwiches and
cakes and olives and lemonade-those
are for amateurs. Don't bring any.
thing. Wait until you see my kit. / !
planned it myself, and it's just right
IN every detail. TOmorrow--Wel |