Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-26

TUDY began in her own room at
her own desk. It was in fright
full disorder. All sorts of things
~ had eddied up into it's refuge in
the last few busy. important
months. She piled up things on the
floor from bureau and desk and table.
I'm have TO make a beginning some
place." she said.
Often she paused in her task to
finger something gently, something
touched with the fragile beauty OF
memories, things Dabs had given her,
souvenirs of her own hard, barren
youth. little gifts from Honey.
At the bottom of the pile she came
upon neatly wrapped bundle. She
picked II up curiously. Il wonder, "
she unused with giggle. I'm not
usually so neat" She turned the
package over. and from the front of it
in a girls bold scrawl name stared
up at her: Mr.. Jack Darien."
ooh. Lord Judy gasped. She drop
ped the bundle fearfully, as though
the touch of II was hot 10 her fingers.
Il forgot all about that she NUT
tered. Slowly she reached over and
poked ii with a small finger tip. That
day in the bake shop. months and
months ago, The messenger boy who
had forgotten his parcel And she had
meant to return it. This was dread
ful! What should she do? What should
she say? How could she ever explain
what she had done?
She must take this over TO his house
at once, She would give 1t to his
mother. Oh, she couldn't do that.
That would mean explanations, disbe-
lief. And it might be valuable pack
age, How could she ever explain her
forgetfulness so that any one would
understand?
Perhaps the tall, laughing man
would understand. There had been
something so sad. so wise In his eyes,
If she sent the bundle to him with a
little note explaining. perhaps he
would understand and forgive her, Her
heart sank. She hated to appear be
fore him in the light of a person
asking forgiveness for a careless act.
Rut she must do it, ut serves YOU
good and right she told herself bit.
terly.
She would get his address from the
War Department and mail this pack
age TO him. And she would write him
a careful, prim little note.
new fear came up to haunt her.
Perhaps he would think she had done
il purposely so as to have a decent
reason to write to him! She couldn't
bear that Perhaps he would think
she was running after him,
She twisted her hands together help
lesslv. Wen. II couldn't be helped
what he thought, Shed have TO do
the honest thing.
She stopped in her work to write a
little note TO the War Department ask
ing for the address of Mr.. Jack Darien.
I'm post that the first thing in the
morning" Judy promised herself.
But Judy had not taken Destiny into
account For when the next morning
came all thought of Jack Darien, or of
her own guilt, had been driven com
pletely out of her mind.
Judy awoke In the sound Of the bell
and the sunshine of a glorious morn
ing She wondered who was at the
door and turned over in bed. stretch
ing out her arms to the sunlight.
And then across the quietude came
the sound of HOneys scream!
Judy flashed out of her bed in an
instant She was shaking with terror.
She thrust her feet into slippers and
ran out 10 Honey.
Honey stood, her back to the closed
front door, stood like some one I'm a
dream She didn't look at Judy, and
she did, not make a sound That one
terrible scream seemed To have ex'
haustcd her. Clenched i'm one hand
was a small, crumpled bali of paper.