Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-14
WEDLOCKED
BY HAZEL DEYO BATCHELO....

spinach (Which she loathed), two
leathery pieces of lettuce with an in
different dressing, hardly enough to
moisten it, and some soggy dessert
which she &lmOSt never had.
I'm afraid won't be very amusing
tonight" she heard herself saying.
I'm really very tired
Il thought you might be. but I
can't see how it would do you any
harm. Don't bother to dress. Come
Just as you are. And don't think
about anything but just relaxing for
the evening. promise I'll bring you
home early"
He had never felt so tender with
woman in his life
There were weary lines in her small
face He longed to be able to take
care of her, to guard her against the
world. Oh, well. that would come
at least he hoped it would.
He waited for her while she went
into a small aIcove that adjoined the
tiny room. In a short time she
emerged She had washed her face
in hot water and made up all over
again. She looked quite radiant now
How wonderful it was to be helped
into a big. heated limousine and just
lie back against the cushions and rest
How wonderful to see the lights OF
Fifth avenue fit by and to feel one
self part of the swirling stream of
traffic.
After time they emerged into less
thickly settled regions, and then
finally they began to mount and
mount and mount.
Nan didn't ask questions. She had
tx-l,a
she had feeling that when they
arrived, it would be marvellous. And
she would be able to order what she
pleased. That would be too lovely.
Finally she was actually seated at
a tiny table beside window. 1t was
too dark to see down into the valley,
but Martin Lee told her that it was
quite sheer drop from where they
were sitting The inn was built on
the edge of the cliff.
Then he began to order food Won
deYful food, and he consulted her
about everything. Oysters-a clear
consomme--chicken in CASSEROLE with
tiny new potatoes-and an artichoke.
Afterward there was a heavenly des-
Sert of candied stuff with thick cream
poured over it and black coffee. Nan
was ashamed of the way she ate.
When he had payed the check,
they went outside and walked around
in the cold, winter night.
The hills stretched all around them.
The valley below was filled with a
soft, white mist. Overhead the stars
were more brilliant than Nan had ever
seen them. But being healthy, and
we'll fed, her thoughts did not respond
to the man who walked beside her
and held her arm.
She thought of Tom.
What had he eaten for dinner?
She always had an idea that he
didn't eat properly. What a fool she
was! She had absolutely no reason
to believe that he cared for her.
OF course, they had been unusually
friendly. She had let down with him
more than she ever had with any
other artist. But he had never eX-
hibited any sentimental or emotional
feeling for her. And she had grown
used to men raving about her beauty.
1t didn't mean anything to her any
more, excepting that 1t enabled her
to live and pay her rent.
IT just wanted you to see the view
from here" Martin Lee was saying,
Il don't want to tire you"
"Oh, but I'm not bit tired" Nan
assured him. And it's beautiful
I've never enjoyed anything so much. :"
And then she was back once more
in the luxuriously upholstered car.
They were gliding down the side of
the mountain.
At the door of her apartment (Nan
did not ask Martin Lee to come I'M,
he held her hand and looked down at
her.
"Will you let me see you again?"
And then before she could answer, he
hurried on. II want you to know
me, 1 want you to have confidence
in me-"
He was really thinking. 81 want to
make you love me, / want to take
care of you-always."
And Nan, womanlike, knew some
thing of what was going on in his
thoughts and said shyly, I'D like to
see you again-very much, and thank
you for tonight"
He went reluctantly, Nan could see
that.
But, as her head touched the pillow,
she remembered that she was posing
for Tom tomorrow. 1t put the
thought of Martin Lee out of her
mind.
Copyright. 1927
Continued in tomorrow's Starr