Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01

in noW?" They were Joined by Maud and ALI,
who also crowded into the back seat Maud
was a slender woman of 20 or 80, with yellow
hair and blue eyes. and at once she seemed
determined to make up to John. II don't take
up more than an inch Of ROOM" she said,
laughing ana squeezing herself in between John
and the first woman, whose name he could not
later remember
He rather liked Maud. When the car had
been driven some ID miles along a gravel
road, they came to Lylses farmhouse, which
had been converted into roadhouse and got
out. Maud had been silent most of the way,
but she sat very close to John and as he felt
cold and lonely, he was grateful for the warmth
Of her slender body Occasionally she spoke
to him in half-whisper: Amt the night
SWELL Gee! I like it out in the dark this
way"
Lylse's Point was at bend Of the Samson
River, small stream to which John as lad
had occasionally gone on fishing excursions
with his father Later he went out there
several times with crowds of young fellows
and their girls. They drove out then in Grey's
old BUS, and the trip out and back took several
hours. On the way home at night they had
great fun singing at the top Of their voices
and waking the sleeping farmers along the
road. Occasionally some of the party got out
and walked for ways. It was chance for
fellow to kiss his girl when the others could
easily enough catch up with the bus
rather heavy-faced Italian named Fran
cisco owned Lylse's, and it had dance hall
and dining room. Drinks could be had II
you knew the ropes, and 1t was evident the
doctor and his friends were old acquaintance
At once they declared John should not buy
anything, the declaration, in fact, being made
before he had offered. You're our guest now:
don't you forget that. When we come some
times to your town, then 1t will be all right"
Tom said. He laughed. "And that makes me
think. I forgot your change" he said, hand
ing John five-dollar bill. The whisky got
at the drug store had been consumed on the
way out, all except John and Maud drinking
heartily. Il don't like the stuff. Do you, Mr.
Holden?" Maud said, and giggled. Twice dur
ing the trip out her fingers had crept over
and touched lightly his fingers and each time
she had apologized "Oh do excuse mel" she
said.
A FER they got out Of the car at Lylses,
he felt uncomfortably old and queer.
What am I doing here with these people?"
he kept asking himself. When they had got
into the light, he stole look at his watch.
1t was not yet O'Clock. Several other cars,
most of them, the doctor explained from Yer
ington, stood before the door and when they
had taken several drinks Of rather mild Ital-
ian red wine, all Of the party except Maud
and John went into the dance hall to dance
The doctor took John aside and whispered to
him: Lay of Maud" he said He explained
hurTiedly that ALT and Maud had been having
row and that for several days they had not
spoken to each other, although they lived In
the same house and ate at the same table
He thinks she gets too gay with men," Tom
explained "You better look out little"
The woman and man sat on a bench under
nm thn AnRA ~
when the others had danced, they came out.
bringing more drinks. Tom had got some more
whisky Its moon, but pretty good stuff"
ne declared. In the clear sky overhead stars
were shining, and when the others were dane
ing John turned his head and saw across
the road and between the trees that lined its
banks the stars reflected in the water Of the
Samson. light from the house fell on Maud's
face, rather strikingly lovely face in that
light, but when looked at closely, rather petu-
liant "A good deal Of the spoiled child in her."
John thought
She began asking him about life in the city
of New York.
II was there once, but for only three days.
1t was when went to school in the East.
girl knew lived there. She married q law
yer named Trigan or something like that.
You didn't know him. guess"
And now there was a hungry, dissatisfied
look on her face.
God! I'd like to live in place like that,
not in this hole! There hadn't no man better
tempt me-" When she said that she gigeled
again. Once during the evening they walked
across the dusty road and stood for a time
by the rivers edge, but got back to the bench
before the others had finished their dance
Maud persistently refused to dance.
At 1890 all of the others having got a little
drunk, they drove back to town, Maud again
sitting beside John. On the drive All went to
sleep. Maud pressed her slender body againss
Johns, and after two or three futile moves
to which he made no special response, she
boldly put her hand into his. The second
woman and her husband talked with Tom OF
people they had seen at Lylse's
They In Tohu,c hotel of oos La