Evening star., 1931-12-29

parior. What Phil DAVIS caleo
grand sneakaway" Miss Higgensbothem
was to put thus: "The hasty marriage
plans were carried through, and, the
ceremony ended, the happy pair LETT on
the overland train for MIR. Carriers
home"
What Miss Higgensbothem did not
know. what Phil Davis did not guess,
was the secret panic Of the bride as her
very new husband rushed her along the
station platform to the car.
Judy twisted about to wave to Phil
from the train steps. She had never
been especially fond Of Phil-never very
intimate with him until Stan had come
TO Summerfield to visit. But she had
known Phil always. He was the last
link which bound her to the town she
had known all her life. She felt lump
in her throat as the train started and
Phil's broad, grinning face moved from
view.
Judy crushed her face against the
glass. The station rolling by, the Sum
merfield sign on the freight shed. Gath
ering speed along Railroad avenue,
where the trainmen and factory
hands lived in small white cottages
with dusty sunfloWers growing in the
front yards. Rattling over the river
trestle, where a group of youngsters In
swimming yelled and waved, as she and
Rosamond and Ken had yelled and
waved at trains years ago.
She caught her breath and tnrned
from the window. Stan was fishing in a
suitcase for cigarettes. Even through
her forelornneSS Judy found herself no
ticing that narrow, good-looking head.
The thick black hair ending In clean
cut line at his tanned neck. Something
oh 1aa " IF STAINS head that
made her artistic fingers itch to draw
it. Tall and slim and darkly hand
sOme-and he was herS-he was her
own husband! Tremulous tenderness
yelling in her heart. oh, she loved him
so! Dear God, let him love her as
much! Let them always be happy
She was nervously alert to do the
right thing-not TO make break and
have Stan think she was crude. Stan,
who had come from weather. family;
Stan, who had travelled and inStinctively
knew what was correct. Judy felt she
would die Of shame if Stan thought she
was provincial.
She had spent the night on a Pull
man before. There was that time OF
the State Convention of Librarians,
when Judy had gone up to the capitol
with Miss Briggs. But how different
that had been! An upper berth. They
hao not gone into the diner. but had
eaten the sandwiches Miss Briggs had
brought along in shoe hoX and washed
them down with ginger ale bought from
the train boy. They had not been able
to get seats on the observation plat
form, and all of the long, hot afternoon
Judy had sat by a sunny window, hem
med in by the inert form of Miss
Briggs, who snored delicately under an
initiated white lawn handkerchief.
But Mrs. Stanley Carter had draw
ing room. She had to stifle her delight
in the extra couch, the small table, the
hIclo5ed wasf1tStand, because Stan took
1t so as a matter of course.
Where Judy Denning had packed her
own suitcase, now an obsequious red
cap disposed of Mrs. Carter's grip be-
fore pocketing the tip Stan gave him.
From beneath her laShes Judy tried to
see the exact amount. She must know
what to do in similar case. Not for
worlds would shF ask Stan.
Before they ent into the diner for
dinner she arranged her hair before
the mirror. Her face was flushed, her
eyes like stars. She knew she had
never looked so pretty-knew she had
never wanted to be SO pretty.
L 1e6l ike dH elOllST! Are you sure
VIC didn't dream all that this afternoon,
Stan? The wedding service and all?"
"Oh, we're married right enough"
Curious emphasis In his words. you're
my wife!" Stan pulled her to him,
holding her lips hard againt his own
for moment-a strange, deliberate
kiss.
After dinner they sat on the obser-
vation platform watching the country
reel back to the accompanying click Of
the rails. The fields droWsed in late
sunlight. The shadows Of the fleeing
telegraph poles were long on the stub
BILE
Stan was restless as twilight closed
down about the train. He had met
man back in the smoking car. Did
Judy mind if he went back and chatted
with him for a few minutes?
Her permission was nervously gay.
"Of course not, darling. Go ahead.
I'll go on back to the drawing room
when I'm tired"
The train, rushing along into the
unknown blackness, carrying her with
it-carrying her into strange, new life
at breakneck speed. She was suddenly
tremulouS-mOrbid
"Oh, thunder" Judy scolded herself,
I'm acting like a silly convent girl
I won't be sentimental and ridiculous"
She went back through the lighted