Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-03

river shrimp and crab gumbo from tbs
tripod, while Steve took from the great
bricked-in ovens at the chimney sides
long pans Of pompano and oysters baked
In the shells.
Fitz had left the radio on, static be-
ing, he said, 50 much more spontaneous
than ordinary programs. The guests
were whooping themselves to be heard
above 1t.
Turn, It off," said the girl with the
sleepy eyes to Steve, watching as he
obeyed. She smoked nervously, jahbing
out one cigarette to light another. Wines
had appeared from somewhere and she
began to drink, manifesting q gradual
feverish sparkle.
who sat on her right.
MAZDA Preston" he answered.
That's her husband, next to the mar
quesa."
Next to the marquesa sat the dark
man with the unhappy eyes. He lifted
his glass as Juanita looked, and the
marquesa lifted hers. Juanita had
never seen the marquesa drink before.
Fitz had started the photograph,
since he couldn't have the radio.
"HoW'S Eric?" somebody asked him
as he took his seat.
Fitz didn't know. Eric was to have
been home by the tenth, but the tenth
had come and gone.
Must find the Moon Of Delight rath-
er fascinating" remarked Phyllis Car
vef, the blonde girl in the green riding
suit. She sat at the tables end, oppo-
site Adrian.
who says he's gone with the Moon?"
asked Fitz.
"Who says he's not?" demanded Phyl-
lis. Didn't lose ten dollars on her?"
Still bowling about your ten. Fitz
remarked. THAT don't prove he's with
her now"
Nothing proves anything. ,Fitz dar-
ling" the lady agreed amiably. But
given Eric and wild woman whom he's
undoubtedly dippy over; given Eric gone
and the wild woman gone
Who's Noon Of Delight" Juanita
asked.
The question was low, but it came in
q pause of the talk while Fitz was
changing a record. Nadia Preston heard
it and answered. lighting cigarette:
Moon Of Delight is horse. Just
won the handicap"
Everybody laughed. ''Naida's game
all right" Adrian said to Bettins
Byrnes on his left. To Juanita he re-
piled, Moon Of Delight is the name
Eric Ledbetter gave to the girl"
Kirk spoke I'D. "Juanita has never
been to Divitt's," he said.
That SOP" from Adrian. There's q
Turkish girl there who has never told
her name. So Eric chri5tened her Noon
of Delight. Suits her, too. wouldn't
you say so, Rod?"
How do know" said Rod.
Turkish nothing" said Bettina. on
Rods right. IN bet she grew up right
there in French Town. Eric told me
~. .x,,ir. IA, hin, IN, q MIXTURE Of Suans
ish and English"
That was the night I lost my ten"
said Phyllis, who was drinking with
Dick Preston now. Eric went out after
her one night at Divitt's, bet us he
wouldn't come back-and he didn't"
ASK Adrian what the Noon speaks
cried Emmy Jean. Does she make love
in English, Adrian?"
ASK any of the men," said Doreen
Larkin. ASK Kirk"
She never looked at me-" said Kirk
"And never spoke to me. All ever got
was q flower she gave Nelly
You would say that" groaned Phyi-
Lis.
Fitz came back from the photograph,
pulling Laurie out Of her chair. They
began to dance, darling about, mad a.
moths.
shall We dancer" Adrian asked
Juanita. ~She shook her head, Kirk
laid his hand over hers in the shadow
of the table.
Feel all right" he asked.
You aren't drinking your wine, "
Adrian, remarked, and poured it into
her coffee. :.
Now look at the mess you've made.
Come on. Dance" And she caught
Kinks hand. His other hand gave
Juanitas fingers q quick pressure. She
watched him through the haze OF Gig
arctic smoke, dancing with Doreen.
Sure you won't dancer" Abrams
voice again.
Again she shook her head. Adrian
went of with Bettina. Emmy Jean
came from the other side OF the table
and took Adrian's vacant chair. Phyllis
called from the tables foot.
you the host now, Emmy Jean? Or
der some more wine.
The wine appeared. Scarcely aware
of what she saw, Juanita watched the
maruuesa raise her glass. The mar
ouesa was laughing necessarily. Every
one of the men had brought her cigar.
They lay in a pile before her. The mar
ouesa was playing with them, drinking,
laughing. -
Moon of Delight Divltts.
And only yesterday Divitts mad been
like a dream to Juanita. Only this
morning she had suddenly thought. I
had almost forgotten there was sucn
place"
But now it all came back TO her.
rric Iedbetter his bet with
PHYLLIS that he would see the Moon
az thew called her-and wouldn't come
back. So that was what they thought
about her when he didn't Perhaps
Kirk thought so, too.