Evening star., 1932-03-01
CHAPTER LXv.

The old lady'S frece family prloe-
her vigilant love for Nick, would not
admit even Martha, the faithful, into
this dark secret. Pom was different.
The Oriental was outside OF the Car,
ter world Moreover, on Pom piVoteo
the whole discovery and there was no
help for it.
Alone, the old lady had left the house
Keegan. the chauffeur, was out drlv-
ing Mrs. Carter, but the old autocrat
was not defeated. Through the chilli
ing fog, her S4-year-old legs had car
ried her down to the end OF the bus
line. No one knew-no one was ever
to know, the terror and tremendous
effort of that walk. Not in years had
Madame been out alone like this, lashed
on by the terrible need of haSte-her
frail BODY the one thread which could
hold the fabric of fate together.
No one knew how terrifically her
heart pounded-a driven engine shak-
ing its old casing to pieces. No one
knew. because that proud old head
would not lower, because the flame OF
the pioneer spirit still burned high in
Madame's breast
And later-after the wrench Of see
ing her beloved Nick sailing out OF her
life forever-Madame still sat stanch-
ly upright in the bus, bobbing her way
back to Lockwood and the rigid mold
of life she had left behind her.
She could even pat Judys hand with
her own shrivelled one She could even
deign to comfort the girl--she, who
had lust watched what was dearer than
life fade away, knowing she would
never see it return.
But it was the last flare up of the
flame. The guttering Of the candle.
Back home, Madame silenced Marina
reproaches with one imperious look,
announced that she had insisted on
Judy taking her to the city to see NICK
leave. and-knowing she had carefully
cleaned up behind her-got into BED
and proceeded to fade out of life.
Bitterly self-reproachful, Judy way
laid the doctor as he came down the
stairs several mornings later after being
called for Madame.
The physician looked indulgently at
this pretty girl SO genuinely grleVlng
for his old friend and client.
Nothing I-nor any one else, can do,
Mrs. Carter. Madame has already passed
the allotted threescore and ten grant
ed us poor mortals, you know. Vitality
getting low. The engine is simply
worn out that's all. Pity !. Mar
velous woman Known her all
my life Too bad :"
"Her grandson-Nick-"J Judys voice
choked on the words, ''is on his way to
China. Shouldn't he be told Re
The doctor shrugged and spread his
hands why? It may go on like
this for months possibly a year
longer It may be tomorrow-today.
Remarkable stamina mar
shaking his head in helpless admira
tion.
life. Added to the ache In her heart
for Nick.
life as the gloomy Winter. Nick SEEM
ed to have carried the glory of Autumn
away with him into the Orient. 1t was
an unusually wet Winter, and perhaps
she was more sensitive to this because
of the gray dreariness in her own
heart. Long days of tramping in the
hills with Side-slip, not caring whether
the rain drove In her face and soaked
her coat or not. Gray afternoons, read
ing to Nine Carter in the third floor
kingdom, while rain drummed on the
roof and the little yellow shrivelled
face against the pillow seemed more
like a bit of carved ivory than ever.
Madame seldom left her bed now, and
innumerable hot-water bottles were re-
ulired to keep heat in the frail body.
Judy had urged her to go to the
warmer climate of Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara where Madame had
spent her honeymoon more than half
n century before. But the old lady was
adamant. It was as though she feared
death might call in her absence and
ind her not at homie. Not even the
girls promise TO go with her could
~ ~
she meant to stay.
Long nights, when Judy lay awake
listening to the rain drop in dreary
little plops of the long-pointcd leaves
Of the eucalyptus trees outside her
bed room window.
Letters came from Nick He had
arrived he was busy in the new
organization he spoke of the
quaint streets the color of the city
the gorgeousness of the shops. The
lavish color of the Orient crowded back
the grayness of life when his letters
arrived. Nick-as always-bring1ng a
sense of freedom and far places. He
spoke little of what lay nearest his
heart. 1t was not like Nick to put his
secret thoughts on paper. But Judy
read between the lines. Read constancy
into his Always your" Read heart
hunger for her in his simple: Il miss
you So"
A dreary time 1t seemed to the
girl that she had found that dreadful
Garden of Proserpine Of which Swim
burne wrote.
Here come the loves that wither-
The old loves, with wearier wings,
And all dead dreams come hither
And all disastrous things :.
Dead dreams and disaster, they SEEM
ed to be making her life she thought
bitterly.
But Judy alone, in the big Carter
house, seemed to be finding the Winter
gray. Amy was keeping the rest Of the