Evening star., 1932-02-28
CHAPTER LXIII.

KUDY aWoke the next morning to a
certainty of something dreadful
about to happen, like man. con-
~ demned to be shot.
Memory leaping on her, so that
she WINGED and buried her sick face in
the pillow This was the day Nick was
sailing for China. She lay for long
moments, her throat aching with un-
shed tears, whispering brokenly to her
self "Oh . darling q. don't leave
me :. don't leave me. :. :"
She didn't want breakfast. She stayed
IN her room, limp and beaten. Gray
fog pressing in at the window q.
gray fog pressing in on her life. :.
It would always be like this, gray and
Away to strange lands. And he would
never come back. Something would
happen which would keep them apart.
After today, Nick would never return.
That scene on the hillside yesterday
had been the end. All of her life it
would remain fixed in pain. A mem
ory Nick leaving her-Nick van
1shing among the live oaks. -.
Judy writhed in silent torment She
pressed her face hard in the pillow.
Wished she had the strength to keep
it there until the breath should be
, smothered in her body until this
agony should die out Of her mind.
Martha. Nine. Carriers maid, rap
Madame wanted Miss Judy to come up
and see her, if it was convenient.
Judy WINGED from the idea. She
could talk to no one, not even this be-
loved old grandmother. please tell
stay in bed today. :"
Leaden hours going by. This
was the way they would pass all through
life. Each hour bringing Nick's de-
parture nearer. If she could only hear
his voice again. Just once . . In
it. She could call his hotel by tele-
phone She knew the hotel where he
STAYED when he was in the city.
Then her heart sank. Subterfuge!
What would she gain? What had they
to say to each other that had not al
ready been said a dozen times? And
the moment she heard Nick's voice on
the line she would begin to cry.
Twelve o'clock. One o'clock
/. Each hour bringing sailing time
nearer.
Mrs. Carter and Vera and Amy de-
parted for a shower Marian Taber was
giving for Amy. No sound came from
Madame'S quarters. The great gray
house was a great gray shell inclosure
unhappiness and loneliness. Judy wan
dered like disconsolate ghost through
the rooms The library the clock
whispering above the old-fashioned
brown backs sof the books. Dead.
=. Dead. everything in this house
was dead The love in her heart was
dead. Nick, vital. and free, like the
wind and the suI1Pwas. gone. Nick,
dear, dependable, brown-faced Nick
Of
The resolution was born all at once.
Fire of decision sweeping through the
loneliness of Judy's mind, driving her
before it like a wild thing. Suddenly
she knew that she was not going to
stay here and grow old and forgotten
in the gray stagnation. She was going
to China with Nick!
Let the world sneer. Let tongues
wag Who cared! She would have
her happiness. Life should not cheat
her! She and Nick would be strong
enough to snatch their happiness in
spite Of everything. They would be
together-let anything happen that
would! What did she carel They
would have each other. That much
they would get out of life ,. let it
cost what it might.
She was in her room, f1inging things
into her overnight bag in a frenzy
Too much it wouldn't close. She
pulled the clothes out. Flung them
unheeding on the floor. Ended by
putting in a nightrobe and negligee and
underthings. Toilet articles
change of clothes? Her mind brushed
it aside in feverish impatience. Oh
let it go :. clothes - she couldn't
think of clothes now.
She could manage somehow on the
boat. One always managed, What
mattered now was Nick-getting to
Nick. =. Four thirty e. get up there
quick!
Judy scribbled note, put it in an
envelope and sealed it. Called Pom.
''Giye this to Mr.. Carter when he re-
turns this evening. To no one else,
Pom. To Mr.. Carter, you under
Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes
blazing. For once the inperturbability
of the China boy was pierced. He