Evening star., 1932-06-01
TANGLED LIVES
-~o~~~o~.~~~~~~~B By ANN FORESTER
of
CHAPTER XIX.
ANOTHER ACID TEST.
~ AIVN EONESA En-
Author Of Spite Wife"

I'm Joyce's modernistic black and
gold and scarlet suite of the Cam
eron House, Maddy seemed more
l hopelessly drab than ever. Kitty
swooped down upon the baby and
carried him off-OStensibly to see the
goldfish in the pond, privately to wash
| his hot and dirty face and hands
| This left Maddy free to handle and
admire to her hearts content, pacing
! through the rooms like a barmaid in
palace, the forgotten market basket
dangling on her arm.
| But such things as market baskets
| and willing lettuce and faded orange
| dresses had ceased to worry Maddy
She was in a transport of delight, loud
with wonder and admiration.
My land, joy" there was an
edge of awe on her voice. Its like a
fairy tale, isn't it. Remember that day
when you said you wanted to be rich
and have beautiful clothes an things
You gave me that silver vanity case
Norman Weaver gave you-remember?'
Maddys words conjured up the pic
ture of the sullen. miserable girl who
had sat on the sagging bed in the
hot little bed room-waS it only six
years ago?
That was just after you'd had a
fight with Norman. You never thought
then you'd be living up here-owning
all these beautiful things" The small
green eyes went over the other and
We'll, he'd be glad enough to marry
you now, guess, that Norman
Weaver! I think he was always crazy
about you, Joy. He sorta cooled on
| Natalie after you left. an I saw the
way he looked at you today when we
met him on Main street! But you
can't get married for five years, can
you?"
Not and keep the money. 1t will
go toward certain library and explora-
ton funds if 1 remarry in that time. -
We'll, you'd be a fool to give UP
this!" said Maddy, vigorously. 1T
isn't worth it. Nothing is
A shadow in the beautiful violet eyes
watching her. Nothing? Nothing at
all, Maddy? Would you take-this in
stead of your marriage?"
Wills good man-aS men 60
said Maddy grudgingly, but give me a
chance to have a little luxury
She broke off as Kitty came into the
door with the placid and clean baby
! in her arms. Joyce, watching, saw
| Maddy's plain, freckled face suddenly
! glorified as though a lamp had been
| lit within her. She reached up and
| took her baby, covering its almost bald
| head with kisses. "Aw you win
JOY, wouldn't take ten times this for
my kid
Something hot and bitter in Joyce's
| heart. Bitter as tears. 1t was almost
as though she had made her choice
| back there in the bitter past. Sic had
wanted wealth Now she had it and
| love was denied to her The only man
| to touch her heart-a cheat and for
tune hunter.
Besides, she didn't love Jim Keith
Joyce told herself with fierce pride
That had only been mad physical
attraction which had drawn them
| together on the Neptune She didn't
love him-she wasn't sure she didn't
| hate him.
! She ordered lunch served on a cor
| ner of the veranda. heretofore sacred
| to Mrs. Cameron'S bridge parties.
Maddy looked about at the bright
grass mat. at the porch swing with its
| gay awning, at the lacquered table
| and chairs and bright cushions
Just like those pictures you used to
pour over, when you was a kid JOY;
those bright advertisements in the
| backs of the magazines" Maddy
| turned to Kitty. You shoulda seer
| her, always with her nose in some book
when I wanted her to go out with me
| and some boy friendsl"
Lunch was nearly over when a large
car rolled in the gate and stopped or
the driveway before the steps. Mrs
Comeron, Natalie and Jim Keith got out
Jim and Natalie had been playing
! tennis at the Country Club. He wore
white fannels and a shirt open at the
| throat and Joyce had a flashing mem