Evening star., 1932-04-17
CHAPTER ".
THROUGH BITTER EYES.


shaking her to the heart, stealing
the strength from her legs SC
~ that she wanted to slump down
and hide in the shadows Of the
shrubs.
Norman Norman over
there. holding Natalie Cameron in his
arms kissing her even as he had kissed
Joyce this afternoon.
Norman! Joyces heart was crying
out to him. On, he couldn't do this
thing!
Unbearable desolation stealing
through hsr-chiliing her heart
Then came anger and bitter pride
Straight and tall, Joyce stood in the
shadow. and her lip was curled. Still
ah, be still! Never let them guess
she was here. To be caught watching
like a bcggar in the dark-oh, that
would be TOO dreadful to bear
Men and girls had jumped from the
second car. They ran over to Norman
machine and their shrill glee reached
Joyce.
Hey, no necking allowed at this
party? Say, Norm, how do you get
that way? Think you can come back
here and cut in on our time!"
"Aw, have a heart. you guys!" Nor
mans laughing voice sent a tremor
IEtOuHl lllB sun IlkAIS Watching 1Abl
the bushes Don't YOU know haven t
seen Natalie for six months Give a
fellow a break, can't you? She prom
ised me every other dance tonight
we're Just sitting this one out!"
Every other dance!" That was Mat
Clifford's aggrieyed voice, "Sa-a-y,
you're no violet are you!'
IS a fact!" Norman protested. III
show you the last letter she wrote me
If you have to have proof Tell 'em
Natl Tell EN- who's your sweet
papa"
Laughing protesting, they were
pulled from the car. BY the gleam of
the colored lanterns Joyce could see
Natalie Cameron, slender, ethereal in
pale chiffon. She could even catch the
sparkle of a rhinestone chain around
the other girls throat.
They passed under the Cameron gate
In laughing group, Norman's arm
dark against Natalies shoulders
Very still-the girl watching in the
shadow of the hedge. The orchestra
was playing the Birth of the Blues -
Ever after this night, the tune would
steal like weary whisper through
Joyce'S mind Ever after this night
she could not smell the dusty pungency
of yew hedge without feeling an in
COlerdDle SaQneSS.
All of life changed in a moment l..
All in moment-ss when shell ex-
plodes and what has been smiling
becomes a deSolate desert.
Joyce was looking through Norman S
eyes, reading starkly the difference be-
tween Natalie Cameron and Joyce Allen
of the Commercial House.
Seeing herself an episode in the life
of a young man. Something piquant
but shady. Something to be kept from
the girls of his own class and enjoyed
under cover.
Fierce, hot rage shaking through the
girl-the more painful because it was
helpless.
Somehow symbolic, that she should
be standing here in the dark-an out
cast looking into the world of light and
music, which was barred from her She
suffered, with the tragic intensity of
youth-never guessing at the mad jest
which a capricious fate was reServing
for her.
Joyce had stolen away from the shell
ter of the hedge by now. She was
walking swiftly down the street, Stum-
bling now and then because of the
angry tears which kept yelling into her
eyes, She hated the big shadowy homes
she was paSsing-hated them with
miserable, hopeless hatred They
widened the gulf between Norman and
herself. They told her that she be-
longed down by the tracks III the Com
mercial House, not up here in the rari-
fed atmosphere Of the Crest.
If she had only been the least of
these gay girls tonight, thought Joyce
desperately even little, freckled
Geneva Haines, who, in spite of the
handicap Of hand-me-down clothes and
house on the wrong side of the rail-
road track, was accepted as one of
them Then she could have met
Natalie Cameron on her own ground
Every small town has one family who
are tacttly accepted as the leaders. 1t
was not Natalie Camerons wit nor
beauty which had put her at the head
OF Riverton's younger set. Natalie'S
Wit was sharp rather than sparkling
and her flaxen hair and light blue eyes
were not to be compared to the strange
haunting beauty of Joyce Allen.
But Natalie was the only child of
Cora Cameron, the widowed sister-in-
law of old Roger Cameron. And old
Roger himself was owner OF the River
ton Paper Mills stockholder in the town
water works. the Cannery. the Farmers
ana Fruit Growers Bank, and far and
away the richest man in town.
Old Roger had never married He
lived in the big brick house on the
Crest with his niece and her mother
OF whom rumor said he was secretly
afraid. As Roger Cameron's heiress,
Natalie was the richest catch in River
ton.
All Of this Joyce knew. as every one
IN the small town knew it. But it had
been fact which held no personal in
terest for her up TO now. Natalie Cam
eron had been outside of her own world
up until tonight.
Joyce was back in the familiar ugli-
ness OF Maple avenue. There was the
rambling shape Of the Commercial
House there was the open window
OF her bed room, the shade Swaying
gently back and forth in the night
breeze.
The girl looked up at it with sick
eyes. Years ago, it seemed, that she
had crept out of it to go and meet
Norman. Young and eager Never
again would she be SO young so
eager.
She climbed the tree Quietly drew
herself over the sill The room was
empty. Maddy had not returned. AS
she rapidly undressed. Joyce was CRATE
ful for this. Torture-to have to evade
Maddy's accounts of social triumphs at
Brisrville
While she moved, Joyce could see her
own dim reflection moving in the depths
Of the bureau mirror across the room.
White streak Of face shadoWy
eyes. . Ike a ghost of herself com
ing here to rock her.
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