Evening star., 1932-06-09

was going away from this gray stagna-
tion-gomg to escape into life, with
Jim. Jim's wife Mrs. James Keith
=. she said it over to herself moving
her lips liks a child, and, with sudden
rapturous movement. flung her slim body
over and pressed her vivid face into the
pillow.
Drum drum :. drum :. wind
and dripping trees. How many rainy
Winters had passed over this old brick
house? How often in the past had
Roger Wakened to hear that monoto-
nous drumming on the window panes-a
gray wall shutting him into the narrow
confines of Riverton?
He had wanted to shut her behind
that gray wall, too-but Jim had opened
way OF escape! There would be rain
out there on the ranch. Fierce rain
Jim had spoken of it. 1t came down
as though the heavens opened--a great
sheet of water. sometimes bringing fear
and danger with its doWnpour.
Joyce was tense as a wire thinking
of it. Well, let it! Darger-she vel
coined it Anything but this dreary
monotony. Rain and wind about a
frame farm house crowded days
.. hard work and Jim.
Kitty found her lying with hands
clasped under her head and a happy
little smile stamped on her lips when
she entered
Something of Kitty's natural buoy
ancy had been eclipsed by these trying
months at Riverton. but this morning
her face was beaming
And this is a grand way to be treat
ing your guest, Jim's up an chewing
his nails for the sight of you
Joyce gave her smile which made
Kitty blind. Don't be grouchy! For
the rest of my life Ill be rising at day
break to put the clothes in soak or
curry the horses or whatever one does
on ranch. Don't begrudge me these
last moments of idleneSS Kitty, come
here! Here, where I can hug you. Oh
kitty-Kitty. darling! Can you feel
how happy am! 1 must throw out
rays. like the sun. I think I'm like a
black cat-take me in the dark and
stroke me and Id give out electric
sparks. Oh. Kitty,
The last was a sob. and for a moment
Joyce clung to the older woman. weep
ing on that broad, kindly shoulder.
You won't regret it, honey?" Kitty
whispered it little timidly You
won't regret giving up the ease and the
money and the soft living? Four years
more. darling, and then the world
y
What good would world be with
out Jim? -Four years &. four eterni-
ties! In four years. Kitty, Jim and I
will be an old married couple. With
Children-children Kitty. I'm shame
less! I have no false pride or modesty;
know what I want l want to live
my life-dercely I want to make up
fo- lost time. And live! Live! I feel
as though I'd been dead'
Kitty said nothing, only stroked that
dark red head pressed against her
shoulder. In moment that silence
seeped through Joyce's happy absorp-
tion. She lifted her head and her ear
nest eyes plunged deep into Kitty's
blue gaze.
"Kitty-you'll come with us? You
won't leave me now? It isn't much to
offer, just plain home-bare and ugly,
Jim says-but we'll all be together
Ah, Kitty. we've been through too
much together for you to leave me
how. :"
Kitty's head turning toward the win
dow Kitty's eyes refusing to meet her
OWN, and Joyce realized that Kitty had
been fighting her own battle of lone
illness and small jealousies
You won't need me now" A little
rough edge on that.
Need you'll" Joyce's voice broke. She