Evening star., 1932-02-24
CHAPTER LIX.

shut away from any chance
l. gazers from the highway by the
Sheltering bronze bulks Of the
live oaks. So long that Side-slir
grew disguised and after futile attempts
to gain their attention got up and wan
dered over to a side hill to hunt gophers
But their talk was oddly calm, even a
little sad. None Of the singing rapture
of last night, when the black mountain
peaks had shut them in together away
from the world and the mad white
moonlight had surprised them into their
love.
Here was the world and all the
worlds complications. 1t was not
enough that they loved each other
That a touch Of sweet fire went through
their veins when their hands het, that
all their desire whispered to them to
go away together, because love such es
this made its own right.
Sitting there beside her on the boul-
der, Nick was sunk in thought. He
sat as one very tired. shoulders slump
knees, while his eyes stared unSeeing
across the sunny field. He had flung
his cap down, and Judy noted, as she
had SO often before, how the sun had
burned the top of his hair to tawny
brown.
His hair was ruffled. 1t would be,
she thought with a little rush of ten
derness which held a hint of tears.
Everything about Nick was without ar
tifice. Everything about him simple
and direct-aS natural as the wind and
the sun She loved the lines on his
brown face, lines about his eyes from
5uuinting into the bright sun. Loved
his strong brown throat where 1t ais
appeared into the open collar OF his
flannel shirt Loved the old leather
Jacket. with its we'll rubbed places on
neck and elbow.
And suddenly Nick in his whipcords
and leather jacket and high-laced boots,
conjured up the figure of Stan as she
had seen it shortly before. Stan, with
his too-handsome sculptured head. his
carefully brushed hair-his trim green
striped jersey.
Judy moved uneasily. How could
she ever have given Stan the fine high
rapture of her first love? Why-com-
pared to Nick, Stan seemed-futile d.
weak.
She put out he lad and laid it
gently on Nick's knee.
MY dear are you sorry?"
Nick turned-held her with that di-
rect. steely gaze. Answered without
smile. Not sorry that I love you,
Judy. That can't be helped. I'm sorry
that I'm going away leaving you to
face the music. If you'll just let me be
with you when you talk to Stan"
She shook her head Hers was the
wiser plan, Judy knew. STAINS petulant
temper would be reused by Nicks pres
ence. "Oh, no. 1 know just how to
manage it"
She felt Nick stir uneasily at that.
His native honesty rebelled at the word
manage" Their love-Soiled by the
suggestion of scheming
God. how I hate to have you wade
through all that mess, Judy! Divorce
The rd's-filthy-when it's used
in connection with you! I'm not a
prude It's just-somehow unjust to
to YOU. I hate the whole sordid busi-
ness for you"
He hated it for himself, Judy knew,
too. Hated the implication OF under
handedness which would go with 1t in
the eyes of the world. But when she
spoke of this, he quieted her with a
quick embrace.
ITS Just one of those things, Judy.
We've got to drive through. You don't
think Stan will raise any row?"
She felt his watchful eyes on her
face as she answered this, but her own
gaze remained out on the sun-dappled
grass II know that he won't. Stan
will be as willing as I am to-to
straighten out this mess. Our marriage
has been a farce for-for months. Bet
ter get it over with"
silence between them, heavy as
lead. Judy spoke finally, her voice
very weary. "Oh, Nick darling, If we
could only reach out and find each
other as naturally as our thoughts find
each other. why didn't L meet you
first? :"
His answer remained with her to
comfort her later, so strong and steady
his voice was: We've found each
other, Judy. It's worth wading through
ANYTHING to get you"
When Nick had left Judy did not
Immediately return to the Carter
house. She walked to the crest of the
tawny, rolling hills which surrounded
Lockwood and waited.
Down there, the neat, tree-shaded
streets of the town. The red roof OF
the country club beyond, And beyond
that the low-reaching tideland and the
trim square Of the airport.
Judy waited on the high yellow crest
of the hill, so tense, so poised, that
Side-slip gave low inquiring whine
and stood a pace in front or her, still
legged. whiskers twitching, trying 70
see what held his mistress engrossed.
A dark speck-a dragon-fly. rising
from the ground-sailing smoothly up
into the air. Nick over there.
Flying away from her. Nick &.
flying away into the low-hanging sun.
For minutes Judy stood tense, poised
on the hill top, the great arch Of sky
behind her. Her eyes straning after
the diminishing airship. The ache of
hot, unshed tears in her throat. The
wind whipped her skirt about her, un-
needed She was conscious only that
Nick was leaving her here.
He was gone. The small speck which
was the plane was confused with the
other specks which swan before her
daZzled eyes. She came back TO the
fact that the wind was cold end that
Side-slip was whimpering and muzzling
her hand.
Stan was not home when she return
ed to the house Nor did he come to
dinner A feminine dinner-and a
curious restraint.
Nine. Carter, at the end of the
table, punctual to the second, as usual,
looked worried Her greeting to Judy
was cordial as ever, but there was a
cloud in thoeS old eyes Mrs Carter
was oddly embarrassed, and when she
spoke to Judy she looked at the air a
foot over her shoulder, Vera was tight
Tipped and curt. But perhaps hardest
of all to stand was Amy's air Of know
ing amusement.
Judy's forced speech about the
nights adventure dropped on a dull
silence. 1t was not broken until Mrs.
Carter made some nervous comment
to Pom about the SilverWare.
Vera suddenly began TO talk of a
charity bazaar, and Amy's cold, ice
blue eyes held a CLEAN of malicious
entertainment.
Judy felt her cheeks get hot. Felt
the crimson tide sweeping into her
neck, but she clenched her hands and
forced herself to remain calm. After
alone can't quarrel with nothing