Evening star., 1932-03-05
CHAPTER Xxx.

wood again. A rainy Christ
mas this year. Rain, lashing
the toyon trees and the live
! oaks on the hills, turning the
fields to sodden bogS. Dashing against
the windows of the Carter house as
though they pelted the glass in fury.
Dripping off the long leaves of the
eucalyptus through the nights.
[. Christmas. 1t lived up to its old ira
dition in the Lockerbee house, where
Marys two husky boys reused the
household with delighted shouts before
the sun was up. An evergreen tree,
,shimmering in tinsel and strings OF
lights. with mysterious bulky packages
sheltered by its lower branches. roar
ing open fireplace-the smell of roast
ing turkey and mince pie-warmth and
laughter and the inner glow which only
contented love can bring. This was
Christmas at MaryS.
The Wilson house sported holly
wreaths in all its plate glass windows
"A long line of cars waited in the grav-
leled driveway, driven in response TO
iEunice's careless invitation to come
and have Christmas eggnog with us.
The eggnog more often than not turned
out to be cocktails or champagne. The
great white drawing room, the black
and silver bridge room filed with a
hilarious crowd, some of whom had
1mbibed not wisely but too well. Christ
mas at Eunice wilson's was only an
excuse for another party.
Christmas at the Palm Court Bunga-
lows A pale little boy played with a
new mechanical train in the stuffy llv-
ing room, listening listlessly to his
mothers rapid, fretful voice. Georgia
De Haas sole guest for the day was an
angular female of only too certain age
A second couSin-a poor relatlon-de-
spised in the days when Georgia was
on the fringe of Lockwood society,
comfortable confidant when these lean
DAYS descended. Georgia was holding
forth on her grievance against Eunice
and Amy. The subject had become an
obsession with her. Her thin frame
shook now with inner passion, her words
were hurled like missiles.
Now that she landed Billy Sumner
and his money, Amy Carter has no more
use for me. And Eunice Wilson, too
Treating me like dirt under her feet.
Used me and threw me aside like an
old shoe. You'd think they'd have bet
ter judgment-all 1 knowl I tell you,
Hortense, I'm holding it all back-long
as I can, but something ought to be
done to teach them lessoni Some OF
these days I'll make them sorry they
treated me like this" Christmas,
dark and hateful affair at Georgia's.
Christmas in the Carter house. A
rainy twilight outside and shadows
gathering in the large, lonely rooms.
In an upstairs bed room a small fire
kindled in the CRATE and lonely girl
sat writing letter.
The Christmas dinner had been eaten
at noontime 1t was too soon after
Madam Carter's death for any large
celebration. The meal had been tire
Hoir Of form
and heavy courses which no one really
wanted Stan had not appeared. Judy
suspected he was at the Wilson'S eggnog
party. She didn't care, the girl told
herself wearily. Better to have Stan
there than to have him present and to
feel this deadly antagonism between
them.
After the meal Judy escaped to the
only part of the great house where she
felt at ease-her own second-f1oor bed
room.
She drew a table before the fire and
started to write to Nick. Nick-her
thoughts went far away from this silent
room where the fire cracked and the
rain laced the window pane. Far out
across the ocean to the other side of
the world Nick on the other side of
the world-an ocean rolling between
them. How long would it roll? How
WOulU utduiOCh
Wind and rain and the crackle of the
fire The feel of a great, empty, lonely
house. pressing in here on her little
lighted island of a bed room.
Dreary Christmas. Mary had wanted
her to come to her house. Dear Mary
she understood without words.
But somehow couldn't, Nick" Judy
wrote. ITS probably selfish way to
look at it, but I haven't the spirit to
sit through the happiness of others
right now. I feel so-alone. With you
away and things as they are between
Stan and myself. And your grand
mother-I never realized what she
meant to met is almost unbelievable,
for she seemed to be much by herself
up there in her own quarters, but now
that she has gone something firm
something that held the household to-
gether-is gone"
The pen poised over the paper, the
fire swan for moment through Judy's
sudden tears.
So lonely this big house was No one
here save herself. Directly after the
midday dinner the Chinese cook and
Pom had departed for the Celestial de-
lights of San Franciscos Chinatown.