Evening star., 1932-04-20

turning the corner.
to stem advancing fate with such in
effectual little toys. What was that
thumb in the crack of a dyke to hold
out the ocean? All right in a story,
perhaps, but one couldn't hold back all
the weight of Norman's world with a
silver vanity case.
IT mean it. You can have 1t, Maddy.
And you can have the lace handker-
chief, too, and that bottle Of French
perfume"
why :" gasped Maddy. Whats
come over you, Joyce! Don't you want
them?"
Instead of answering this, Joyce's
brooding eyes went around the room.
She saw it clearly, as though she
viewed it for the first time. An ugly
square space sweltering in Summer,
freezing in Winter. Cracks in the
white plaster walls like wrinkles in
an old face. Cheap japanese mating
on the food faded to a sickly green.
1t was cold and hostile to bare feet
on a Winter morning. Floating on lts
surface like faded Island was rag
rug before the bed.
The bed itself was Clipped white
enamel. and the mattress sagged to-
ward the middle so that Joyce and
Maddy slept In enforced neighborliness
no matter how sultry the night.
The bureau was imitation golden oak.
Whenever she had stood before 1t
dressing to slip out and meet Norman,
Joyce had never noticed this. Her
heart had been too full of stars and
dreams to care about the white stains
left from cheap perfume or the spot
which was blistered from Maddy's curl
ing iron.
But now the dreams and the stars
had faded She felt jealousy burning
in her heart.
Suppose Natalie Cameron had to
live in such room Natalie's room
would be crisp and lovely as rose.
Orchid and silver, some one had told
her it was. Joyce had pictured it
suggested by the illustrated advertise
ments in the back Of magazines.
Dull purple rug orchid and
silver spread on the bed which would
be heaped with innumerable little lacy
pillows.
Natalies dressing table would be
crisp affair of taffeta cleaning with
silver and crystal like the pictures Of
famous dressing tables in the cold
cream advertisements.
It was unfairi Joyce thought hotly.
After all 1t was just such lovely exotic
things which made the difference be-
tween Natalie Cameron and Joyce
Allen. But men were dense in such
matters. d. Norman would not stop
to think that it was the Cameron
money which made Natalie SO desir-
able. He would only see her walking
against the radiant background making
its beauty her own.
Awe was still battling with greed in
Maddy's face. Maddy's green eyes
were incredulous.
do you really mean it, Joy? That
you're really giving me the case-and
the perfume?"
That coveted perfume! An unex-
pected auto party had stopped at the
Commercial House late one night. When
Joyce had tidied the room the next day
she had found lace handkerchief ana
half empty bottle of French perfume
left behind on the dresser. At the
time they had been precious-some-
thing to add to her value in Norman's
eyes.
Now her voice was very tired when
she answered Maddy. II mean it.
Why not? They're too little to mat
ter" Then with fierce little rush
Of anger, Some day-some day, Maddy.
as sure as I'm sitting here, I'm going
20 have all the beautiful things I
want! Everything want!"
"Humm-m. -. Let me in on the
secret. There's lots I want, too. How
are you going to manage the miracle?"
Joyces soft young mouth was grim.
"I know I sound like fool! But If you
hate all this enough" a swing Of
her bare arm at the ugly room and
want the other things badly enough
we'll. believe you'll get them!"
Maddy shrugged. but she was not in
clined to argue with the good fortune
which was dropping silver cases and
French perfume in her lap. She picked
up her sewing in silence.
Joyce continued to sit cross legged,
picked at the hem Of her rayon step