Evening star., 1932-02-27

QUEER. desperate week fol-
! " lowed. Stan was away from the
| n house a great deal that
| 1 \ was all that made it possible tc
put up with the awkward situ-
alton. He was elaborately polite, with
sting under his manner. His eyes
| were mocking when he spoke to his
| wife. A sort of sardonic good humol
sparkled from his face-ref1ected in his
manner. Stan enjoyed having the whip
hand of the situation.
Nick had been down twice to the
| house. Both times he had encountered
Stan, and Judy's heart had leaped In
| fear. But both men had been laconic-
Nick, withdrawn in manner, brown face
non-committal Stan. watchful, quick
to take insult, resentful and fiery
There was danger in the air, but it die
not come to actual conflict.
A strange, impossible interval, with
every ones nerves raw. With a sense
of brooding fate hanging over it all.
1T can't go on like this! 1t can't!
It cant!" Judy told herself frantically
"An impossible way to live! There
must be way out! Therell have tc
bel can't stand another day!"
But with Nick she was eagerly plead
ing time. Its bound to come out all
keep this up. He's too changeable
You know-Stan veers like the wind
He's just being mean"
She didn't believe it. She knew the
depths of STAINS hatred for Nick. Knew
that it would keep Stan constant to his
resolution as nothing else might. Dead
lock. And she was afraid. Afraid
of that volcanic temper of STAINS If
Stan should harm Nick? Even should
he fail. If the news should seep out
The stigma Of disgrace which would
attach itself to Nick! The world would
not guess the truth, save only those
few loyal friends like Mary Lockerbee
and her husband. The world would see
in Nick only a man who had stolen his
brothers wife.
do. Wait until time broke the deadlock
Wait until fate-and changeable Stan
should put other cards into her hands
That was the clever thing to do.
But even as Judy's mind coolly
reasoned this out her heart was filled
with a hot new grief. Yes, she could
wait, she told herself bitterly, if Nick
we're here where she could see him
once in while. But Nick in China. l..
an ocean rolling between them. Oh,
life was too short! 1t was wrong
wrong when two loved as she and Nick
loved. to meekly bow to hollow
mockery like her marriage with Stan.
Long nights, tossing from side to side
of her bed, trying to think, pounding
the pillow in frantic, childish rage
lying motionless, heavy hearted, staring
up into the dark. Long days when she
knew herself to be an alien in the old
houSe-Mrs Carter sliding by her with
downcast eyes and prim lips. Vera,
addressing her with high-held head and
hostile gaze. Amy. and Amy's friends,
whispering Smothering laughter.
Amy was to be married the first of
the following month, and already she
was the nucleus Of showers and dances
and luncheons and teas. All hours of
the day delivery cars were handing
packages in at the back door; all hours
of the day the house was crowded with
Arny's friends, coming or leaving in a
crush of perfume and chiffon draperies
expensive furs and Shrill feminine
nervous laughter.
Billy Summer was building a house
at Oak Crest for his bride Oak Crest
being a new and exclusive subdivision
just opened beyond the Lockwood
portals The house was modest little
affair Of % rooms and 10 bath rooms
ana Amy was gong III IOr TlVaung
Eunice Wilson in big way
Not to be outdone, Eunice had given
orders for large swimming pool to be
included in her house. One of the large
drawing rooms had been dismantled-
glass roof added. large tiled tank
was being built, and Eunice was plan
ming to make the completion of the
tank the excuse for the largest social
function of the year. This latest
extravaganza was wringing large sum
Of money from her middle-aged hus-
band but that was nothing to Eunice.