Evening star., 1932-01-17

She looked so slim and young
pitifully young, here in this gloomy
brown room which breathed of the
elegant Eighties Too young to be here
by herself, shut away from the sunny
day outside-like butterfly in a trap.
She was, Nick thought little thinner
than she had been when last he saw
her. AS though these old walls had
drained the young fire from her body.
Just a kid-a pretty kid. Warmer,
more natural than those other girls.
Stan had always played around with
that beautiful selfish little devil
Eunice, for example-and the pest,
Georgia-and useless, fretful Amy. A
sweet kid
Nick had got this far in his unusual,
sentimental musings when JudyS
lashes lifted and he found her startled
blue eyes regarding him.
why II must have been
asleep" she stammered the abviouS
remark and sat upright trying to COL
lect her scattered wits. She laughed,
an embarrassed little laugh, and her
hands pressed her disordered hair.
You and Eliza both have to have
your siestas. 1t seems" the man grim
ned down at her, and she noticed how
his plain, square face lit with some
Just came down from the third floor
and found her dead to the world. And
then I walk in here and find you the
same. Well, I suppose all you old
ladies need your rest"
The casual friendlineSs of his words
warmed Judy's heart. Without know
ing it she had become mentally tense
in the past few weeks. Wary-too in
tense-when she was with Stan, swing
ing from the heights of romantic &C.
stasy when Stan held her in his arms
and told her he loved her. to the depths
of humiliation when she felt that she
had failed him. With others she had
always been watchful and alert. Only
with this friendly man did she feel
entirely at ease. As at ease as she
might have felt with her old childhood
sweetheart, Ken Backer, back in Sum-
nerfield, with the added confidence
that here was a sophisticated and de-
pendable man instead Of a small town
boy.
TITS the life we lead" she explained
with mock seriousness. Knitting and
crocheting and tatting-such excite
citement"
He had settled down in a leather
chair opposite and his white smile
showed through the faint dusk Of the
room Don't tell me that you've taken
up Elias pastimeS. I can't recall that
beautiful brides went in for knitting
and tatting by themselves when I lived
here in Lockwood.
IF it were that simple!" she groaned.
''No, it's golf and bridge. And parties.
but they're all alike. They either begin
with golf or end up with bridge. You
can't imagtne!
"Oh, yes, can! lived here"
Nick'S eyes were upon her-those
shrewd little eyes which read far more
than Judy realized. Oh, Lord, didn't
he know! This house-the maddening
complacency of those who lived in it.
He thought of his own boyhood and
the hidden tyranny Of his stepmother.
With the thought Nick could almost
see himself an awkward, well meaning
but blundering boy who always con-
trived to do the wrong thing no mat
ter how hard he wanted to do the right
one. The scared bewilderment at life
which he kept securely hidden in his
own heart-the callouSed indifference
he assumed as protection and which
had drawn his stepmothers complaints
and alienated the father whom he Sc
cretly adored.
1t had been an unhappy childhood
Nick had spent in this old house, a
chill cloud of disapproval. His father
infatuated by his beautiful, shallow
wife, had seen the awkward boy
through her eyes. The other children
were favored before him. Yes. Nick
Carter had put in many miserable
hours in this place. Only the doting
old woman upstairs could have drawn
him back in this way. And here was
another young thing-secretly wistful,
as pitifully alone.
Tell we where you've been since
you left here. You've flown to the
moon, of course" Judy'S eyes were
taking in his big frame dressed in the
usual leather jacket and breeches and
the heavy leather boots which set him
apart from the rest Of masculine Lock-
wood clad in business suits or the in
evitable golf knickers.
"Of course" he answered gravely,
following in with her mood Visited
the Mount of Vision and the Sea Of
Cold and the ocean of Tranquility"
Are all those on the moon?"
Get a layman's book Of astronomy
II you don't believe me"
And where have you been on the
earth?"
"Oh-El Paso. for one place. And
Albuquerque And Zuni, where I saw
the Indians do the dance Of the Corn
and nearly got killed for trying to take
q photo of them"
Really" Judy's eyes were like blue
stars. She leaned forward as intent as
a child. Tell me about it, please!"
Nick spoke Of that strange rite in the
Land Of Little Rain. Told her of the
kivas-hidden rooms where the Indians
keep their sacred ceremonial dresses
so feet underground in tunnels no
,,.Af 70 haC I,tIy gtn
on the housetops with him in fancy
those strange cliff dwellings which out
date history-and watched the sacred
dance. AS he spoke the world crowded
into the silent old house. He brought
the wind and the sky in here. The
walls throbbed to the magic of his
words. He made life seem vital and
adventurous and glowingly worthwhile
this big, brown man with the pleasantly
gritty voice.
1t was a relief to Judy to speak OF
these far-off things. A rest to turn her
eyes from the feverish contemplation
OF her own daily affairs She saw her
struggles of the past Weeks-golf scores
bridge leSsons-petty social triumphs
and snubs as futile and trivial Nick
carried her up and out of herself by
the sheer magic of his words.
He pulled out his watch and rose
"Fve got to get back over to the air
port. Have to see a man and send g
wire"
Judy looked, he thought, like chile
suddenly rebuked in the midst Of ex'
citing play. Look here" he spoke i'm
pulsively why don't you run oVel
there with me- I'll take you up ir
the old boat"
oh" the pink poured into he
cheeks. do you thinE-I've never beer
up! Oh, If we could"
Stan wouldn't like it. Stan dislikec
Nick. Then hot rebellion came on thu
wake of this Well, what of it! Sh'
didn't dislike him She wanted to GO
She would gol
Judy went. And on the ride over Il
the airport in the automobile she toll