Evening star., 1932-02-21


1 \ one solitary point of light-the
lighted lamp in the hunter S
cabin where Nick and Judy had found
shelter The feeling of those wild
spaces-of the vastness OF this noun
tain night. made Judy more keenly
aware of the warm intimacy OF the
cabin.
A terrific argument had gone on with
in her in those first few moments when
Nick left her alone in the cabin while
he went outside to make the plane fast.
Clashing emotions fear and JOY
clamoring in her heart. and reason
trying to talk them both down with
cold logic
Well. suppose she was here. Suppose
she and Nick we're isolated in these
black mountains; this was the twen-
tieth century! People couldn't talk
about her-accidents will happen. ES-
pecially to frail alrships adrift in wide
skies. Down there-back there in
Lockwood they would be wondering at
their non-appearance. The dinner
table-Stan coming in late from the
golf club :. Amy and Vera and Mrs.
Carter And old Nine Carter at tn:
end of the table. And her empty
chair-and Nick's.
Then some one would phone the air
port. They had checked the plane out
dU IllC pOIt. 1llCy WOulO 1CPOlI tIlol
it had not returned. Accident
trouble. They would be alarmed
Picturing Nick and herself lying broken
in some canyon.
Determinedly, Judy crushed down the
panic in her thoughts. Well, what was
she going to do about it? What could
she do? After all, it didn't greatly
matter What mattered was that she
and Nick were alive and well. Simply
tNn1 tn lNn1-n n
small cabin, miles from anywhere. . {.
And suddenly the panic was gone
and sort Of excited joy was bubbling
troubles? Tonight why tonight
was precious. ..!
Nick came in to find her breaking
twigs across her knee for kindling. Her
hat was tossed to the table her tum-
bled hair hung about her flushed
cheeks, her eyes were like stars when
she raised them to the man.
Newer knew-sticks-cou be-so
tough!" she painted.
Here. stand aside, woman. and let
real man get at that job" Easily Nick
lifted her to one side and snapped the
stubborn branch. You go see what
we're going to have for dinner That's
a Woman's work anyway! Ill have
this fire going in jiffy."
Judy showed back her hair. careleSsly
like an engrossed child and crossed to
the provision shelf. "Beans-bean
soup-string beans she read aloud.
Sort of like! Whatll you have!
Lamb. ram. sheep or mutton? Isn't
it,"
Wait until you've been marooned a
few dozen times. you'll learn not to be
so picky. I was stuck in the gumbo
down in Texas once. 25 miles from the
nearest toWn-and when you saw the
town you wanted to shoot yourself
What did you do? How did you
get out of there?"
I never did get out. I'm stuck down
there still"
Judy turned to eye him over her
shoulder. well, of all the silliest-I
didn't think you could be so silly. Nick!"
Nick spoke without taking his atten-
tion from the fire he was carefully lay
ing You don't know me, lady! You've
no idea how silly I can be when I put
my mind to it."
Nothing in the ain1less answer to send
the pink flying to Judy's cheeks as she
turned around to survey the provision
shelf once more Nothing in the words
but it had suddenly become clear to
her that Nick was fighting desperately
for the light touch. Nick, too. was STIR
red by the thought of those black miles
pressing them in together in this isolated
cabin. Nick, too, was secretly thrill
ing to the delicious sense of intimacy.
Just the two of them, here together
closed in the secret heart of the noun
tains :. . Hidden from the world
. . And Nick, too was fighting off
the memory of that moon-fooded even
ing when he had held her against his
heart and whispered My darling"
10 Iryr nOnd EinI1ni oranklpd cheer.
fully. The small room grew warm. So
warm that Judy laid aside her packet
and worked in her sleeveless jumper.
Nick took off his leather coat and
rolled the sleeves Of his flannel shirt
above the elbows as he helped her pre-
pare the meal. They kept up an endless
barrage of repartee as they ate, each
afraid to let a sudden silence trap them.
Bean soup, corned beef, canned pine
apple-they made free with their un-
known hosts food stock and ate with
appetites too keen to be squeamiSh.
A box of crackers warmed in the oven
of the old wood stove, loganberry jelly
and black coffee topped off the dinner.
Night black night pressing
against the cabin. Closing them
in here together in the lamp-lighted
warmth of the small room.
Washing the tin cups and plates in
the galvanized iron bucket which Nick
had filled from the creek and placed on
the back Of the stove to heat. Nick
talking easily of his travels-talking
the terse, salty phrases Of the sky man
tried to take off but it was too soupy
next day cleared bit but still
30 foggy had to follow the railroad
track half way to Waco she start
ed to settle and I nosed her up. :"
Talk safe, commonplace talk, so
that he could still the clamor of his own
heart. Trying to forget the dangerous
nearness of her
Warm and sweet and desirable she
was and his brothers wife. A man
would be a bum to take advantage of
a forced situation like this-hands off,
though his arms itched to hold her.
Love God! 1t was ironical when
q man loved the way he did and was
shut up with her like this and had to
keep hands of Dear kid.