Evening star., 1932-06-11

"HE promise OF Lne mOon nau
grown. The sky was clear
when joyce awoke the next day.
i Red maple leaves falling against
a sharp blue sky. Early morn
ing sunlight turning the raindrops to
rainbow prismS as they hung qulverng
on the shrubs All of the world seemed
glad today
As she dressed in broadcloth suit
q severely expensive thing of leaf
browns and deep creams, Joyce studied
her reflection anxiouSly-so anxious was
she to appear her best for Jim! Out OF
the depths of the glass a glowing, ar
dent girl looked back at her-her
eyes-her face, but with something
more added. A sweeter, tremulous
curve to that full mouth" warm,
happy light, turning her eyes to dark
violet Happiness had touched her like
a magic wand. She was vital, alert as
she had not been for years.
For moment her mind went back
to that other impetuouS marriage she
had made. The gray hotel-the
stuf1y red plush chairs and musty hang
ings. The gray room and the three gray
old men.
Her hand went out and fingered for
q moment on the silver frame which
held photograph of Roger Cameron.
1t had been taken at Nice-a snapshot
enlarged for he had an aversion to
sitting for his portrait. The steel
sharp eyes in the picture looked deep
into her own, and the girl stood for a
long moment talking to him In her
mind.
Please understand, Roger. .
Money isn't SO much, after all. q.
If you could look in my heart, you'd be
glad for me.
She walked out of the door, knowing
that she did so for the last time. Kitty
would attend to the last of the packing
and would follow them out West In
few days.
Down the stairs to the lower hall
for the last time! For the last time!
her heart was singing. This great gray
house, dropping away like stone,
leaving her strangely light. happily
buoyant. She stepped onto the porch
into the sunshine-and into Jims arms
as he came up the outer stairs.
"Hah, wench! I've caught you! Try
ing to run away from me, aren't yo,l--
He held her fast, his dark eyes burning
down into her own, belying his laugh
ing words "Hark to me, woman!
You'll take me to the altar today and
make an honest man Of mel
Her laugh matched his own, but she
closed her eyes so that he would not
see the sudden hot sting of tears.
They were married in the white
frame church standing behind its row
of shaggy yew trees. And Joyce found
herself remembering day, years ago.
when shabby little Joyce Allen had
watched Natalie Cameron in white Volle
ruf1es and patent leather slippers 90 to
Sunday school there.
Maddy was Unexpectedly discovered
waiting among the dusky pews in all
the glory of her best velour coat and a
new hat. The lumpy baby had been
parked at a neighbor's for safe keep
ing Maddy tremulous and damply
romantic, who whispered distractedly
through her tears as she kissed her
cousin, Il Just had to come and see you
married-and thank you for all those
lovely clothes you sent down yesterday
and OH Joy, I don't know what Ill do
with you away-but isn't he the most
good-looking thing you ever saw-and TO
think it was you all the time. not
Natalie Cameron like we thought. ~
Maddy wspt happily all through the
vigorously Immediately after.
You were the most beautiful thing
but I wanted you to wear white satin
and veil and look bridey."
Over Maddy's thin shoulder Joyce's
eyes met Jim's gaze and there was a
tender laughing light in them which
should have pleased her cousin.
Il don't need white satin, Maddy.'
There was little shake running
through the words. "Broadcloth feels
soft when you've been wearing sack
cloth so long,
An do you know" Maddy went
on that night across the dinner table
to her indifferently interested husband,
IT don't believe she thought one single
thing about all the money she was CIV