Evening star., 1932-05-18
TANGLED LIVES
-~~>~>~~~~~~-~~~~ By ANN FORESTER ~~~~~~~~~>~~~~~
Of
CHAPTER XXXv.
RUNNING FROM FATE.

| RUNNING FROM FA1E.
TOYCE stayed close to Roger thai
dav. as though she drew meas
ure of strength from the ole
~ man. She spoke little-it wa:
never like Joyce to talk much
And today there was much to thlnE
about. She was running from fate. >.
Making another of those abrupt de-
cisions which turned her destiny al
right angles. She had done this when
she ran away at night from Riverton
after her romantic dream OF Norman
Weaver's love.
She had run away from JEFF Their
ruld and the doubtful luxury ne OIL
fered. Curious to think OF that
now. That phase of her life vas un-
real. Cloud like jeff Therruld was
vague imp 'easant shape-somehow mon
strous and vague like ogres in the nur-
ser, stories.
Now she was running away from Jim
Keith. And this was danger! Snls
man had the power to sway her near!
and soul. This would b. no pleasant
Summer voyage Irritation. They we're
both too vital for that. The memory
of that mad moment in the bow hao
shown her how he could sway her. Go
away-to save her poiSe-to save mel
heart. Play fair with Roger-kind
good Roger who had given her every
thing.
Silently beating her heart down. as
she sat in the steamer chair beside
Roger pretending to be engrossed In a
bright covered magazine.
The old man watched her, noticing
how her eyes fixed dreamily on the
lifting horizon. Noticing how she start
ed as a shadow fell CT the deck beyiue
her. Jim Keith stood before them
Very tall and straight, in the sunshine,
thought the old nlaa enViCusly, glorious
ly young.
Il hear you are thinking of leaving
us. sir. when the Neptune reaches
Honolulu" His voice held only con-
ventional regret but the line of his
mouth was grim, and though he ad-
dressed Roger Cameron, for moment
his eyes brushed the face Of his young
wife
Mrs. Cameron suddenly decided that
she wanted to see Honolulu first. We
can catch a later ship to Shanghai, OF
course"
Was there something Of satisfaction
in the other mans voice?
Certainly. The Neptune's sister
ship-Undine-will touch there. Well
we shall hate to lose you and Mrs.
Cameron, sir"
Tense as a sword. that slender figure
in the deck chair. After her murmured
greeting her eyes had gone far out to
the blur of the horizon. While the two
men had been speaking her face had
gone slowly white. Now, as though he
drew her gaze in spite of herself her
eyes came bark. lifted to his, tortured,
a flash of violet fire. Withdrew-Went
back to the far horizon. All of her
yearning to him thrilled by him
hating him-fghting her eternal chal-
lenge in him.
One little fash of triumph in her
chilled heart. He was wretched! He
too, knew this miserable madness for
her. Oh. it was wise that she turn
and fee! They could not keep their
heads together!
She echoed Rogers courteous fare
well with one as courteous-and shorter.
She picked up her magazine with stud
led indifference as he hesitated, then
left, his tall shadow preceding him
along the white boards of the deck.
A fury of helpless jealousy raging in
his heart. Something primitive-un-
tanned leaping in his blood. His
woman she had been last night
just the two of them locked in world
of sea and sky Her lips had told him
her kisses had told him. A glori-
GUS fury she had been, telling her love
proudly-gladly-
What had come over him! Was he
in love? Love-he'd laughted at the
word There was no such thing
Affection, yes. He'd had that for the
young mother who had died in his early
youth. He'd had it for the young man
cousin he'd idolized since childhood.