Evening star., 1932-02-07
CHAPTER XIII.


STONISHING the difference
n Nfcks presence made in the
II old house. 1t seemed to vital
1 4 ize the place. The high-ceiled
rooms woke from their long
browse and echoed to his hearty voice,
to his laughter Judy felt that a
fresher air a keener sense of life blew
through her with Nick walking through
the old rooms, along the long, paneled
halls. Nick, tall and lean and hard
in his whipcord breeches and high
leather boots, talking man talk. bring
ing the keen breath of conflict-the
breadth of the SKY to narrow lives.
These thoughts about Nick-running
through Judys mind.
But Nick'S thoughts were a curious
mixture of pity and indignation. Some
thing pathetic, thought Nick, about
this girl shut up here for Christmas in
this old house, with his grandmother
and old Martha. He longed fervently
to punch STAINS good-looking face.
The FOOL Couldn't he see what he
had in being married to this girl!
Such a genuine little kid. Honest
honest as the daylight. A fellow could
tell that, the steady way her eyes
looked at you. Her eyes were the same
color as the sea when he'd been flying
over it this morning Something hurt
in them. Well, no girl could be mar
ried to Stan and not be hurt. No girl
of this type, that was-Stan should
have a wife who was hard as nails
like that Wilson dame. Thus Nick
suddenly savage.
He had Christmas gifts for them
gifts which only Nick would have
thought about. For Madame high
backed, loW-seated wicker chair, well
padded in brown leather-a seat from
the first cabin plane put out by his
company.
"A most appropriate present for
ki-wi, Eliza!" he explained with mock
gravity to the delighted old lady.
Now you can do your flying in per-
feet safety"
A ki-wi, Nick enlarged turning to
Judy, was an enthusiast who did all Of
his flying on land. Madame, though
enthusiastic about flying, could not be
induced to leave terra .firma, even with
her adored Nick.
Madame was entranced by her gift.
This chair had been up there in the
blue with Nick. 1t had associations.
She could sit in it, grasping its padded
arms feeling closer TO her boy. A
Kings throne could not have been so
precious. She insisted on sitting in it
on the front veranda shielded from the
ocean wind, baSking in the mild Win
ter sunlight.
But Nicks present for Judy set the
house in an uproar Keegan came
around the house grinning broadly
while he held an armful Of wriggling,
ecStatic wire-haired terrier.
Perhaps there is not so much COM
pressed energy in all the world as there
is contained in a SiXmonths-old wire
haired. In the first five minutes the dog
seemed not to touch ground at all. AS
Keegan released him he made one dive
for Nick, flung himself at Judy,
swarmed all over the old lady and
Tapped at her with lolling, pink
tongue
1t was only when Nick imprisoned
him in his arms holding him squirm-
ing and frantic. that calm was restored
to the little group.
You told me once that you liked
dogs. This fellows going to be a good
puTp when he's tanned down bit and
gets little of the he'll out Of him"
Nick atfectionately seized the dogs
long nose and shook it, an action
which drew a convulsive Sneeze.
Last time I saw you I thought you
looked as though you ought to get out
in the sun more. Side-slip will make
a good companion. Keep you from be-
coming too sedate. I recommend him
for any ones liver"
"Side-slip!"
"Oh, yes he's named-arent you, old
timer! Notice the way he walks. Come
on, boy, get up and walk. SCe-the way
he trotS leaning over? Just the way
plane leans in wing over. He's losing
altitude -
Side-slip it was AS mischievous and
endearing a bit of dog-fleSh as ever
buried bones in front lawn or cheWed
up ones best party pumps. Side-slip,
ii developed early, had misguided
sense of humor. He Crept under Mar
thas old-fashioned long skirts and slyly
nipped her on her plump calves He
developed passionate attachment for
Nine. CarterS best shawl and was
caught by Keegan sneaking it away to
chew in ardent privacy. A course OF
behavior which would be fatal in any
dog not donated by Nick, but which
merely endeared him the more to
Madame. Yes, Side-slip kept the day
from becoming too placid. ..
A day amazingly pleasant. Through
Madame'S order the turkey dinner had
been served at noon. The table, set for
three, looked little pathetic in this
great IOOIu WHICH, Ildu OctII IIlLtIluCd
to harbor a large family Judy's quick
sympathy enabled her to see the other
ChristmaseS in this big house, celebra-
tionS beside which this was pale
shadow. Madame was right, 1t was
mistake to live too long. =.
But Nick kept the ghosts from the
feast. He kept Madame from looking
at the past-kept Judy from looking
at the future. E. This was the present
and it was happy. A fire cracking in
the CRATE . Winter sunshine stream
ing through the high narrow windows.
Toyon berries-red and green in
shiny black bowl in the middle of the
table. Talk and laughter and under 1t
all, the low sustained roar Of the ocean
hanging like an organ nO5e in the air.
Tomorrow this would be gone-Another
Christmas in Madame's long life-per-
haps her last, who knew? Tomorrow
Judy would have the puzzled bits Of her
own life to fit together. There would
be Stan and heartache and hurt
pride-and the strange new fear OF
child But this was today. Suf-
ficient unto the day was the good
thereof. =.
Later in the afternoon, while Madame
took her siesta Nick and Judy took
long walk along the coast accompanied
by the enraptured Side-slip wild with
JOY at the freedom.
Air, diamond clear, and sea, which
flashed like glass. A wide and lonely
country stretched out TO the sun and
the wind They climbed the low coast
hills and Nick showed her what ap-
peared the ruins of an ancient town.
A ghost city which died before it had
ever lived. Cement pavements which
were almost overgrown now with bunch
grass and tar-weed, wandering over the
sand 1unes and ending abruptly in
lupine- -choked gullies. The ruins OF
what had been intended for large
tennis court, fallen into decay the
pavement cracked and scanned, the
wire netting rusted and broken before
one match had been played. Massive
gateposts of cement which were almost
hidden by yellow gorse pushes-gates
which opened on nothing.
"The ruins of Troy!" the girl eX-