Evening star., 1932-06-06
CHAPTER LIV.

"HE big house on the Crest was
like a castle in state of siege.
Both sides appeared to nave
settled down to watchful wait
ing. Between them rose
steadily growing wall of antagomsm'
Something deadly about the monot-
ony of these days, thought Joyce TO
herself and something akin TO terror
seized her-a dreary road, five years
long. 1t took distinct eHort 10 niala-
tain that icy pose.
Mrs. Cameron and Natalie. She rose
earlier than they did, SO breakfast was
a simple matter Just Kitty and her-
self at the table in the glass-1aceo
breakfast room. She took many early
morning rides. Lonely rides, for horse
back riding was something which kltty
firmly rejected.
Don't speak of it. Joy!" she said
decidedly. Not even for you Will
get on that creatures back. When they
grow horses with upholstered back
seats I'll listen to reason. Until tnen
I do all my horseback rldin' IN AUTO
mobiles" .,
rides up the river road, or cllmolng
fhe bluff to Meekers' woods. Joyce
found that they brought her measure
Of serenity, and made 1t possible 1or
the irving situation to go on Happl-
ness in merely relaxing In the quleI
of the words. She would sweep OH
her hat and tilt her head, feeling the
SIN warm on her face and her closeo
ovas. GOOD to sit like this
~ thinking-not even feeling -.
nn1y resting. feeling her tired spirit
exnand its bruised petals IN the Neai-
ing quiet
so she would sit for long moments,
will the horse moved restleSsly Oh
nricked up its ears at the souho VI
'a1e Then with a little sigh, she would
nick up the reins and start Slowly o"'N
to the house again. o,;o found
+heir relief in the life Of the town: "A
co,,n,e of times a week there Wou!o pe
..norch parties" On the veranda OF the
Mo house Feminine voices souholile
sh1ilIv over the bridge tableS-the noise
would drift up to Joyce's quiet Sulte OH
tho second f1oor-or, more revealing
she would become conscious OF suooen
nrepnant bushes, followed by smothereu
fauehter and sharp exclamatlons, ana
tnow that the Riverton ladies had ht
upon another juicy morsel OF gossip.
Hard to imagine that the world helo
wide stretches Of blue water s"ept Cy
sea wind far corners IKE 0nlga,
r,ore or Shanghai, where one colilo
hide away from clacking tongues: one
had to beat down the hot reoellon IN
49, hsar-bridle her spirit to submis-
sion again. ;.,,
once her heart was stirred to pity.
Che had come downstairs one DAY 10
And Natalie standing by the table IN
the front hall This was where the
mail was placed as soon as 1t was de,
iivered without a doubt, Natalie had
been quickly running through the mali
looking for a letter-a letter which was
not there, judging from her drooplng
As though she had been told, Joyce
knew that Natalie was hoping for a let
ter from Jim Keith. He had written
once a polite and noncommittal little
note. thanking them for his visit. That
much joyce had gathered from a con-
yersation between mother and daughter.
There was something in the droop OF
Natalie's slight figure now, something
wistful In the bend Of her head. that
sent a little throb Of sympathy to
Joyce's heart.
She moved impetuously to her. NAT
alie-" her voice shook-"cant We be
friendly? have no wish to go on as
as an enemy. I don't like to-to hurt
you-"
Joyce stopped at the pale blue hatred
which darted from the other girls eyes.
There's only one thing you can do
that would please mel" Natalie's voice
was shr1ll with passion. And that is,
to get away-away from my sight! We
don't want you here! It's horrible
that nasty old man humiliating us like
this!"
A tense moment when the two stared
at each other. Joyce had gone chalk
white. Her outstretched hands re-
NAMED for a moment as though frozen
in the gesture. White-hot fury had
leaped for moment at Natalie S
words-leaped and died out in a sense
Of sickening helplessness.
The next instant the spell was broken.
Natalie had burst into noisy tears.
Joyce dropped her hand heavily to her
side and went out the front door.
She was trembling, but she made her
way steadily to a sanctuary she had
discovered at the far end of the gar
den. This was a deserted Summer
house, a small, trellised affair, which