Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1933-06-02
CTM- NC
Twelfth Installment

oo ~ oANo ~
cretly Joyce's spirits rose a little.
She was glad that he was asserting
himself. She had an odd little
feeling-odd when you considered
that he was, in terms of actual ex-
perience, nothing to her-of pride
In his outburst. Frills seemed to
her more than ever an alien, a sep
arate individual, almost like a first
wife. She was moved by Packard's
emotion and filled with an over
whelming desire to erase that hurt
look from his face.
I'm not trying to put anything
over on you. H.. | don't blame
you for lot believing me now, but
l swear Pm telling the truth about
this. l know I've been pretty e.
rotten, but now -" she paused.
1t was so difficult to say what she
wanted to. A mixture of shyness
and fear, and the unaccustomed-
ness of putting her feelings into
words, held her back for a mo-
ment. But again her desire % make
Neil realize that she wanted to be
friends with him, hat in the flu
ture he would not have to worry
about her actions, drove her OH.
well perhaps that blow on
the head knocked at little sense
into me-"
On impulse alone Joyce sudden
" came close to him and smiled
up into his face, a little tremulous-
ly, and said, please, let's star,
over again and, after this
well, don't expect me to be any
white-robed angel, but I'll try not
o worry you too much"
She was unable to say more, for
Packard abruptly drew her close tc
him and kissed her again and a.
gain, murmuring words of grateful
surprise and happiness. 'Frills
darling | love you so, sweet
heart! You you really NEAR it
dear? l thought all my
chances of happiness were gone
but now I'll do everything
can to make it worth while-tc
help you if you really mean it,"
Joyce, submitting to his caresses,
reflected ~ruefullv hat she hao
never been so much kissed in hel
life as she had been since she wok!
up in Mrs. Neil Packard's bed
Gently she tried to free herself
Poor Neil! He did find it hard tt
believe that any such miracle a
this had happened. She smiled a
gain, all her joy in the day restored
knowing that he would go off tt
work filled with nope for the flu
ture security of his home and hap
piness.
"Of, course, l mean it. But 20,
needn't take my word for it. Jus
give it a thirty days trial. Salts
faction guaranteed or your money
refunded" she replied lightly, slip
ping out of his arms, "better rur
along to work now or you nigh
lose your job. And don't forge
Il date at five this afternoon"
"You bet l won't. Gee, but :.
whoopee! I l wish l didn''
have to go down to the office.
feel like celebrating-
"You- go along!!" exclaimed
Joyce, alarmed at the threatened
loss of her day of freedom ane
feeling the need of a rest after thu
strain of this stormy scene, e
can't have you around all day. I'm
going tt be busy"
"All right! And say, if anything
does come up you'd rather Go thi!
afternoon, it's all right, you know
We can go to mothers some othe'
time"
1.-The date is made. If it's brok-
en-, it'll be your doing"
When she got Out to the stable
Joyce found Sam about to mount
the black horse. "Oh, Sam, where
are you going?"
"Why, Mr.. Packard asked me tc
take some papers to Jake Arson
It's up beyond Elk Flat in the hills:
a good long way from the road, Sc
he told me I'd better ride Barney
explained Sam.
We'll, couldn't I go with your
demanded Joyce. She was still a
little about going out a
lone, when all the trails were SO
unfamiliar to her.
'Why, sure! I'll saddle Rosita.'
When Joyce got back at noon
after a two-hour ride, during
which she learned much about the
county and its possibilities for
horseback riding, she was informed
by Roxie that she had missed two
sets of callers.