Nogales international., 1933-07-22

"Do you know, dear, haven't had 9
ride with you in a dogs age. | think
TIL cut out the golf today and go with
you. Take me on, will you?" Nei
spoke with smiling carelessness bu
the look in his eyes gave him away
"Of course, what time will you ge
here?" She spoke casually. Neil woulC
never guess the turmoil of unhapplneS:
under that calm. Did men ever divine
things the way women did? One mar
perhaps Robert? as the name stab
bed her she turned away quickly
scarcely hearing NeilS answer, III
come home to lunch, think. Their
we'll have the whole afternoon to-
getaer."
Even in her pain Joyce heard tht
change in Neils voice That last wore
was spoken with so touchingly confl
dent and happy a note.
"All right, I'll be ready. Goodbye,
and she ran upstairs and shut herseli
in her room. There she sat down or
the edge of the couch. bed and'clenchec
her hands, staring dry-eyed out Of The
big window to the distant mountains.
Joyce was wrapped in a mood o1
warm compassion for Neil. She felt she
could not add another unkindness tc
the many that Frills had inflicted upon
him. His eyes haunted her, and she felt
more utterly miserable than she had
at any time since she had awakened to
find herself occupying another wo-
mans shoes. She could not contem-
plate failing Neil and his mother that
way.
Riding of with Joyce that afternoon
Neil was in high spirits, with an Ella
tion in his manner that filled Joyce
with shame She rode in silence, hardly
answering his questions, and not look
ing at him.
Neil soon fell in with her mood as
they rode along and no longer bothered
her with conversation Gradually then
she began to feel remorse, and wished
she could be less surly with Neil. He
tried so hard to please her in every
thing, to adapt himself to her moods
1t struck Joyce suddenly how much OF
that sort of thing he must have been
doing in his married life.
Sam says McBready has a new lot
of horses in," remarked Joyce, "did he
tell you there's man from Salinas who
would like to buy Fire Queen?"
yeah" replied Neil, eyeing> her
sidewise, perhaps to see if her general
expression matched the friendly causal-
ness of her voice. "I said I'd like tc
get rid of her myself but I'd have tc
consult you about the matter, l hate the
sight of the damn brute after what
she nearly did to you, dear"
A flash of amusement curled the
corners OF Joyce's mouth for moment
as she remarked, 'You needn't consult
me. I'm quite satisfied with Rosita
thank you"
Really? Gosh that's great. Sure re.
lieves my mind"
A little later they dismounted anc
sat down on a slope overlooking the
valley to eat the package of sandwiches
and fruit Joyce had brought To her
relief Neil talked about Manzanita
lOplCS IllS IILOlIlCI , COllQIllOll, d1i :
departure, Sans progress in the cor
respondence course, plans for the new
subdivision north of Manzanita, and SO
on.
He finally stretched out on the
ground and put his head in her lap.
Joyce had just stroked back lock of
hair from his forehead, thinking
absently that Neil ought to be doing
something about the increasing thin
ness of his hair, when the thud of a
horses hoofs in the distance caught
her car. She stiffened and glanced up
with an apprehensiye fear clutching at
her heart and stopping its beat for a
moment.
There, in an opening between clumps
of oak trees about sixty yards away,
on the trail they had just left, rode
Robert Ainsworth! He did not see
her at first. Then his idly rowing glance
turned to the couple on the ground.
His eyes met Joyce's, and a quick smile
of recognition spread over his face.
Then his look dropped to the figure of
Neil lying with his head in her lap. A
quizzical shade passed over his face.
'Iello, Joycep he shouted. His
horse 1eaped forward under the spur
of his heel, and they galloped up the