Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1933-07-21
OTM NN
FINAL INSTALL,MENT

III vi LIN Gil 1lSlll. .
1 was SO bowled over bv what 20,
told me that day with that Aims.
worth fellow that | didn't know
what to believe. I began to think
| just imagined I'd been married
at ALL"
Just then Joyce saw Roxie NOV.
ing capably about the dining room
and running to her, she flung he,
arms impulsively about the Older
woman.
"Roxie, you darling!' she cried
Sam told me how wonderful.
you've BEEN"
Roxie beamed and flushed with
pleasure. 81 didn't do norhine!'
she said confusedly. "But, my, it.,
good to have you back, Mrs. Pack
ard, we've certainly missed you!
And nov do come in to dinner if
YOU and Mr.. Neil are ready"
"Where's Dickie?" she asked
Neil, when they were seated, 81
haven't seen him since l got back!'
"Oh, that's right must send
for him. He's been living with Sam
since you left. Moped about the
house so dismally that we thought
he was going to cash in, poor chap.
couldn't do anything with him.
He kept looking at me reproach-
fully, as if asking what I'd done
with you. 1t gave me the creeps.'
Funny little Dickie!' said Joy
Conversation Jagged. Joyce did
not want to ask any questions COW
ering the time of her absence,
thinking she might turn Neil's
thoughts toward his mother, and
cause him pain. She likewise did
not want to tell him anything a.
bout her life in San Francisco dur
ing that time; it now was resum-
ing the unhealthy of a bad dream,
and she had no wish to revive the
memories by talking about it. So
she ate silently.
All at once she was aware that
Neil was regarding her thoughtful
ly, with a brooding stare unlike the
matter-of-factness she remember
ed in him.
Anything wrong, Neil?" she
asked nervously.
mo, dear, l was just thinking
how wonderful it was to have you
back"
"Oh, Neil, you mustn't say
things like that to me! l know it's
only your kindness, your natural
sweetness" Joyce's voice choked
up, and she left the table. Neil
followed her into the living room.
We'll, we won't go into that
Just now, Frills, if it bores you"
Joyce was about to demonstrate
with MIN for his misconstruction of
her words, when he went hastily
on, by the way, l found some
thing that'll probably interest you
"a diary kept by you-by Frills-
beginning about the time Of our
arrival home in Mazanita after our
marriage"
Can | see it, Neil?"
Sure, I'll get it, just a minute"
And he vent rather YEARLY out of
the room.
Joyce was worried at the change
in Neil. He seemed to have lost
all his enthusiasm, all his spirit. II
hope he's not really ILL.," she
thought ~miserably. "Of course his
mothers death was an awful blow.
Perhaps a little time -" Her mind
was running along this course when
Neil came back.
May l look at it with you?'' he
asked, II didn't read much of it.
Somehow it seemed-not quite
right. | thought I'd put it away
and read it with you-when you
came home" He spoke so quitely
that Joyce barely caught the words
Nell" she said impulsively
pauslng before she opened the book,
do feel at home here!"
He smiled, a sudden sweet flash
that warmed Joyce to the heart,
and sravely they opened the dairy
between them.
1t was nearly midnight when
'hey laid the book aside. Fascinated,
[ney had read every word of the
o0ld handwriting that danced over
It's pages, and, fascinated, they h&e
'pfered with the curious, lost spirit
VIA. had cried out her secret fears
III her journal.
Oh, Neil, it's so terrible!" cried
I0yce, Y knew Frills had been Z
0So lot, but l never thought of hel
suffering somehow, never