Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1933-03-24

that breakfast was ready.
The commonplaceness of the din
ing-room furniture proved a well
come relief to Joyce after the
"modernistic" living-room.
Joyce took up the thin glass of
orange juice which nestled in a bed
of craked ice 1t was deliciously
sweet and refreshing.
when I consider how, in myl
old life, L could get a thrill out Of
finding one of Aldous Huxley's or
Robert Ainsworth's books on the
bargain counter at Leary's, I WON
der I'm not dizzy with excitement
at all these thrills piled on me at
once. There's too much of it /.
can't make myself believe I won't
wake up in a few minutes and find
myself in some little, stufy hall
bedroom in a noisy city.
She drew in her breath sharply,
wilted in spirit at the thought.
Just then the maid brought in
the rest of her breakfast.
els there anything else you'd
like, Mrs. Packard?" the woman
fingered to ask.
"Oh, no, thank you'll" replied
Joyce, restraining an impulse to
show her enthusiasm. She resolved
that she must be as noncommittal
as possible for a while.
When she was alone again, Joyce
ate with,relish, finishing every scrap
of the jam, every crumb of toast,
and every drop of the coffee.
When the maid appeared again,
she had made up her mind. eff any
one telephones or calls, will you
please say that l have a headache
and don't feel like talking or seeing
anyone?"
She strolled out toward the gar
den to examine the flowers, plan
ming to walk around to the other
side of the house to see what sort
of landscape would greet her there.
1t was SO intensely thrilling to
try to realize herself in California!
But just as she stepped out into the
warm sunshine, marveling at the
amazing clearness of the atmos-
phere, she heard the telephone bell
ring. The telephone was on a
stand at the foot Of the stairs, and
the maid who had waited on her
approached it with deliberate steps
and lifted the receiver.
eyes? Yes, this is Roxie
Good morning, Mrs. Packard, Why
yes, Mrs. Packard's had breakfast
but she has a headache and said she
couldn't see anyone. N-no,
she just said anyone Well, I'll ask
her. Just a minute. The next
moment the maid seeing Joyce, said
apologetically, "Mrs. Paul Packard,
ma am, on the phone and wants to
know how you are. She said Mr..
Neil has asked her to come over
to see you and she's just ready to
start now"
ooh? But but-please tell
her my head just don't feel I
can talk or-or see anyone today"
stammered Joyce, II think I'd bet
ter keep pretty quiet for a little
while. I I'm sorry" She look
ed helplessly at the maid, who re-
turned without comment to the
telephone and delivered the mes
sage. Joyce listened, wondering
worriedly whether she should have
taken the plunge. Perhaps her re-
fusa1 to see Mrs. Paul Packard
would cause trouble.
She decided regretfully that she
had best not go out into the garden
where unexpected callers might find
her. She would be safer up in her
room for this day at least. What she
must find now were letters and 9TH
er evidence to enlighten her furth-
Ter.
In her bedroom again, she discov-
ed that one of the mirrors beside
the dressing table formed the panel
of a door. "This," murmured Joyce
turning the glass handle and look
ing into the next room, must be
my boudoir! All, there's a desk at
last. I was just beginning to wonder
whether there was any place in this
whole house where one could write
a letter. Now I certainly ought to
discover something more"
= She sat down at the desk. "Now
I feel like a real crook she tn 1t
, intentionally, reading somebody
@else's ~letters!"
;, In spite of the handsome fittings,
slit was an untidy desk, carrying a