Nogales international., 1933-08-12

"ROxie knew you better than 1
did, Neil said slowly, Il guess that's
|, a setback for me ali right :. | was
SO bowled over By what you told me
that day with that Ainsworth fellow
that l didn't know what to believe
began to think just imagined I'd
been married at ALL"
Just then Joyce saw. Roxic NOV
ing capably about the dining-Toom
and running to her, she flung her
arms impulsively about the older
woman.
"Roxie, you darfingT she cried
"Sam told me how wonderful
you've been"
Roxie beamed and flushed with
pleasure. 81 didn't do nothingP she
/ said confusedly. "But, my, it's good
to have you back. Mrs. Packard
we've certainly missed you! And
now do come in to dinner if you
and Mr.. Neil are ready"
Where's Dickie" she asked
Neil, when they were seated. Il
haven't seen him since I got backp'
"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 though
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. It gave me the creeps."
Funny little Dickie!" said Joyce
Conversation Jagged. Joyce did moi
want to ask any questions covering the
time of her absence, thinking she NIGH
turn NeiPs thoughts toward his
mother, and cause him pain. She like
wise did not want to tell him anything
! about her life in San Francisco during
that time: it now was resuming the
unreality of bad dream, and she tac
no wish to revive the memories by
! talking about it. SO she ate silently.
All at once she was aware that Nei
was regarding her thoughtfully. with :
/ brooding stare unlike the matter of.
factness she remembered in him.
Anything wrong, Neil" she
asked nervously.
"No, dear, / was just thinking
how wonderful it was TO have you
| back"
ooh, Neil, you mustn't say things
/ like that to me! I know it's only
your kindness. your natural sweetness
-" Joyce's voice choked up. and
she left the table. Neil followed her
into the fiviu0-rOOm
"We1l, we won't go into that just
now, Frills, if it bores YOU" Joyce
was about to remonstratc with him
for his misconstruction Of her
words, when he went hastily on
"By the way. found something
that'll probably interest you-a di'
airy kept by you-by Frills--begin,
ming about the time of our arriva
home in Manzanita after our mar
riage."
Gan see it, Ncil?"
"Surc, I'll get it, just a minute.
! And he went rather wearily out o.
the room.
Joyce was worried at the change
in Neil. He seemed to have lost al
HIS CIllItuSldSIilp dll Aiio oPii iiI' AAOP'
he's not really ILL.," she though
miserably. "Of course his mother
death was an awful blow. Perhaps i;
little time -" Her mind was run
ming along this course when Mel
came back.
May I look at it with you?" 1t
asked, 81 didn't read much of il
Somehow it seemed = not quit
right I thought I'd put it away an
read it with you-when YOU cam
home" He spoke so quietly tha
Joyce barely caught the words.
Neil" she said impulsively, paus
ing before she opened the book, "
do feel at horne here%
He smiled, sudden sweet fiasI
that warmed Joyce to the heart. an
graveiy they opened the diary be
tween them
It was nearly mid1ight when the
laid the book aside, Fascinated, the