Henderson daily dispatch., 1934-07-28
CHAPTER 81


f. JOAN, HAVING crossed the from
tier from France to Spain, was rack
ing along with Farley in numbering
diligence" into which the passengers
had been bundled when an accident
happened to their train. The ark
like vehicle was cramped and
crowded and bitter cold with the
piercing winds which blew down from
the Serras.
Farley, sitting straight and disap-
proving beside her mistress. COM
mented. "You'n catch your death"
Joan shook her head. TIN as warm
as toast with this rug over me. You'd
better take my fur coat. Farley"
IL don't want it, Miss Joan. / wear
red iannels. I don't hold with those
wisps Of crepe in winter time"
Joan flashed smile at her. Farley
was a great delight. The English
woman's lack Of humor and her
unawareness of it made her seem
perpetually like one of the figures
in comic sheet who. while playing
out their own drama of life with
seriousness. are side-spltting to the
spectator.
We've got to eat at an inn in the
next town." Farley stated with
sort of breathless indignation, and
stay all night. We can't get a
train until morning. 1 never heard
Of such management"
. But you've never been to Spain.
Joan reminded her. Farley. look at
that girl down near the door, with
the crescent curl on her cheek. Shes
Gke somebody out of book"
';%."'Bold and brazen. | call her"
Joan's laugh rippled. and then the
two of them ceased TO talk as they
watched the animated scene about
them. Everybody else was talking,
and there was a wealth of geStiCu-
Iation, much showing of white teeth, |
much coquettish tossing of heads.
Crowded thus into the lantern
lighted wagon, the Spaniards showed
q picturesqueness which they had |
lacked in the more modern setting
Of the train-and their faces were |
like those in the paintings by Goya |
-the women with a certain dark
sweetness, the men saturnine, clean
Shaye1,, mahogany Colored.
= No men here like the men IN
Mnine-like old John Leonard
TuEKed of build, their faces chiselled |
with the fine lines of stern purpose, |
their eyes lighted by the laughter |
which is their Yankee inheritance.
Ne women here, like those slender !!
Puritan goddesses, silver and white |
and blue, who come to old age as a |
birch tree comes to its winter, still |
slender and straight, though stripped |
Of their summer charm.
'' These women and these men-a |
whole world of difference between |
them and Joans own people. Ro- |
nance here was guarded by iron |
grilles and shut away by high walls.
Love making was a matter of secre-
tive signals; flash of the eye, the |
wave of a hand a rose tossed from |
window, a guitar serenading in the |
night. Hot blood was held in leash |
BY the presence of a duenna. Yet /
everywhere there was an awareneSS
Of the passionate adventure Joan
Het as II she moved in a medieval
world -. =; It's a sort of Canter-
bury pilgrimage" she said to Farley. |
Then laughed as Farley said: 81
wish il was Canterbury"
They arrived at the inn to find it |
q dusky place. with clean rooms
whose windows showed a shadowy
mountain range. its peaks reaching
up towards a ar-spangled sky.
When they had made themselves
ready for dinner, Farley and Joan
went down to eat at a long table with
other passengers from the coach.
There were big dishes Of fruit on the
table, and coarse but heavy napery.
Joan had an egg poached i'm oil. a
DOwi OF lettuce, crisp, sweet bread.
ana atthe end golden skinned grapes
and fresh figs. Other people at the
table ordered heartier foods-roast
meats and platters of vermicelh,
partridSes dressed with burnt sugar.
duckling with Guava jelly. veal deli
cately Dreaded and with a distinctive
sauce. but Joan was satisfied with
her more delicate choice. and felt a
sense of esthetc repletion.
Later when she got into bed she
Hound hot water bag at her feet
YOU'D freeze before morning with
out 1T" Farley informed her mis-
tress.
"WouId II"
Then as the maid opened the win
dow for the night and let in a stream
OF ICY air Joan curIed down into the
warmth of her nest. IFS heavenly.
She said, and smiled 5leepiiy. and
Earley' tuckiliG her in, said, ador-