Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-07-11
6LaoN &c GaN{Y77!l@
w. By HzAE/E BZ/ZARD [StN@
CHAPTER az

-coPYMcHr RELEASED BY CENTRAL PRESS ASSOCIATION

JOAN HAD heard OF the beauties
of April in Paris. She had known
the simple beauty OF April in Blake
vile where the budding earth and
early flowers made fragrant the
nights and sweet the days but her
first April in Now York. for all that
1t was unblessed by nature. was the
happiest she had ever known.
Julian came home and grew
stronger and more difficult each day.
She worked with him and read to
him. rode with him when he went for
his daily airing, made herself a
staunch bulwark against the de-
mands made upon him and found
happiness and forgetfulness in serv-
ing him. Forgetfulness OF the thing
In her memory that would have
raped at the door OF her heart and
opened it to her hurt
Spring, treacherous season, to
open old wounds with unspeakable
poignancy! 1t was April when she
had first met Win. 1t was another
April when he had asked her to
marry him.
An invalid. particularly one who
wasn't an invalid in the true sense.
was a remarkable antidote for heart
ills. Julian was ideal. He kept her
moving. had something to take up
her mind every minute She felt
that they had reversed ages and the
difference was very great. 1t was
she who was the little mother and
Julian who was a difficult child.
Then Mrs. Henderson had the
grippe and Joan wondered what she
used to do with her time when all
she had were secretarial duties.
One warm day she was sitting with
Julian in the garden.
knit three purl one darn!
I always do that wrong" She ripped
her knitting apart and started over.
Joan" She looked up at him
slightly annoyed How could she
count that way?
Knitting isn't much fun, is it?"
"Not when can't count in peace.
knlts and then / purled :"
What has become of all your
beaux? You haven't been out hav-
ing good time for weeks. 1 won't
have you :"
"Pulleeze! I've tried this three
times" She was quiet until she had |
counted her stitches. Nov what's |
all this about my going out? Do I
have to take my knitting to the |
movies to make you happy?"
He grinned at her. II just thought |
1t would be pretty dull social fare
for a popular girl"
She scowled. I'm not a popular
girl and besides like to knit. also |
like to fish. And 1 don't like night |
clubs"
Julian smiled and resumed his
reading. She counted her puzzled |
stitches and they resumed a COM
Portable silence
Julian didn't see the newsprint.
He saw a girl casting in a trout |
stream. A girl who would take it as
seriously as she took her knitting.
A girl with dappled gold on her hair
much the same as Joan's looked with
the April sun shining through the
leaves on her bent head
Joan broke his reverie:
There. now that I've got it done
in spite Of you. I'm going to quit
for the day. It's time to go in.
You're to have a nap before dinner"
Joan wrapped her knitting up and
thrust it into her knitting bay.
'Nap! he said contemptuously
and waited for her to fold his rug.
Not that he wasn't able to do it. he
liked to watch Joan do it.
You bet" she answered. eff you
don't get it. how do you think you'll
get enough strength to bark at me
Anything interesting In the pa
PERI" she asked over her shoulder.
"Er -. yes. See 1t for YOURSELF"
Julian hadn't read a line in the
paper. He had been enjoying his
Julian had asked Jean to stay with I