Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-05-25
CHAPTER I

GOING ANY place special thi!
afternoon Louise called across tn,
dusty hall that separated the upper
grades from the lower grades rooms
"Wheret Is there to got" Joar
Spencer called back absently and
slammed a drawer OF her desk VIC.
lently. She would have raised hel
eyebrows questioningly at any of heI
small pupils had they done that, but
there was none there to see. Joan
had an impulse to open and slam
every drawer in the desk. to stamp
her feet and stick her tongue out
impudently Instead. she sighed.
II thought maybe you'd drive me
into town. I've got to get O present
for Trudy's kitchen shower. Then,
we could stop at the Olde Rose
Louise's voice. punctuated with
swishes as her eraser swept over the
blackboard. drifted lazily into the
empty sunny room.
"And finish off The mad whirl with
q trip to the ibrary?" Joan an
swered. Her tone was not sarcastic
but 1t had a new quality-for joan
Of discomfort.
"If we don't stay too long. I've
got to correct my spelling test papers
but / suppose I can do that after
supper"
"And miss the Van Dusen's party?
Or are you night clubbing tonight?"
Joan retorted.
what Van Dusen party?" Louise
asked from the doorway.
Joan smiled at he fellow teacher.
"Don't mind me-" she said. gathering
UP bag and purse and pulling a soft
felt hat over her light brown hair
that would curl around her face.
I'm being amusing. Or maybe I'm
not Maybe I'm just working off
steam. l don't know what's the mat
ter with me-"
Spring fever" Louise answered
matter of-factly. -All school teach
ers have it in May. We're worse
than the kids. Every spring swear
that next year I'll get a job where
IN have to work indoors until sup
per time so that I won't have time
on my hands to wonder why spring
2s so lovely and so lonesome" She
stopped off speaking and Joan's gaze
followed hers through the window to
the fields outside. The pale blue of
tiny starry mayf1owers dotted the
fresh yellow green grass. Clusters of
daisies blew to and fro languidly in
the warm breeze. A winging spar
row accented for a moment its
background of f1eecy cloud.
"-Oh. WE'LL" Louise sighed, "there's
nothing the matter with me that a
hot fudge sundae won't cure. That's
the beauty Of accepting ones lot as
an old maid. Material things are so
good"
Come along and get your sundae,
Louise" Joan pulled the plump girl
to her. "and get that old maid idea
out Of your mind. It's fatal for a
school teacher to feel that way.
Your fate will be a tall dark
stranger"
DO you think that's my type?"
Louise asked. squeezing herself back
place. I'D say that was more your
type"
You wouldn't call Win the tall.
dark type would your" Joan called
over the sputter Of her antique mo-
tor.
Il wouldn't call him the romantic
type exactly but he's the nice de-
pendable type and any boy that has
worked as hard as Win has, edu-
eating himself and working his way
through medical college. will make a
good husband"
YES" Joan answered shortly and
swung the battered car around
curve on two shaking wheels.
"The best catch in this town, Joan.
Won't you love being Mrs DR..
Winsloe?"
"Umm. guess so If ever I am"
why. Joan!" Louise grabbed her
blowing hat. Il never heard you talk
that way. You're engaged to hint"
II know. Just forget anything 1
say. Only Louise. when you get
engaged. don't stay engaged Eve
years. After a while it doesn't seem
quite real"
More spring fever" the other girl
said practically. you know perfect
ly well that Win wants to marry you
as soon as he can. And you told me
yourself that he had to get his start
In New York. One more year Is all
you have to wait"
don't want to wait And don't