Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-08-29
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INSTALLMENT XXI.
~ joseph McCoRo

INSTALLMENT XXI.
IN EEDS very nearly mustered q
/ smile Of contempt Is he put
| his plan into execution.
Quietly he slipped out the
door leading to the side porch, vaulted
the railing and gained the rear road.
Out in front, John Elledge must be
waiting to see II any one followed
Joan, otherwise he would have been
pretty sure to 60 waddling along her
trail on his own account. If he did
show up 1t was going to be just
TOO bad.
The highway was empty when
Deeds left 1t and took to the sand and
its coarse grass. When he took q
cautious peep over the top of the
outer dune, he found that he had not
calculated the distance quite accu-
rately. He had passed Joan.
She was alone. Sitting in the sand.
| He made his way back along the
ridge, keeping lookout for intruders.
Then. directly behind Joan, he paused
and looked at her.
She was in white today. with a
brown scarf about her shoulders. 1t
was blowing In the breeze 50 was
her hair. She was leaning back sup
porting herself on her two hands,
looking out across the tumbling waves.
Something told Deeds that the express
sion in her eyes would be different
IT,. it never would be the same. So
calm and serene. What would they
tell him when she looked up into his
face the first instant Of their meeting.
What would she say =. do?
For long minute, he stood watch
ing. This was the one picture ne
would always keep In his heart. Joan.
alone the water -. wind blowing.
He drew a deep breath and began
the descent, uncertain how to an
nounce his presence. But Joan either
sensed it or heard the scruff Of his
feet In the sand. She turned her head
to look at him. Her face and eyes
were grave; there was no sign of sur
prise.
"Sneaking up on you." he offered
gruffly.
Il heard you. Sit down. won't you?"
Her voice was as untroubled as her
brown eyes. Deeds found himself
thinking that they might have strolled
out here together, as far as her de-
meanor was concerned. He dropped
down beside her and waited.
Joan had turned her face to the sea
again.
As Deeds watched her, he knew that
all the old bitterness and fear was
leaving him. In Its place q fierce
longing was mounting He'd take her
in his arms if something didn't
happen. He couldn't stand this,
Got your note" he heard himself
saying.
And I thank you for coming. Mac"
She was facing him now. Il wanted
just this one chance to be fair (.
honest. want to tell you ="
You don't have to tell me any
thing" Deeds interrupted harshly. Il
know . enough"
I'D rather you knew who it Is
It's Gene"
Deeds McCune heard that name in a
daze.
Joan Kendall was married to Gene
CASTOR! Married to ). he was her
to comprehend as her confession of
the night before that she was married.
Deeds had managed. in a fashion,
to bring himself to the realization
that Joan belonged to another man.
But he had persuaded himself by this
time that it was no one he knew. Now,
it was that fellow CASTOR. He had
seen him almost every day, eaten at
the table with him and .. last
night.
Gene CASTOR" he repeated
mechanically. He must have said the
name aloud, for Joan answered in a
dull little voice:
Eyes. Gene and I were mar
ried ;. four years ago. Almost five,
now"
Deeds found himself almost hurting
''Why?" Instead, he managed, Were
| you?" 1t was nearly as bad.
yes. Nobody here knows it E. or
didn't think they did until last
night. want you to understand :. :"
I'VE may as well skip it," he ans
wered heavily. What difference does
it make? That or anything else"
Just this much difference, Mac"
Joan explained, quietly. 1T means
lot to a woman to know that she has
earned the love Of a good man or
it should. It does to me. Why shouldn't
tell you that your love Is dearer to
me than anything that ever came into
my life even If can't keep it?
Would you rather not know"
Joan ). Joan!"
Il know you're going away, Mac. I
was afraid perhaps you would go with
seeing me .. without giving me this
chance to be honest" She still was
speaking in that fiat, expressionless
voice. you were good to come. It
will always be easier to remember
now that I've told you the truth.
I'm not sorry I learned it. don't
want you to be sorry. Not ever"
Joan, dear do you mean 2"
'That I never loved Gene? No, I
never did. Oh i" She faced
Deeds with . startled looked in her
brown eyes. II thought somehow