Evening star., 1938-02-18
CHAPTER v.


the pike toward Washington.
~ The headlights cut brilliant
swath through the darkness. Craig
slowed down hardly at all they went
through Batesville, but kept the horn
sounding. Once through town he
eased the car down to As.
Joyce felt pleasantly excited. Mend
ing and pressing her one decent dress
that afternoon, she had been prey to
doubts and the longer she considered
the dress the worse it looked In her
own room after supper she had re-
garded herself in the glass and had
decided that she wouldn't go. She
hadn't changed her mind until Craig
came into the living room and she saw
that he wasn't noticing her dress
at all.
She looked at him now and thought
how handsome he looked in his dinner
coat. His eyes met hers.
He said soberly, You look nice in
white, Joyce"
Joyce smiled contentedly, realizing
that her worry had been wasted. To
Craig it was just another dress, but
whether expensive or cheap, old or
new, he neither knew nor cared. Was
she herself, she wondered, just another
girl to him? She recalled DR.. Bills
words and frowned. She became
aware of Craig's eyes on her face.
Il don't allow frowning," he said
with grin, and nodded his approval
as the frown was displaced by a smile.
They were silent for some moments.
DO you like the country?" Joyce
asked
Il like to visit it once in a while"
he said, but I always drive faster
when I'm going back to town.
Il wouldn't live anywhere but in
the country" Joyce said defensively,
and wondered if it were really true
The farm where three generations of
Adairs had lived often bored her, but
thinking of it, when away, always
moved her with desire to return.
Just little country girl" Craig
teased. In the good old days" he said
plaintively, "a country girl could be
counted on to know nothing whatever.
Today, what with radios. moving pic
lures, and going away to school, city
feller hasn't chance"
Joyce laughed delightedly. This
Eood-looking boy with lots of unearned
increment was fun!
I'm dreadfully sorry that you don't
like the country" she smiled. We had
so counted on seeing you often
ITO me the country is just a place
where I have to go to get you," he
grinned. Il like the places where
the lights are brightest and the bands
play loudest. The country is too real.
Reality should be taken in small doses,
If at all -
They were entering the outskirts of
washington, and the roadster slowed
TO purring 40 miles an hour. Joyce
froWned little, remembering the
phrase small doses" for it recalled a
certain strong, kindly face. that of a
young doctor who faced reality day by
day, and got little recognition or
money for doing so.
Joyce liked the Bristol roof garden,
Standing with Craig in the big arched
entrance, waiting for the head waiter,
her shining eyes roved over it.
Tnls roof garden was.s she knew.
mecca for debutantes and diplomats.
Its softly-glowing lights and warm, ex-
otlc colors thrilled her. The scene,
she thought dreamily, might have been
lifted bodily from some old-world res
taurant. In the dim glass roof archlne
overhead, softly-tinte lights glim-
mered like stars. A bright, artificial
moon swung in the center. The whole
OF one wall was covered with a fresco
OF the American Riviera, giving an
illusion of still greater space to the
large. brilliantly polished dance floor
Joyce was feeling breathless as a
waiter conducted them to a table Craig
mad reserved. The band was Dlavine
music that made her heart beat faster.
The dance floor was crowded with
smartly-frocked girls and men in eve
ming wear
Sinking into her chair a moment
later, she thought. And to think that
I have lived within 20 miles of all this
all my life-and never saw it before!''
Ihey were dancing a few minutes
later, and Craig was whispering in her
ear:
I suppose you will have to meet a
number of men, though I don't an
prove OF it. His smile was gay.
A lovely blond girl passing in the
arms OF another man. hailed Craig.
The man, too, called a greeting his
eyes on Joyce.
That's Viscount Smethurst of the
English embassy" Craig told her. II
don't like him.
Why" Joyce smiled up at him.
Because he looked as if he wanted
to meet you" Craig grinned
Her eyes accused him of teasing her
rs that a good reason for dislikinp
him?" she asked.
I can't think of better" Craig
declared. When We reach our table
again, not less than six men will come
to 1t. wanting to meet you"
His moek-serious face made her
laugh. 1t was nice, she thought, to
olscuss things lightly, to skim the sur
face of life on carefree wings-to for
get for time how real and earnest life
really was. She felt a soaring envy for
the people about her, because the Bris-
tol roof was part of their daily fare.
You're frowning again." Craig
scolded lightly.
Her quick smile was an apology.
Thinking is such bad habit" she
said humorously
Il understand that it's painful" he
smiled, though I've never tried it,"
He sobered suddenly. Il don't want
you to do anything that makes you
frown. Your lips were made for laugh
ter, and for"
The music stopped abruptly, and
they were moving toward their table.
EDUCATIONAL.
~ Aeeoua.ane7
n