Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1939-02-25
CHAPTER ELEVEN


Iona LAUGHED as she climbed
into the seat of the screaming
green roadster Jim had borrowed
for the picnic at Wichita lake. 1t
was a ready laugh that was pure
endowment. He looked so boyish,
sitting at the wheel, his long legs
stretched out, his voice half sheep
ish as he assured her the jaunty
little car was really lady despite
it's loud looks.
I'm sure she is a lady," she told
him solemnly. Gwen ladies can be
loud on a day like this. Isn't it
georgous out 2" She shifted the air
as if she had just been released
from a long confinement. Lets
speed" she cried, suddenly, 'T
want to go fast. I'd like to fly"
She laughed again, as the roadster
leaped forward under his willing
hand.
It was a beautiful ride. The lake,
when they reached it, was blue and
calm. AS they approached it they
caught glimpses of it through the
bordering pines. glittering in the
sun like huge gem cut into a mil
lion cleaning facets. Jim sent the
car careening down almost to the
waters edge with a final flourish
of speed, and turned to Iona tri-
umphantly, and an odd sense Of
coming home gripped her.
Stepping from the car, she stood
for a moment looking up and down
the beach searching for familiar
landmarks. A stones throw away
she saw a shabby bathhouse, I'M
painted and her eyes lighted up
with recognition. Eagerly she fol-
lowed the curve of the shore. Down
there would be cottage-Allen's,
wasn't it? Yes, there it was! Above
the pines a thin cloud of smoke
hung motionless in the lazy SUM-
shine and she wondered if, perhaps,
someone she knew might be there.
Smells good, this place." Jim
was looking about approvingly,
shifting the tangy odor of pine in
the air.
She laughed, and reached into
the car for her bathing suit. "Beat
you in" she challenged him, and
ran down the sands to the bath
house.
Her bathing suit was old. She
had purchased it in fit of extrav-
agance the first year she had been
at Ardmore's, hoping that some
day she might swim again. It had
lain in it's wrappings in the bottom
of her suitcase ever since and, as
she donned it now, and stepped up
to the bathhouse mirror, she was
sure, for moment, that it was too
terribly out of style. Then, as she
caught sight of her own slimness,
green-sheather, her skin white as
milk, her spirits scared again, and
like a. child let out to play, she
dashed out into the beach.
Jim was not yet in sight, and she
smiled to herself, absurdly pleased
at beating him. For moment she
let her eyes wander over the few
scattered bathers who LACED in the
sun, but she recognized none of
them and she felt relieved. It would
be awkward to meet any Of her old
crowd.
She was sitting on the sand, let
ting streams of it's gritty warmth
run through her fingers, when Jim
appeared. At sight of him Looping
down upon her, his tall figure show
ing hard and lean in his bathing
suit, queer shyness seized her.
"Race you to the foat!" she
cried, in an effort to hide it and
wading out, she plunged into the
water.
She had loved to swim in the old
days, and had come close to being
the champion Of her crowd. AS she
cut through the blue ripples, he1
white arms flashing above her
head, she was suddenly glad that
there was one thing, at least, she
could do we'll. Behind her she heard
Jim splashing to overtake her, and
she quickened her stroke, finding
her old ease more and more. When
she finally climbed up on the bob
bling float out in the middle of the
lake, he was barely beside her, anc
she laughed at the look of admira-
ton he bent on here
'Wheww he calculated. "YOu're
sure a swimmer, girl. Where die
you learn?"
Fright here" she told him, his