Evening star., 1940-03-24

Melville provided none OF the anonymity
that is supposed to be afforded by the great
city. Away from the family living room. the
problem was not Immediately simplified. If
Audrey were to walk along any street within
a radius of two miles of that living room, she
would be hailed loudly by dozen or more of
her friends and acquaintance. She was forced
to take to the open road.
This open road led past the outskirts OF
Medville to a road lined with elms whose
leaves were still tender green in the dusk
1t suited her romantic and melancholy mood.
She wheeled along in day-dream, dream IN
which she played the leading role, wistful
and gallant heroine. She was absorbed in the
details of wonderfully touching reconcilia-
ton scene when she came, suddenly, upon
familiar car pulled to one side of the road, a
dark blue car with an MD on the license
plate. She caught frightening glimpse of
dark trouser leg and black oxford She pulled
her bicycle to the side of the road and hoped
off her heart beating furiously.
DIE saw at once there was nothing seriously
amiss with DR.. Steven Madison. He was
merely sitting on the running board OF his car,
his legs stretched out before him, his gaze
fixed on the field of wheat beyond the elns.
But it did not occur to Audrey, either then or
at any subsequent time, that the doctor. like
herself, might have been in the mood for
lonolv Golf communion
He looked up suddenly.
oh he said, without, however,
any vast enthusiasm Where on earth did
you spring from, Audrey?"
mo place. was only riding along. But l
thought maybe you'd run out of gas or had
flat or something, Dr. Madison"
He smiled at her. mo. But it was nice of
you to stop, Audrey. It's 50 pleasant here"
he added, with touch of embarrassment.
so peaceful"
Yes -" Audrey agreed and went on with
unexpected warmth, "Yes, it is! And it's too
bad few people don't come out and look
at nice peaceful scene like this and sort of
draw few deep breaths and get the point
Instead of a lot of mad excitement all the
LlHe! well, IL crazy!
He seemed to be interested.
You sit down on that tree stump over
there and take few deep breaths yourself"
he said. And then you might just tell me
what this is all about"
She obeyed him. At least she sat on the
tree stump and folded her hands in her lap
and smiled at him feebly. There s nothing to
tell about" she said. i've just been having
kind of a hectic time, that's all"
well, l can imagine" he said. Il was
young in Melville myself - once
She smiled with him dutifully over this
distant era But she felt little shy and un-
comfortable. She had no precise precedent for
this situation. She could not escape the feeling
that she might be compelled at any moment
to open her mouth and have a spoon shaped
wooden thing stuck down her throat. But she
could think of no graceful excuse for getting
off the tree stump and in the meantime the
doctor was eyeing her thoughtfully. You
know -" he was saying, Il run into your
father every once in while. We have lunch
together. And he tells me of your -er-
social progress"
Audrey colored. "Oh, get along" she
admitted, cautiously.
Get along!' should say you do! From
all hear, you're just about the most popular
young woman in Medville!
= II.