The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-03-13

amiably.
He knew quite well that she
was registering disapproval of at
fairs on the terrace. And he
knew she dared not voice them
more explicitly without encour-
agement from him, which she
would never get. So he smiled
blandly and went to see If there
was something more he could 90
for Mark and Lucy.
There was, for they both de-
clined second cup of coffee; and.
presently he went back to Mrs.
Banwood, carrying the tray be-
fore him like a sort of shining
shield.
"A beautiful night" he said
sentimentally. "Sets one to think
ing of all sorts of things. Youth,
and summer"
"Humph!" said Mrs. Banwood.
Mark looked across to where
Lucy rested, arms behind her gol-
den head. She looked hardly
more than the wrath of girl,
for they had turned off the ter
race lights, and there was only
the faint CLEAN of the little moon,
and the glimmer of low-hung in
Vulnerable stars. Scents drifted
up to them with every slightest
stirring of air. The almost I'M
earthly perfume of roses, and the
fragrance of late-blooming honey
suckle floated about them.
1t came over Lucy with a sud-
den stab, that she would some
time leave all this for that drab
world where there were bills to
pay and work to do. Nothing that
she did at present was the least
like work. Life was just a sort of
unbelievable interlude where
beauty and kindness were like
the air they breathed.
She was delightfully."- conscious
of Mark, but only as an accom-
paniment to her thoughts. So she
started when he got up and
dropped down on a stool beside
her chair.
"Bored?" he asked. It was a
| different voice from the family
circle one he used every day. She
looked at him in amazement.
"Bored?" she echoed. She
thought she could hardly have
understood him.
"Well-I just wondered. There
| are always the village movies,
you know"
IF you think I could even pre-
tend to want movies, with all the
pictures the night makes in this
gorgeous garden, you must think
I'm a good actor" she said.
II think you're a bad actor.
That's why I like you such a lot"
It startled him to realize he
could almost have said Glove"
even without meaning it.
Mrs. Banwood's passion for the
radio was now audible on the
air.
It was pleasant to sit there
peacefully in the half dark, and
listen to the beat of dance music
coming from city canyons sc
many overheated miles away.
The music was a little louder
now. 1t came lifting through the
night with it's haunting rhythm
Mark got to his feet, and stooc
in mock formality beside her.
Like to dance this?" he asked
| She swung her silver sandals
to the terrace flags, and facec
him. ''Love to, of course" she
said.
He took her in his arms, ane
they slid over the smoothly laic
floor in silence. Lucy felt she hac
been waiting all her life just tt
dance with Mark. She was glac
he didn't want to talk. Always
she thought, she would remem
Der this night. She wanted tt
hold it tight, to let it sink deep
to be able to shut her eyes ane
live it all again when it was gone
The night, the bewitching little
moon, the scent of the roses, anc
Marks arms.
Just before Thanksgiving, Va
lerie had birthday.
Ten couples were asked fol
dinner and dancing. Valerie in
vited Shirley too; but she de-
clined, saying she didn't believe
in too many adults at a child
ren's party.
Lucy was all for putting in a
quiet evening in her own rooms,
but Valerie's disappointment and
Marks dismay were so real that
she changed her mind.
She and Mark had their dinner
at small table before the libra
ry fire. Valerie quailed bit at
the idea of being left alone with
| q dinner nartv hit Mark and