The San Francisco call., 1913-08-03
Banjo N ell

at rare intervals snapped lightly; the light upon
Them and they beautiful he large and square
strong, She slender. fluent and light. BY
the movement of their lips could see they were
speaking speaking brief by long 81
lences: and they stood bit apart, gazing straight
ahead never gazing at each other. In the slight bend
his body there so1citude; and she leaned back
against the rail- still with stiffness contrasting
strangely with her usual turbulence arms flowing
loose along relaxed form in attitude that held
WEAKNESS and peace
And thus we were to see them every evening after
that day tinkled, laughed and luttered, and
for time stood with him at the taffrai
still He leaned slightly above her. she dropped
ahead. in short sentences and long silences Above
them the flag snapped gently, the light their
faces. The moment held large unruffed calm;
it had taste almost of prayer.
Then he would tumble back to and growl his
dsapprobation. his irritationthe irritation Of the
ideast who. seeking much, finds nothing Also
suppose he felt justifying himself toward
US; had something of the mental attitude of the
callow youth who hates girls" and yet surreptiousy
takes them home from school.
I trying find what she IS" he would
growl. / can't. There's nothing there-nothing.
Only nconsciousness-vacuum."
Seems interesting anyway one of would
Yes; try. try again. chimed Hart
He would turn his back us. absolutely furious.
it would be long before he would be speaking
again evidently satisfy himself than satisfy
in of soliloquy that yet sought appreciation
contradiction.
good may be the one-and much that she
doesn't know it-or else the other-and then abb
degree of innocence She doesn't to that
those men,
Here usually deserted him. half laughing, half
indignant. bit outraged his want of delicacy.
this spirit of analysis which threatened
blooms satisfactory He had something of
the makeup priest of the Inquisitionthe cruelty
of the ideanst maddened by the realities
Meantime the voyage continuing as before-a
polished pellucid sky, banjo strummings all day.
short moment of peace the hour. at the
tafrail beneath the whispering flag and evening
he to arrive at last conclusion.
There's nothing there he said, If relieved
Banjo tinkle, ribbon-nothing else. She's
bubble just bubble. bubble" he stopped. his
staring upward. "A bubble-of JOY" he resumed IA
joy-bubble. Banjo Nell he said slowly; Banjo Nell
the joy-bubble,"
days nothing the joy bubble now
perversely enough, began give out solid facts
She's going be married. the he brought
down interview; she's going to the P. IL
be married.
GOOD for Banjo Nell." said Hart malicously
ITO marry missionary Strang went on.
Surprising, but laudable." said Hart.
Strang silent while, trying smile. but evil
IDENTIFY irritated.
.It beats h he began again slowly; sat beats
h how girls marry. I've known several now-and it
always appalls me-their Inconsistencies,
preme Inconsistencies of what they doing. They
say: going be married like that just
I'm going drink glass of water except that they
have bit realization of the Importance of the
drink of water. They have Imagination. they don't
VISUALIZE they don't what they doing they
don't bother Never they seem to have the
slightest idea of why they love; II isn't
single plausible They just marry that's
their mothers mother. their grandmothers mother
back ad inhnitum And So they do it. It's appalling;
is marryng."
: strang uncomfortably silent a moment Taen.