Evening star., 1921-05-08

had never disciplined herself but
she longed to discipline Pug, whose
gayety had always frightened her
Yet she was distractingly pretty. and
knew it, and she wanted Pug. chas-
tened or unchastcned. at her feet.
I'm perfectly serious, she said.
II can't marry you until-w ell. until
you grow up. You're such d kid, Pug,
old dear
lie dropped her hands and walked
away from her to the window.
Standing there, with his hands in his
of all the fun you're missing. Rita!
You are tossing away the gift of
the gods
You mean you won't come back 80
! He swung around ard rushed
across the room to stand before her
eager, very much in earnest. persua-
sive. What do you mean by MAX
, ing good? Putting the railway over?
I'll do that Earning fortune of my
own? I'll do that. too! Glory be to
God. Rita. it isn't having things that
brings happiness-its getting them.
Put on your hat and wen get mar
ried."
Very neatly she tripped him with
his own plea. III getting things is
[ what makes you happy, go down to
Magella and-get me"
Pug shook his head and stared at
her solemnly as if he were seeing
her for the first time. Love has got
to be teamwork" he said. I'm sorry.
Rita--you and ! could have had such
a bully time, scrapping it out"
1T won't do you any harm to be
unhappy. Pug"
shook it. And his smile flashed out
resistible. "Good-bye Rita. can't
be unhappy, even for you. I'm d
lost soul enjoy life I expect I'm
| going to until the end Of time"
I'm sorry" she said in sepui-
chral voice. But he was gone.
So that is why Pug Fairchild went
to Magella alone. The big fruit
steamer that took him far as
Panama backed away from the East
river dock and turned into the har-
Dor, leaving Pug's dad on shore, way
ing his hat and smiling bravely. Pug
watched until the little figure on the
dock was lost altogether. excusing
! the tears in his eyes by saying aloud
to surprised deck steward that it
hurt like the deuce to say goodbye
10 America. The steward. who was n
Haitian, wept a tear or two himself.
a
still linked the ship to New York
and Pug stared solemnly at the heap
ed. cubistic skyscrapers. the myriad
plumeS Of white steam. the lacy bridges
spanning the crowded river, the shut
tlecock ferry boats black with crowds.
! the mad, terrible. magnificent activity
of the greatest city in the world. 1t
. was there. just step or two away.
and he WAS leaving it-leaving the
crowded streets and pretty girls. the
dear old restaurants, the funny OLD
buns, the l.. roaring and straddling
like a ridiculous dragon centipede
from the Battery to the Harlem river;
he was leaving the bright lobbies of
his favorite thcatcrs and the bright
smiles of his favOrite actresses. his
club and that chair by the plate
glass window facing 5th avenue: he
was leaving the syncopated thumps
and gurgles OF the jazz band at Reis-
enweber's. the scented brilliance OF
the crystal room. the fury and gayety
of the Cascades; he was going away
from the poetry of 5th avenue at
| dusk. the brushing of elbows with
/ celebrities. the intoxication of civil
iZatiOn out for stroll, the odor or
good cigars, perfumes, flowers and
gasoline: he was leaving the delicious
satisfaction of big, dark concert halls
and the electric pleasure OF sym
phony orchestras and great voices:
/ he was leaving that dad Of his and
the girl who danced like a breath,
whose eyes were audacious and whose
! heart had eluded him; the girl who
| spoke their common language. the
/ young American language of clipped
! syilableS and slang, but to whom he
had not made himself clear. Well,
| he would show her.
Pug snatched off his hat and waved
| it at the retrcating city of towers
| and gilded spires. Its voice was al
! ready drowned out by the boisterous
hiss Of the sea against the big ship s