The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-12-03


OF a big birch. smoking hts pipe and
week from now. when he was again
a highschooi boy and she his teach
er. he'd wink at her In class. Maud
Dyer wanted Erik To come down
to the beach to see the darling little
minnles." Carol was left to Dave.
who tried TO entertain her with hu.
morous accounts OF Ella Stowbody' =
fondness for chocolate peppermints
She watched Maud Dyer put her
hand ON Erik's shoulder TO steady
herself.
"Diarusting- she thought
Cy Hogart covered Ferns nervous
hand with hts red paw. and when
she bounced with halfanRcr and
shrleksd. let no. tell you he
grinned and waved his pipe--a gang
Inns twenty year-old satyr.
Disgusting
When Maud and Erik returned and
the grouping shifted. Erik muttcred
a, Carol. There's a boat on shore.
Let's skip Off aud have row.
what VIII they think" she wor.
ricd. she saw Maud Dyer peer at
Erik with moist. poSsesSive eyes
'Yes' Let'sr' sh- said.
She cried 10 the party. with the
canonical amount OF sprtEhtllncss.
'c;oodby. everybody. Wen wireless
you from China
A. the rhythmic oars plopp~d and
ereaked. as she floated on an un.
reality OF delicate gray over which
the sunset was poured out thin. the
irritation Of CT and Maud slipped
away. Erik smiled 81 her proudly.
She considered him oafiess. in
white thin shirt. she was conscious
of his male dlfferentnes~. OF his fiat
masculine sides. hls thin thighs. his
easy rowing. They talked OF the H.
brary. OF the movies. He hummcd
and she softly sang Swing Low
Sweet Chariot" a breeze shivered
across the agate lake. The wrinkled
water was like armor damaacened
and polished. The breeze flowed
round the boat In a chill current
Carol drew the collar OF her MILDLY
blouse over her bare throat
Getting cold. Afraid wen have
to 30 back" she said.
Let's not 70 back 20 them yet.
They'll be cutting up. Let's keep
along the shore
But you enjoy the cutting up
Maud and you had a beautiful time
why, We just walked on the
shore and talked about fishingF'
She was relieved. and apologize 70
her friend Maud. "of course. was
Joking"
"I'ii tell you. Let's land her. and
SIT on the shore--that bunch OF hazel.
brush Will shelter us from the wind
and watch the sunset It's like
melted lead. Just a short whiie' We
don't want 10 go back and listen to
them
mo. but She sald nothing
while he sped ashore. The keel
clashed on the stones. He stood on
the forward seat. holding out his
hand. They were alone. In the rip
pie-iapping silence. She rose slowly,
slowly stepped over the water In the
bottom OF the old boat. She took his
hand confidently. Unspeaking they
sat on n bicaehed log. in a russet
twilight which limited OF autumn.
Linden leaves fluttered about them.
II wish Are you cold now7" he
whispered.
"A little" She shivered- But Il
was not with cold.
II wish we could curl UP In the
leaves there, covered all up. and lie
out at the dark"
II wish we could" AS tho II was
understood that he did
not mean 10 be taken seriously.
Like what all the poets say
brown nymph and faun."
mo. can't be a nymph any
more. Too old Erik, am I old7
Am I faded and smalltowny?"
why. you're the youngest Your
eyes are like girls. They're So
well. / mean. like you believed every.
thing. Even IL you do teach me.
feel a thousand years older than you.
instead OF maybe year younger"
-Four or five years younger!"
Anyway. your eyes are so Innocent
and your cheeks 10 SOFT Damn II,
Il makes me want to cry. somehow.
you're 20 defenscless: and l want
to protect you and There's nothing
10 protect ysu againstw
Am / young7 Am II Honestly?
Truly" She betrayed for a moment
the childish, mock-imploring tone
that comes into the voice OF the most
serious woman when an agreeable
man treats her as a girl: the childish
one and childish pursed-up lips and
shy lift OF the cheek.
Eyes, you aref'
you're dear to believe II, VIII
Erikw
win you play with mo7 A LOTT"
perhaps"
would you really like 10 curl In
nc leaves and watch the stars swing |
~ overhead"
II think It's rather better to be
lifting hercw He twined his fingers |
With hers. And Erik, we must |
70 back"
"Why2"
eta somewhat lats 10 outline all