The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-01-23

a 81
thing It would be il Abe would meet
US when we get to Paris. Like he
says, Esther. all what he waits for is
the word from you that he should
come. Right to me on the pier, saying
good-by, he said those words"
mo wonder. the way you stuck next
to him, mama"
Think, Esther. a smart boy like
Abe what Is always so thoughtful Of
everybody to help us around in Paris,
where you got to be so careful, they
say, you don't get cheated, eh2 Next
to Niche himself, nothing could give
papa so much pleasure either as Abe
should be there with us. Here, baby,
right here In the silver ring. Run
down once and underneath your berth
out Of the case get the portfolio and
write to him on the pink writing paper,
eh?"
''Oh. mama, you-you get me so
mad. Honest. I-oh, could just cry
the way you keep at me. Please,
mama, let-let my affairs alone"
"All right, Esther, let them alone.
Your old mother only wishes you the
worst. She wishes you to forget a
grand honest boy like Abe fer
dressed-up nix what you meet on the
boat. TIL let you alone. I'll let you
alone. Right back in my bag goes the
silver key-ring. I'll let you alone"
That's what I want you to do"
II tell you, Esther, this pain what
/ got over my heart yesterday and to-
day amt for nothing. I tell you the
excitement when you nearly missed
the boat this afternoon, and for q
mother to see all of sudden her baby
begin nonsense with a nix from Chi
cago what nobody don't know nothing
about, except what he brags himself,
Is enough to give heart failure. Bet
ter we had stayed right at home in"
"Oh, mama, / just got to bite my
tongue to hold in. That's how mad
you and your old fogy ideas make me.
What do you know about-about
things that go on in the-the real
world; about an up-to-date fellow like
him that's been around the world three
times and knows things? You and
your old fogy ideas don't count,
mama"
Esther"
''They don't. They-they just don't.
Pm sick Of you always picking on
him when you don't know. I-Oh-
oh-oh! !"
She was off into the rearward gloom
Of the deck, examining her handker-
chief against her lips, inarticulate sobs
escaping from its lacy edge; down two
flights, To and cut. skirting the edge
of deckspread groups skirting their
laughter and the froth of conversation,
and in a deserted corner Of the oak
balcony, a generous ledge elaborated
to a writing-room and overlooking the
luxurious, bright-lighted homegrown,
she found refuge. Dance music f1oated
up to her light and remotely, and the
foam Of lighter laughter.
A galaxy of incandescents burned
through crystal prisms upon the in
formal leather chairs Of the great
room, upon full-length mirrors In gilt
frames; upon limitations Of a famous
pair of fifty-three-inch Mandarin jars
anQ Q6II-a-QOZcn SIuau walnut IaDl0S
with carved tassels at their four cor
ners. chessboards here and there, a
king or pawn left standing. The
paraphernalia Of idleness was every
| where about: periodical, face down.
ward; a womans wOrk-bag. Finally
and beneath the left balcony, q group
Of eight sitting silent about a round
table The quiet rattle Of bone chips;
an occasional spoken word, but low
and staccato.
From her balcony. sitting there q
small huddle of squandered emotions
and bankrupt Vitality, her hair fallen
awry and the red rims fresh about
her eyes, Esther Lefkovitch caught
sight Of that table, though directly
! beneath her balcony, through one Of
the long mirrors opposite. She leaned
forward; then farther, her lips open
ing. A tear dried and left vitrifed
glistening on her cheek.
Through the mirror and the gray
air Of cigar smoke, shirt-sleeyed and