Evening star., 1924-11-30

London. / come down here for
change of air"
Her eyelids fickered.
Joe leaned back in his chair and the
medals on his jumper made little
chink.
II reckon I was lookin' for you. l
don't know exactly how 1t was
1t come over me sudden this after
noon We was buryin' bioke. Kinder
lonely feeiin' 'Tisn't easy to
explain, not havin' felt that way be-
fore"
He stopped short. suddenly embar-
rassed.
The girl said nothing. but her ex-
pressioh changed and softened.
"Ain't you-aint you got a woman"
Not met" Joe shook his head en-
phatically. Il don't want none of
| that ] want :" A boyish
perplexity creased his brows. Il
reckon l was jest Iookin' for you"
She stirred restlessly and lowered
her eyes. She had laid aside her
| rainproof coat, and beneath the cheap
| blouse her bosom rose and fell quick
ly. Silence fell upon them both for a
space. The rashers and tea arrived.
She poured Joe out his cup and hand
ed it to him with little smile.
Sugar? ! don't know if you've got
sweet tooth"
L i
queer. Amt It'll"
WHAT"
You not KNOWN that
But how could | know
Joe stirred his cup refiectively.
'Course--you couldn't. But it don't
seems natural. somehow Seems
as If you did ought to know every
thing bout me-"
"P'raps 1 do" she answered quietly,
| nd snf, In II i'm
| over the brim of the cup. "'Cept little
things-like this. Tell me where you
got them medals. What was you like
| when you was little?"
=
NOTHING 10th, Joe recounted the
story of his Iife-his childhood
| in an industrial training ship. the
succession Of commissions at home
and abroad that had made up his life
since. OF his early childhood he could
remember little. He recalled playing
up on the hillside overlooking the
| Midway, amid the smoke of cement
works and the narrow strips of
chalky soil that bristled with cab
bage stalks. His mother died when
he was very little and his father took
on with woman who drank PEN
sioner of the Boer war, his father,
Wounded in the head. II made him an
easy prey to the woman who drank.
But he was a fine figure Of a man and
warm-hearted
Now" he said when he had finish
ed story and supper, that's all about
me. How about you?''
She stared into her empty cup.
can't you take me on trust, just
the way you see me now
With an abrupt movement she put
both her hands over her face.
Joe stared at the thin. ringless fin
gers.
Il don't trouble, 1t don't seem, to
matter. / knows you're good, an
| that's what matters to me- was
sick of the other sort; the sort US
matelows has to turn to when we
! wants bit of company--them like
me as hasn't no young lady"
with suggestion of panic, she
| rose to her feet and began to tumble
| with her rainproof coat
II best get home" she said hur-
| riedly. "You--I--'' Joe felt her
| tremble as he helped her on with the
worn garment. You've been kind to
me. / thank you for the supper /
was tired and bit gone when you
found me. Maybe that's why / come.
|. But it's gettin' late. :"
He stood under the fickering gas
jet, looking down at her from his
contentment seemed to radiate from
his personality.
This amt goin' to be the last time.
/ gets leave to come ashore every
other night You an me.
You an me. &. ~
He appeared unable to continue the
picture his Imagination had conjured
up.
Every other night?" she echoed
Like this? Just you an me talkin'
quiet. Havin' "a walk in the country
| maybe sometimes. Coin out on top
Of tram ~
Joe nodded delightedly.
That's right. All them things, US
two
He embraced the deserted room in
the crude flare of the gaslight with a
gesture that flung a leaping shadow
athwart the walls.
Every other night?' They were
descending the narrow stairway.
Yes, l could manage that" She
spoke musingly. 1--WE got to man
age it," And slid her arm inside his
as they stepped out into the lamp-lit
street.
They scarcely spoke during the
20 minutes walk through avenues of
silent houses. They walked leisurely
| beneath the quiet stars, clinging as
atoms cling in obedience to uncom-
pretended laws.
"You mustn't come no farther" she
said at length.
That's as you WISH" he replied.
They stood facing one another at
| a corner of deserted streets. Two
rows of mean houses stared blindly
| at each other on either side of
steep hill. In the light of a young
| moon the chalky surface of the road
CLEANED white.
well :" said Joe, hesitated
and stopped to kiss his companion.