Evening star., 1925-03-01


4 u wasn't, to begin with, entirely
Accustomed to parties in the
States'Dby which detached and
finger r-tippish title he was accustomed
to designate the greater part of North
America. Parties in Australia, now
parties in London-in Paris, even
Vienna or Nenice-those, Michael
could analyze into their component
parts; could bear himself creditably
through tho storm and stress of
them; could even derive a rather
shy, romantic amusement from them.
But parties in the States. They took
a bit of doing. one had to step
aside, at times-no less
The airy way, for instance, in
which most of the young women one
met addressed one by ones Christian
name within the first half-hour or
so-it took Michael completely off his
feet. turned him pink to the ears.
And the casual way in which they
klssed-under lamplight or any light
at all-at meeting or parting-put-
ting up their pretty white-nosed.
rose-cheeked, soft-lipped faces as
readily as pony puts up his-for
sugar.
Michael preferred TO think of a
kiss as something to be won, not
offered. He hadn't met, perhaps, in
the eight and q half months he had
been in the States, a girl whose kiss
he particularly wanted. but, in any
case, he felt distinctly critical and
not a little cold about II.
He was willing to admit that these
American girls dressed themselves
delightfully."-, that their little blonde
and black and bronzy heads, shingled
like so many gallant boys. caught
the light with d satiny simmer,
caught mans fancy, somehow
equally. Still, fancy was-only
fancy.
At about half after II. sitting upon
the piano bench, lingering idly the
honeyed legatos of Chopin waltz,
muted so that no one should listen
TO him, Michael decided definitely that
he wanted TO leave. He remembered
with a feeling of positive gratitude
new book which lay on the little
table beside his bed--that he had left
couple of unopened English reviews
upon the new book. He would go
home-back to his room at the hotel,
that was-and go to bed. Read him
self to sleep. Dream Of n more
amusing and more glamorous world
than the one in which for the mo-
ment he existed.
X X r
LIE didn't like San Francisco. the
Chopin legatoS became uncon-
sciously trife choppy; he didn't
know why in the devil he'd stopped
off there. He'd like TO be back in
New York where there was at
least q semblance Of background
where London seemed not so hope
lessly far away E. -. people not so
horribly different. Rarties in London
weren't noisy like this, everybody
shouting and laughing in different
keys, meaningless laughter, stupid
shouting, a perpetual shuttle of dane
ing feet, the same tunes over and
over set to vulgar, impossible words
The One l Love Belongs to Some
body Else. Unspeakable, Like the
whine of a barrel-organ under ones
window,
What are you doing to that poor
piano?" inquired a plaintive drawl
and a girl slid on to the piano bench
beside him with a rifle of fragrance,
a delicate jangle of carved jade ear
rings.
She was scornful and wistful and
impudent-if the three may be said
OF one Humankind a wave OF dark
hair shadowed her sea-gray eyes so
that Michael hardly knew If she were
laughing at him-at the party-or at
herself.
go on-don't stop-I like it! I
only wondered . I've been sitting
in that big chair over there, watching
you-and listening-don't look so
smug!-watching and listenine-I
said-because 1 was bored to tears
when all of the sudden the thing you
were playing went blah"
'Pardon?" said Michael dazedly.
she repeated trifie impatiently
@Blah-fo oie-dead"
Il see" said Michael politely, al
though he didn't in the least.
You poor lamb" cried the girl
with delightful cadenza of laughter
Don't you speak English? >"
English-not American" Michael
assured here, stiff with annoyance.
My word.-of course, l might have
known. There is a difference, then ?"
Rather!" said Michael
I'm told" she suggested gently,
that in England they have quite
bit OF difficulty understanding g-you
stri-lians-h'mm?
A wicked thrust. Michael Redeemed
to the roots of his smooth, fair hair.
i've just come from London, as it
happens"
But on your way back to Mel
bourne-no?''
She was really outrageous. Her
demure down-sweep OF dark Iashes
Vefed CLINT Of unbearable mockery.
Michael refused to be drawn. Was
he going to admit TO her that he
Ioathed Melbourne, himself, and was
going back merely to wind up some
business for the firm? That his office
was now in New York? That Mel
bourne had never been more than A
port or call to hiIn-a reluctant call
ut that? Not likely! Yet that was
precisely what in two minutes more
ne had finished explaining to her. She
mad coaxing way of waiting to be
answered.
noble host told me. BY the way. do
you know him welI?"
Very slightly" said Michael, fin
gering a minor chord with caressing
slowness.
Neither do /. Matter of fact. I
never met him before tonight. A
girl ! know knew him in the East.
She brought me to this party"
Michael elucidated with, for him,
extraordinary frankness. "I had a.
letter TO him from a chap in New
York"
DO you know any of the rest of
these peopIe?"
"No-not really"
Neither do J. Have you been
bored? %
"FearfuIly."
80 have !. Isn't il tiresome?
There really isn't an interesting man
In the room-except perhaps YOU"
Michael bowed gravely Nor an
interesting girl-except perhaps you"
x x X *
HE was beginning a very little to
- forget the book on the table
beside his bed. She warned him, one
slim foreiinger wagging. Take
care, John Bull! Don't say ANYTHING