Evening star., 1925-03-01
@ Bon Voyage sZ5..Z a:::92 Z: HR
Through Skipper
By Fanny Heaslip Lea

| 1 IL
lengths TO avoid it-nearly!"
II see," said Michael, humbly.
You don't bore me in the least
isn't it funnyT said Sally.
funny, but fortunate" said Mi
chael, with unmistakable gratitude.
ITHEY rocked along for a little
L while in most companionable ST.
lence. Cool darkness flowed past
their windows, and street lights in
purple and silver strings. Sometim es
the taxi slid down hill, and some
times ii clambered doggedly up. Past
houses and shops, and, once in so
often, past vacant lot, with clut-
ter of bricks and Il tangle of old iron,
sinisterly significant.
Regarding one such thumb-nail
sketch of desolation. Michael offered,
Fearful earthquake here once,
wasn't thereT
"You'n never get the natives to ad-
NIT it," said Sally. gravely. The big
fire-yes! Earthquake? Never!'
isn't that rather absurd?"
Sally defended, with her head in
the air. II think it's rather splendid
Being able TO ignore an earthquake"
Only an American would" said
Michael, grinning shyly.
only an American could" retorted
Sally.
They turned into a park, a lovely,
black-green place, checkered with
light and shade, fragrant with trees
and grass; and somehow. inconspicu-
ously, unostcntatiously, with the most
well bred simplicity even, Michael s
arm lay back of Sally's shoulders, and
she drew into the haven Of 1t like a
peacefully tired child.
Tell me about you" she said.
Were you in the war? 1 have a
feeling you were. Do you paint, or
write, or what? Isn't IL a pity we've
you, Michael"
Michael. all forgetful of certain
earlier views on the sacredness of q
mans given name In the embryonic
stages OF acquaintance, felt heaven
ly thrill 20 through him. How
softly, quantity and childlishly she
said 1t: With what an exquisite dis
regard of petty conventionalities.
He muttered daringly, DO you
Sally"
DO 1 what?"
He had only wanted TO experiment
with her adorable patronymic. He
evaded explanation. Yes, l was In
the war" ne told her hurriedly
"Mesopotamia, and all that sort OF
thing-the Dardanelles."
did you like it,"
| mo, 1 loathed 1t. Most unpleasant
job"
Were you wounded, Michael?"
i He admitted guiltily, as If she had
caught him in all the jampots of the
world, "Oh-not to speak of-twice.'
| Were you ever decorated"
At that, outright, he wriggled
Most fellows were. Nothing extraor-
dinary. Could pick ii up in no time"
But you wereT'
He cnpoAdad 81
Sally drew long. contented sigh
Perfect" she said, Just perfect
You're out of all the English novels
since Kipling. You write verse, OF
course?"
"Oh, really say, now"
Yes or nor demanded Sally.
"Well-of a sort" said Michael
shamefaced.
''Probbly a very sweet sort" said
Sally. "Wili you make me a poem ??
I'm horribly afraid that / shall"
She patted his hand with the tips
of her fingers.
But you don't make poems for a
living7"
rArchitect," said Michael briefly.
Then, most unexpectedly to him
self, and not briefly at ALL he launch
ed into a detailed description Of the
office in New York, of his delightfully."-
rosy prospects, OF his chief, who was
the wisest old Johnny in the world
and had the eye of an eagle for op-
portunities in a building way.
| He didn't know what had como over
him to set him oonfidins his personal
affairs like any gossipy old woman
He hurriediy deserted the subject
begged with undeniable earnestness;
Now, about your
"Virginian," said Sally languidly
MY mother, as 1 told you, was q
lady. My father was a black sheep
with burrs IN his wool. lam a
huzzy-or a child Of nature, accord
ing as you look at it, Hadn't we
fearful amount on that go-devll
there"
lMIcHAEL looked distinctly wound,
AVA ed. I've all the time in the
world-if you have-and I do want
to know about you'll" He added polite
ly, Are we driving in the places you
prefer?"
II hadn't noticed" said Sally. She
sighed happily against his shoulder
I'm the dark all cats are gray
hadn't you heard? About me? Oh
well, there isn't anything-much. I'm
on my way TO Hollywood to go into
moving pictures You may have OBJ
served that i am not without
pulchritude."
"The cinema? Your cried Michael
stark with horror. Surely you don't
mean itn'
Don't let's talk of it any more
said Sally dreamily. I'll tell you
what I'll do instead. I'll tell you a
story about a girl I know-I know
her better, perhaps, than any girl
have ever known-who's sailing fol
Manila tomorrow"
Tomorrow" said Michael quickly
Sailing tomorrow-to marry a man
she's been engaged to for almost six
years There's romance for you-i1
you'd care to hear about it."
Il care to hear anything that you
care to tell me-" said Michael.
That girl" said Sally. "if you
really want to listen-I was raised
with her-we went to school to-
,lives-and tomorrow she's going off
across the world"
II she's going to be happy" said
Michael, you're glad, suppose" He
watched Sally closely in the intermit-
tent light Of lamps under which they
passed. "If she's been In love with
this man for six years"
Did say so?" asked Sally. you're
none too accurate, Michael Engaged
said--for six years As a. matter oi
interesting fact, she was in love with
him for five of those six-or fancieo
she was. Now she's lost 1t, the th1ne
she felt for him. It's gone, and still
she's sailing, tomorrow, to be mar.
ried TO him"
"Why?" asked Michael.
| That's just what I ask myself
Michael-and I'm darned II I see the
answer Is IL fair to him to marry
him, not loving him? On the other
| h I'D La fal u n L. l.ix