Evening star., 1925-02-22
CONTINUED from Yesterdays star.)


shadow" Then. in an almost sound
less breath-"The end room, south
wing"
Don't go to bed" said Henry
wonderful how they keep it up
week after week. I mean to say, 1t
must put you off your stroke like
anything, knowing you've got to
come right up to time like that
Your department doesn't work by
the calendar. then? You don't have
10 bother about results?"
Ember strolled back to his favorite
place by the fire as he spoke and
Lady Heritage broke into a resound-
ing chord. She played what Henry
afterwards described as IAN Internal
pandenonium of thing" 1t al
peared to be in several keys at once
and marched from one riot of dis
cord to another until it ended with
strident crash which set up a hum
ming jangle of vibrations.
Like that, Henry?" said Lady
Heritage
No. said Henry, monosyllabte III
his turn.
No one ever likes to hear the
truth" said Raymond You ali
want something pleasant, something
smooth, something like this"-her
myers slipped into the Blue Dan
uoe" waltz. She played it exquis-
1tely, with a melting delicacy of
touch and a beautiful sense o.
rhythm. After a dozen bars or so
she stopped suddenly. leaned her
elbow on the keyboard. and, through
the little clang of the impact, said:
''WeI?"
That's topping" said Henry He
looked across at her admiringly-the
long sweep of the ebony piano, the
white keyboard with the black notes
standing clear Raymond in her velvet
and pearls. and, behind her, the inn
perial yellow of China.
Soothing syrup" she said. You're
not up co date, Henry, I'm afraid.
The moderns show US things as they
are, and we don't like 1t. but the
soothing syrups lose their power to
soothe once you find out that they
are just dope"
II wish you'd sing" said Henry.
She looked across him at Ember,
and an expression difficult 70 define
hardened her face.
This isn't modern, but will you
Ike it?' she said, and preluded. Then
she began to sing in deep mezzo:
The worldly hope men set their
hearts upon
Turns ashes-or 1t prospers; and
anon,
Like snow upon the deserts
dusty face
Lighting its little hour or t*o-is
gone.
Here in this battered Caravanserai,
Whose portals are alternate night
and day,
How sultan after sultan with his
pomp
Abode his destined hour, and went
his way"
The notes came heavy and tragic.
In her voice there seemed to be
gathered all the tragedy, all the
emotion of human life The sound
fell almost to a whisper:
1.-The worldly hope men set their
hearts upon
Turns ashes-or it prospers and anon.
Like snow upon the deserts dusty
Lighting its little hour or two-is
gone"
Suddenly the voice rose ringing
like trumpet; great chord
crashed out: ----s .z.s ---s7.-.
Waste not your hour
The deep octaves followed. Then
she passed into modulating phrases
and began to sing again.
Her voice is nearly as beautiful
as she is,' thought Jane, "but some
how she shakes one"
"Ah, love, could you and 1 with fate
conspire
To grasp this sorry scheme of things
entire,
Would we not shatter it to bits,
and then
Remold it nearer to the hearts desire?"
With the last word she rose, turned
from the piano and the room and
went out TO the terrace.
Henry got up. strolled casually
across the room and followed her
She was standing by the low parapet
looking over the sea. The night was
still, the scent of hyacinths was
heavy on the air, but every now and
then a breath-something not to be
called a wind-came up from across
the water and brought with it cold
and a tang of salt.
The moon was still behind the
house, but near to clearing it, and,
though they stood in the dusk, Henry
could see Lady Heritage's features as
though through a veil.
Her icy mood was broken; the tears
were rolling down her cheeks. she
turned on him with a fame of anger,
why did you come? Why did you
come? Do you know what father
said to me yesterday? 1 said l
he said, Good heavenl how can 1
keep the man away from what is
practically his own house" Is it
yours now?-have you come to see
your property"
Henry looked at her gravely.
NO, it is not mine yet he said
"and 1 came for a very different rea-
son, as ] think you know
And you expected me to welcome
If IT wasn't enough TO be
here, to live here-without-- She
broke off, gripping the rough stone
~ the parapet with both hands. You
ask me why l don't use the oak
room-do you forget how you and
and Tony used to roast chestnuts
there and tell chose stories-tlll we
were afraid to go to bed! III there
were no worse ghosts than those. -.
DO YOU know, every time you come
into the room 1 expect to see An
4bonv behind you, and When You
sneaix catch myself listening Tor
his voice? e. Do you stlll "Onuel
why l don't use the oak roomE what
are men made Of? ,D,a
IT don't know" said Henry. DIG
hurt you, Raymond? I'm sorry IL
did, but it wasn't meant
She sank down upon the parape'
All the yehemence went out OF heF.
t.yn, Gee" she said in a whisper
;rg voice-"you see, can't torget
.aGod knows how hard I've trleo:
ESvsrv one else has forgotten, put
ave forget. If l could l should sleep
hut l can't. Henry, have you ever e
+ried very hard to forget anything
"Yes," said Henry.
will you tell me what 1t "@S.
I'm afraid l can't
"oh. we'll, it doesn't matter ana II
understand you know