Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-29

clared. I'd be hatless all the way to
Liverpool.
That might be inconvenient for you. "
he said, but it'd be nice for every one
else"
she laughed. and ne laughed at her
laughter: but the inhibiuonS Of the
Fourth Ward school edged In between
Linda and the frank admiration in
the strangers eyes,
Thank YOU" she said. little stiiIly,
and went to her Stateroom.
There she studied attentively her
flushed face and shining eyes, Don't
make a fool OF yourself. like the girl
on the pier" she counSeled the Linda
in the mirror.
NEXT morning. however, she met
the infinity OF ocean and the
finite compass OF the boat with en-
tire forgetfulneSs of any sorrow the
world might hold. Even the fact that
her only companions at table were
two Portuguese, a stout. swarthy man
and a woman who spoke almost no
Enclish. could not dim her delight;
hui when she found her deck-chair
between patiently blondincd. hard
faced Young woman and the TWO
portugrese. she could have wept with
chagrin.
The two Portuguese were reading
aloud Havelock Ellis most elucidative
essay on feminine psvchopathy. Linoa
realized that the woman on the otnef
side VAS studying her with amusement
AS il she had shouted 1t. she knew
that her neighbor was appraising her
for Just what she was. a teacher on
holiday. She sank back. pulling up
her RIG about her and striving to
close her ears as well As her eyes
when gay greeting opened both
wide
Hello Yourself" she told the red
dish blond youth. with deep relief
Want TO walk" he asked.
Entirely conscious OF out blithely in
different now TO the understanding
smile of the other woman on the other
SIDE she tossed of the rug and went
with him.
Good sailor" he asked her.
Il don't know
First trip?"
Wen. 1 guess you'd know before
this il YOU weren't.
I'm Drake and Frobisher and all
the other old boys who could roll around
a deck. This is my ninth trip, and
haven't gone under yet"
Your ninth?"
I'm the Ancient Mariner. say. ]
do hope that you'll hold up. 1t gets
most terribly lonely If you haven
some one 10 talk with"
There are always girls, aren't
there"
"sure." he smiled, but there are
girls and girls"
She could not quite hide her pleas
ure in the emphasis his eyes set upon
her. while his voice stressed the final
word
Are We going to tell each other our
real names?"
..I-lI tell YOU what we'll do" de-
/ sire TO slough of the dead skin OF
outer personality urged her TO expert
ment. She sought TO forget all the
circumstances of life that had ever
! irked her. Not for a moment did she
! wish TO remember that she taught
school in Middletown. Not for worlds
did she want this bright-haired youth
! To know her humdrum occupation
j You call me Linda and I'll call you
whatever you say"
Darling" he suggested gravely.
That's not fair"
1T might be my name"
1T isn't. II you don't want TO play
III call you Mr. Smith, or johnson
or whatever your name is, and you car
call me Miss"
Then call me Pat"
/ "Pat?"
That's 1t. Linda"
All right. Pat"
Not until she saw the zest with
which he plunged into the game did
she realize how many cards she had
given him by the elimination OF theIi
landlubber identities. On the instant
he assumed that he had known he!
so long and so well that there wa
between them no need Of explanation
Only from his illusions and comment:
vas she able 10 deduce the information
that be was going 70 Liverpool. thai
he had come from Texas. that he %as
not yet 80 and that he was on hi
own.
Hes a nice boy" she decided, "a
dear boy"
Deity he rlarooned her away from
every one and planted her in deck
chair between his own and a vacant
one beyond.
Two old girls who passed out a
Sandy Hook" he explained the unoc'
cupied space School teachers" h.
amended. In q tone so negligent tina
Linda exulted in her artifice OF deny
ing her profession.
Il thought I'd beat the gang b.
making this boat" he declared Il hat
enough OF them when VAS kid u
last me through life. Didn't you?"
Yes" Linda said weakly.
She shrugged Of! the prick Of con
science that wouldn't stay ashore
What did 1t matter II. for few ga,
days. she deceived a chance acquaint
ance about her occupation? They'c
firt little. laugh little. sigh bi