Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-13

sionable young ones liked to think tina
he had suffered indescribable horror
and privations. AS a matter OF fact, n
had suffered them. but he did not tai
about his experiences.
He was shaving himself at the fourth
floor window of one of those fat whit
Mediterranean houses. He used an old
fashioned razor. He held the tip OF nj
nose between the first finger and thumb
of his left hand. And below him Cal
dor arranged itself in, white Splendo
upon its headland ane along the blu
rim of the Anse deS FlerS. Flags float
ed-the tricolor, the Stars and Stripes
the union Jack. The three white cupo
las of the Hotel Cosmopolis carried eacl
flag.
Michael Rostov was employed at thu
Cosmopolis.
A pair of trousers hung over the bach
Of a chair. Rostov possessed W pairs
of morning trousers and a morning
coat. He had to be very careful witt
his trousers: he kept them creased un
der the mattress. The CosmopollS ex'
pected a we'll creased leg.
Rostov's wife had just come into the
room and had taken OF her hat. she
was a little out of breath after climb
ing four flights of stairs; she looked
dark and delicate, for she never had
quite enough to eat and she spent some
eight hours each day serving in a lace
and fancy shop in the Rue du Care. MI
was a tiresome shop the proprietress
was greedy, and you had to be so per-
suasive, trying to make idle people buy
perfectly unnecessary articleS-embrol-
dered coats, vivid jumpers, little luxu-
ries in lace, handbags or leather work
Vera Rostov ended most days with
shadows under her eyes.
She sat down and looked at her u
band. who was washing the remains OF
the lather from his face. She both
loved her husband and was afraid OF
him: afraid that some day he might
suddenly realize that she was an en-
cumbrance and wish to be free. Life
would be So much easier for a man ike
Michael If he were free.
For Cap dor did not know that Vera
was Rostov's wife. She was supposed to
be his sister. and even as his sister she
remained very much yelled. These I'M
fortunate Russians were-of course
very interesting, but then, Cap oOr
was predominantly feminine, and
Michael danced so exquisitely. He was
supposed to be a prince disguised as
a lounge lizard. As a matter OF fact
he had been a prince.
ID OSTOv was wiping his face. He
turned to look at his wife. She
was tired. She had come back from
the shop to prepare and share dejeuner
with him. And as Rostov looked at her
he remembered his first interview with
the polished person who managed the
Cosmopolis.
Married."
eyes"
"You can't be married for this job.
It isn't q la mode"
Every well, I'm not married. I have
q sister"
For the Rostovs had been very hun
CRY in those days, and hunger Is q
powerful persuader. And Michael loved
Vera, though the how and why OF 1t
were beyond him. But Vera was gentle.
Moreover, they had passed through the
great tragedy together and been num-
CRY and frightened together.
He said, "Sit still. I'm waiter today.
I haven't been standing in a shop"
And Vera knew that he had been
writing. He wrote in French, tales,
articles. plays, in the hope OF getting
something accepted and of making
money. He. stayed at home In the
HOIIlulkS " MlkDC W4&[AA - AG0 Ao
dancing lessons to give, for staying at
home saved clothes, and clothes were
precious.
whats the menu?"
He glanced at her uuizzically as he
turned down his shirt sleeves and fas-
tened the links. Vera was different
from other women, Or she affected him
differently. He saw so much Of women,
multitudinous women of all ages and
looks who had the right to order him
to dance with them; fiirtatious women,
sentimental women, silly women. frank
~ adventurous women. He had had a
surfeit of women. They bored him. He
was like a boy compelled to eat two or
three pounds OF sweets daily. BUT Vera
was different. She wa delicate and
gentle and underfed and tired and oura-
geous, and somehow his compassion
stood over and beside her In all the
furry Of a silly, Topographic, sensa-
tional, get-rich-quick world. He could
not help being a cynic, but toward his
wife he never felt cynical. She had
reality. -
He could be playful, though the world
saw him as an Interestingly melancholy
and rather silent man.
What's this? Herring a maitre
d'hotel?"
He had opened the door of their
dresser cupboard. Grand dejeuner had
to be as cold Is the plates. Rostov
spread a cloth and produced knives and
forks, plates, four rolls, some butter and
a wedge of cheese, a tin of herrings,
two oranges, glasses. They drank
water. And he had to watch his wife.
Vera had a way Of pretending that she
was not hungry.
well, but there is something else"
X y X X
THERE were occasions when Rostov
dined out, and he had dined out
the previous night. AS a boy he had
amused himself with tricks of leger-
domain. and on the previous night he
had managed to pocket a couple OF
peaches. Sometimes he pocketed the
most extraordinary things-the wing Of
a chicken wrapped up in a rice-paper
serviette, a soft roll, bonbons, apples.
He placed the peaches in front Of his
wife. He laughed.
For madame!"
Vera Rostov's face quivered.
But n for you"
"But I don't eat peaches. Oh, no
I ate peaches last night with Madame
la Duchess de Nouveau Richie. Be
sides, I dined so well, disgustingly WELL
Almost he looked apologize. He was
presented with Sc many free meals
Women cultivated him. Vera had nc
free meals; it troubled him.
He insisted on her eating. There ha6
been occasions when he had detected
her In the crime of trying to make him
eat for one when there was not enough
for two.
Meanwhile they talked, and nearly
always their talk was of ways anc
means and Of money. 1t had to be so
The new world was S very raw anc
new to them. and from being privileged
people they had been driven out to joir
the crowd of hangers-on who coax ex'
istence from the pockets of the well-to.
do. They were spongers, but withou
being blessed or cursed with the soul
Of spongers. They had known grea
freedom, and always they were dream