Nogales international., 1932-03-19

4Ac Cn11lIleSS OF a veil uuCCereQ from
each hand to the floor Of the altar
And it seemed to Rosanoff that what
she said was memorable, the voice was
memorable, the hands that cast aside
veil after veil they were remorseless
too.
ST dance for you as the bayaderes
danced on the sacred terrace Of the
Temple Boro- Bodur, where was born,
in Java"
The sustained wall rose again. This
time, the blood gathered in Rosanoff' S
throat. CONCEALED in a hard lump. He
was afraid to breathe and felt near
to strangling. All was mystic, feshly
white before his eyes. The woman
and her swayings and the seductive
flesh that she wore more proudly.
more boldly with every motion, like
O. garment, like a dazzling dress Of
nudity, filled them. Sometimes she
moved and there was blackness, his
eyes could not follow her, they re-
manned glued to the spot where she
had been. She returned and filled
them with luminous white.
She sank before the altar.
| Rosanoff became aware that there
was golden glow in his eyes. When
the dance had ceased or, how long it
had lasted he could not have told, but
in the place where the altar had been,
| there were again two curtains Of
heavy Oriental stuff.
Rosanoff put a hand to his fore
| head. 1t came away wet, and the Chill
| Of the sweat brought him to his
senses. There sat Shubin beside him
with q face like a lump OF tallow.
Several men had gathered about
woman who lay on a bench. Rosanof
could just see her open mouth. She
had tainted. All the men and all the
women looked grotesque to him, and
it struck him that perhaps he seemed
just as hideouS to them after the
dance.
But when he glanced again at his
companion, Shubin looked IS COM
posed as usual. It had been the effect
of the sudden lights.
Shubin said, Now you've seen your
little dancer, eh?"
He got up and Rosanoff followed
him. He wanted to answer Shubin's
irony in kind, and he could not find
any casual words. Instead he could
| find only questions. Who is she? What
| is she? Is she really Dutch, as they
say? Was she born in Java, as she
! says? He was ashamed to ask. He
would not have the older man think
| that he could not discuss a dancer
| like meal, with epicurean discrimi-
| nation and nothing else. He was
| afraid he would sound too enthusi-
| astic, perhaps even too fervent.
Although the audience had been
so tense during the dance, there was
shortly q hum Of talk. Even the
| woman who had tainted recovered and
explained in quick. light voice about
her "migraine," and the odor of the
flowers in her corsage. Rosanoff did
| not know any of these people. but
Shubin bowed now and then.
You prevailed upon me to come
here" Shubin insisted, against my
better judgment and when, as you
know, should be at work. You said
| YOU could not leave Paris without
seeing Mata Hari dance. Now that
you have seen the Gree of Europe
not word Are you disappointed"
They were in the little salon. where
the servant was dispensing hats,
cloaks and sticks. Some men formed
a group about the door, and one OF
them remarked, "All the same-in war
time-while men die. :"
ooh. we'll" said another with a
tolerant shrug. Some dance and
some die"
"And some will do both"
Shubin turned his head and ex-
changed bows with the last speaker.
The footman opened the door.
It had begun to rain. a soft, mild
drizzle, which affected Rosanof. pleas
antly. The air felt very fresh and
now that he had seen little OF what
the discreet hangings and the heavy
walls of this seemingly close-shut
city concealed. he was alert for more.
The fact that Shubin had unbent re-
leased his eagerness.
He heard himself saying. DO you
know Mata Harp"
He was not answered. Shubin went
on to his car in apparent complete
forgetfulness Of his companion ana
his former banter He gave an order
to the chauffeur and then spoke al
most as CURLY to Rosanon.
st must go back. You can amuse
yourself. 1 imagine. Report tomorrow
night at my house for orders"
The young aviator was left stand
= ing. at a loss, but in the next 1nstan'
l relieved Shubin's brusqueness was
II no doubt due to the thought OF the
l nights work ahead, DECIDING the mes
2 sages Rosanoff had delivered ana pre-
pairing the new Ones. He would no.
be Shubin right now for the world
The rain fell on him softly, muir
e muir of voices by the door was en-
S chantingly gay. 1t made him tnlnF
S of that Paris to which his father nae
t sent him with mis- tutor not long be-
fore the war, "a Paris Of gentle. ros!
e sunsets, of Pickering. feathery leaves
t and the students and their girls, arm
g in arm, walking along the quays.
% On an impulse he beckoned to on
: of the chaufeurs. not quite WISHING
. to ask but compelled to.
Can you tell me, which Is Mat
y Harris carp"
TOMoRROW-The FaYil.on.