Evening star., 1932-03-17

heavy boots, cotton dress
with a tight bodice, full skirt
and blouse of coarse linen. All these
garments were soaked through ana
ciinging to her Her rough CLOAK was
thrown in a heap on the landing stage
and looked like dog Just out Oh tne
water A welcome warmth beat from
hsr body to his. taking one of her pig
tails in her teeth. she plated the wet,
loosened hair into a neat rope again.
Then she laid one hand over his heart
.sNow lust keep STILL she said. you
can't talk while YOUR teeth chatter ike
that What were your parents think
inR of YOU silly baby? You don't know
the lake yet 1 suppose? AS seen as
ever 1 saw you out there this afternoon
/ thought to myself thered be trouble.
Then I lost sight of you with the teie-
scope and at last / went Out win tne
boat to find you. That wasn't 700 easy,
either. in the storm. Would you really
have been drowned If l hadn't picked
you up?" 80.
81 don't think So I should have
pulled through. l don't let myself be
beaten so easily"
: IT see" she said. Then she sat for a
while with her hands clasped around
her knees and looked at him reflec-
lively. as If there were serious problem
to solve. Her eyes we're OF dulli I'M
penetrable black and the light OF the
lantern cleaned in them. she was
small, quite a child, and yet very wom-
anly in expression ana form, ike
4. round. downy, half-ripe fruit.
: ''What are you called?" asked MAI
tin He had a strong desire to lay MS
head in the lap of her cotton dress and
fall sleep.
puck" said she, as she took his hair
and SQUEEZED the last drops OF water
How do you mean? How do you
utean-Puck?'' he asked, shifting MS
nurnbed. wet body farther from the
warmth of hers. At once she moved
sconhdingly up to him again.
. How do mean? why. 1 mean
Puck, that's all. Mother 2 an &C acUess, sss;
Won see Mothers splendid. DO you
con,e from Vienna? Then you must
know her. too. She plays OF the Burg
theater. They won't let me go, put II
must be very beautiful. Her stage name
: Is Camilla Boian.''
~And I thought you were peasant
ives. I'm that 90 well: I'm little
odd as a matter of fact, you Know. l
like best living in the country. mere
for the Summer and IN the Winter at
Hornbuhel. The snow-I can't tell you
what it means TO me. someone's l
want 70 burrow right into the earth.
And then again I want to run away
and away from it. Father calls me
Little weasel Father is very good.
A little mad, too. So is mother, but In
another way. And what are you like?"
she asked abruptly, and with O quick,
instructive movement she gave MIN
little tap on the forehead The light
touch was too much for his exhausted
nerves and shudder ran through him.
What am I TO do with you now,
boy?" asked Puck. Il shall have you
iii if YOU lie there with nothing on.
And 1 can't take you into the house.
There are people there today, and papa
is reading his new book aloud. Philos-
ophy. Do you know anything about
that? No more do l. II took you in
as you are in only your bathing draw
ers they'd laugh at you perhaps. And
I can't row you across now, either. I'm
too tired. And you aren't good for much
at present We must get you warm
first. It'n be perfect weather in two
hours, and then I'll lend you my boat.
Can you work stern oar?"
~ Where are we, them" asked Martin.
He shivered violently and still lay with
b1ACh OQGolA CbNtAtSA @@N W. ~O~~-S
on the other shore?"
Eyes, we're on the other shore.
Sounds Jolly, doesn't it? On the other
shore One could make song OF
that"
Puck hummed few birdlike notes as
she shipped the oar and locked the pad.
lock of the chain and then carefully
wiped her wet hands on her wet dress.
There was something unreal about her
as she busted herself here and there,
now advancing and now retreating amid
darkness, water and lantern light. Mar
tin shut his eyes.
How do you know the weather will
clear? You're an odd little woman"
he said half asleep.
She took hold OF him at once by the
shoulders. Get up" she called out
loudly. "You can't sleep here and get
inflammation OF the lungs. Oct up,
quick. AS for the weather, I've nose
for it. There isn't much about this
lake I don't know. When the sweet
rush has this strong smell it means fine
weather. Come along. Well wait in
the bathing hut till the rain stops"
They went along beneath trees whose
branches roared in the wind. across
some grass and onto path, up hill and
then down, until they came to some
wooden steps. How strange it all
seemed-here on this other shore, in
the unfamiliar darkness of these
grounds, with his hand tightly clasped
in the wet warm hand of a light
hearted little girl An old-fashioned
lamp was lighted and the lantern
blown out. The rain went on and on,
pAtterinR on the roof The hut was
built Of logs apparently, low and square,
with rush mats on the floor and folded
deck chairs slowed away in corner.
Where was an old-fashioned sofa of light