Evening star., 1932-05-19

Hotel. OF sudden clouds forming above
the red Punchbowl. OF purple showers
of bouganvillea hanging over old gray
walls and scarlet patches Of poinsettia.
A memory of stringed bands playing
under the trees in purple nights-un-
bearably sweet. A memory of heart
ache.
All Of this exotic beauty-empty and
haunting. She was wildly unhappy.
Eaten by the wild longing to see Jim
Keith.
Joyce tried to smother the thought of
him in physical activity. She went on
long horseback rides-swam for hours
every day-and found the memory Of
his dark, vivid face in the sunshine and
palm trees of the hill roads-on the
white. coarse sand of Waikiki.
I'm In love with him. :" Joyce
whispered to herself, and her heart
leaped painfully. She went around in
an unhappy dream, never seeing how
those other two watched her-Kitty
with silent sympathy, Roger with a
grim little smile deep in his sunken
eyes.
Two months-and Honolulu gave
place to Shanghai Shanghai wearing
It's modern Occidental mask, behind
which turks the dark inscrutable face of
the Orient.
They fingered several months in the
Chinese city. Roger was fascinated.
Kitty, entranced. Joyce, restless, trying
to fll her life with color and movement
and forget its emptiness.
The thought of Jim was very near
her in Shanghai. The Neptune might
be In. Chance might bring her
face to face with the man she had run
away from. In the lobby Of the
hotel in taxis in the modern Eu-
ropean city, or rolling along in rick
shaws through the narrow, crowded
streets of the native city the restless
violet eyes were searching search
ing searching. Her
heart leaped more than once at the
sight Of tall, whitehead masculine
figure. At the sight of lean. dark
face or q momentary glimpse Of dark
eyes.
In the shops-on the Bund-at the
hotel dances where diplomats and naval
officers elbowed government oficials,
and representatives Of the big import
ing houses-always seeking him.
i've gone madl have no pride!"
she cried miserably in her heart. But
her eyes kept searching. E.
In their hotel suite she sat one morn
ing reading the English newspapers to
Roger. It tired the old man to read
now; Just one Of the many small things
which told how his strength was failing
He lay on the couch, sometimes listen
ing with closed eyes, sometimes dream
lily watching the face Of his young wife
as she sat nearby.
Beautiful, she was, he thought; and
that beauty loving nature of his knew
q warm little ~low Of satisfaction that
she was his. One felt the restless. eager
spirit Of her glowing through her slen-
der body like flame in an alabaster
lamp. She wore trailing { iental robe
Of ivory white silk embroidered in the
same shade. The long sleeves were
lined with jade green, and they had
slipped half way down her arms. Rogers
G es were caught by O ring she wore-a
ring Of red-gold and jade.
He slowly reached out and touched it.
That something new? I've never seen
Il before"
Wise violet eyes flashing to his, eyes
gone nearly black. II haven't had 1t
long. 1t struck me as curious"
Curious and expensive, should say.
Silently she slipped it of and laid it |
In the old mans palm.
After a moment he handed 1t back.
AN exquisite bit Of workmanship. |
Burmese, I would say, rather than |
He lay back again and |
closed his eyes.
you're tired? You want me to
stop?"
"No-please go on. If you're not tired.
I like to hear you read"
Joyce continued the article she had
been reading. Passed on to the one
herself in the act Of
speaking.
Old Rogers eyes were closed, and he
lid not see that her face went milk
white. The small article announced the
arrival of the steamship Neptune.
For long minutes after the old mans
,entle, regular breathing told that he
vas asleep, the girl continued to sit,
mead bent, eyes fastened unseeing on
he gold and jade ring.
A struggle going on In that motion
ess figure.
She suddenly rose and passed noise
essly into her own room. Kitty en-
cred a few minutes later to see her
dressed for the street in a violet-gray
ensemble which deepened the purple
isht in her eyes and turned her hair
o A cleaning helmet of bronze.
I'm restless, Kitty. I'm going out
hopping. II Roger wakes while I'm
.way-tell him III be back for dinner.
Will your"
She was going shopping. Duti-
ully she strolled In the direction Of
he shop which displayed q lacquer
hest which she and Kitty had admired
he other day.
The chest appeared 10 have lost its