Evening star., 1933-10-18

into 1t and saw that Mathilda was
watching her in the mirror.
You look like you're bound for Q
party" Mathilda commented.
Silly" Sue said. preening. This 10
street dress, not q party dress. I
thought I'd make myself presentable.
We might be at table with the Prince
Of Wales or Lord Astorbilt"
| Mathilda shifted Yes, or with big
pickle and ketchup man from Kanka-
kee"
In the dining salon they found both
had guessed wide Of the mark. They
were seated with a professor and his
wife-an absent-minded professor OF
the comedy type-a chubby young man
with q voracious appetite and nimble
| tongue and a proud mother who was
acting as promoter In the marriage
market for her languid, cocktail gulping
daughter.
She scanned the large salon, as care
fully as she could without making her
search conspicuous. No, the young man
with the stubborn lock Of red hair was
not there. Probably dining alone IN
state in his suite. With q retinue in
attendance. His kind didn't eat with
the common herd They had silver
salvers and grilled bees knees under
glass.
Conversation at the table was stilted
except for the garrulous young man. The
languid daughter had found the bar
earlier and was in q half stupor from
q quick succession of cocktails. Never
theless, she argued with her mother
about a second bottle Of wine and won
the argument by excusing herself from
the table after the soup and failing to
return-except to the bar.
| pocl NJ, dack Sua and Mafhilda cir.
cled the ship.
I'm going to bed" Mathilda said
when they had completed the second
circuit. MY feet are so tired my brains
numb
"Oh, Matty." Sue protesting. mot
so early. It's heavenly out here. Think
of the nights you'll be going to bed at 8
| o'clock because there's no place else and
you've got to get up and 60 to work IN
the morning."
I'm I'm thinking. I'm thinking it's
been long time, Susie, my girl, since I
| thought as well of any place after q
''Matty, don't you care for anything
except work, your job, what's what and
| what isn't what in an off1ce?"
"Of course. care about something
else. Haven't I just told you? I'm de-
voted to my bed-slumber right and
slumber tight"
I'm staying up awhile" Somewhere
an ochestra drifted into dance tune 80
softly. so silkenly, the music seemed
born Of the sea. "I1l be in the stern.
in my deck chair, If you decide to come
back. ! asked the deck steward to
leave 1t out for me-"
Mathilda went below to the cabin.
Sue continued on to the stern. stretched
her length along the chair 50 that she
| could look up at the stars. The red
one, low on the horizon, must be Arc
turus Where had she heard about
Arcturus? Oh, yes, school-astronom
class. How long ago! Centuries. In
another life. A carefree joyous life
before the treadmill.
| Why had she ever allowed herself to
be thrust into the treadmill? Why
hadn't she gone on being carefree and
joyous, to Paris, slipping iced drinks In
gardens under striped umbrellas, riding
the ocean under starry skies? The
world was great round ball of enchant-
ment, dazzling. like the balls you hang
on Chistmas trees. Why had she failed
to grasp the dazzle?
A deck steward hurried past, eyed
Sue curiously. He walked to the stern
AcA, oedSASo VIC &ACdNC1Ao 4OA lew
minutes, then turned and came back
slowly. Reaching Sue he heSitated
lifted his cap and said, with the slight
est hint Of French flavoring his meticu-
lous English:
"It's blowing up rather coolish. Looks
like we're In for a storm. Would you
like me to get you q steamer rug
miss?"
"It is rather chilly" Sue felt he
thought it queer, her sitting alone here.
No one else on this part of the deck
Apparently parking oneself in the open
In a more or less isolated spot, was
not the thing to do aboard ship. 81
found it close inside" she added by
way of explanation. Il have my coat. >
IF you're remaining for any length
Of time, you'll find rug comfortable
I'll fetch you one"
The steward returned with the rug
tucked it skillfully around her feet
tipped his hat and disappeared along
the deck.
The orchestra was playing q waltz
A dreamy Viennese waltz with q
haunting undertone, which undulated
like wavelets on blue lake. Sues slim
body swayed with the music. Why was
she here alone? Why wasn't she In
there where music r1ppled, under the
soft glow of lights, laughing. dancing
like the others? She was young. Toe
young for life to be q dinge when
haunting melodies were being played
when rosy stars winked roguish eyes
when
Sues reverie was disturbed. Some ont
coming along the deck. The steward
returninga No. A man, but not the
steward. He, too, hesitated, then sa,
in the deck chair next to Sues. Maybe
he hadn't noticed her muggled there
She coughed to disclose her presence.