Evening star., 1933-04-02

allowed him to lead her away. Was she
aware of the exceptional good looks of
this man, in spite of his ashen-gray
skin and his almost expressionless eyes?
His face was of rare, almost perfect
regularity; his body was bent forward
like an habitual invalids, and it was
supported on long legs. A wide strand
of brown hair, mingled with gray,
fluttered across his forehead, almost
down to the root of his nose. His
necktie was careleSsly knotted; his
clothes were impressed, frayed at the
wrist, shiny at the elbows-yet the
cloth was of the most expensive and the
cut flrst-clasS.
This curious man led Sister Martha in
mastery fashion in and out among the
boistrous couples. Thomas made his
way along the deck chairs to the railing.
Suddenly he saw for the first time in
his life the ocean not as from the main
land, but as a thing in itself, all around
him.
This sight took him entirely by sur,
prise. Up to now the Columbia had
Simply been a habitation to him where
he had hoped to meet Syhil, and where
he had not met her Now he was in
way overwhelmed. The Columbia,
which a couple of hours ago had seemed
like huge mountain, was now no more
than a nutshell amidst the oceans in
finitude. AS the Columbia grew smaller
so his own self shrunk, his personal
misfortune, his suffering.
He did not turn around until ne
heard a voice behind his back: wen
ask the ships doctor"
In a recess between two Of the smaller
lifeboats, sat a most extraordinary cou-
pie: an old man and a very young,
hardly more than adolescent, girl. Ihere
was nothing specially conspicuous about
the girl who sat cross-legged on the
deck. She wore checked jumper.
Doubtless the sister of the boy who was
so passionately reading the "Nicoma-
chean Ethics" thought Thomas. The
Jumper was fastened at the neck with
a red tie.
The old man beside her, however,
particularly attracted the doctors at
tention. To judge by the proportions OF
his body and head he must be a giant
His weather. beaten, deeply furrowed
face was surrounded by dense name
of hair, which was still almost jet black.
Small, penetrating, profound eyes peered
from beneath bushy black eyebrows;
huge mustache covered his mouth. He
wore a heavy raglan coat OF indefinite
cOlOT, WHICH at IIlt up OLoSiOoCO oii ~
collar and below pair of old-faShloned,
rn-down shoes. In spite of the shabby
clothes, there was something imposing,
almost terrifying about this old man.
His face disclosed strength, even bru-
tality, but mingled with them there was
also cunning and wisdom and an ele-
ment of genuine kindness. More than
anything else he resembled an old-time
pirate.
"You are a man Of the world, Doc
tor" said the old Titan without intro
ducing himself Wont you tell this
little stupid, because she won't believe
me-where do you keep your elbows at
mealtime?"
LAS close to the body as possible"
replied Thomas in surprise.
There you are, you stupid brat. AS
close to the body as possible. SusSose
you thought the more space you take
up the more important you are. Really
distinguished people make themselves
inconspicuous, as small as possible. /
promised her." he explained to Thomas,
Ito teach her certain amount of good
manners on the trip over. She is crazy
to get into the larger world-the young
fool"
Indeed, that's what I want" the
poor little churchmouse cried out, and
there was a wild, hungry gleam in her
black eyes, That's what really want.
And hundred like you, Mr. -Marius, can
come along and try to persuade me that
rich people are no better than poor peo-
pie. When I'm as old as you might
talk like that, too-but until then, I
want to enjoy things. and I'll succeed,
you'll see, I'll get there"
She held Thomas with her hungry
eyes. and said to him, They want me
to go to Oklahoma. where there is moth
ing but a horrid farm, and farmers and
goats and chickens, not even a picture
palace-but I'll run away-I've made up
my mind to. I'll go to New York and
some day be great lady"
And meanwhile you eat with your
knife, and you suck up your soup with
such noise that you can hear 1t in the
captains room! And when you walk
you wobble like duck, because you