Evening star., 1933-04-08

out any tools-but you can't do that.
Everything ON this ship is built very
solidly. Though if people talk very
loudly you can hear them through the
partitions. And the people next door,
who got on at Cherbourg last night,
well. heard them till early in the
morning"
Julie Kaposi suddenly stopped. She
had discovered they were not really
married-an American and . yonan---
Mrs. Wohlm.--s. so the stewardess
had told her, volunteering also the fur
ther information that the ships doctor
had yesterday asked after this lady,
having the same name as his. and that
he had seemed extremely upset.
Won't you lie down on the daven-
port for a little while. doctor? It
won't do you any harm TO play patient
for a quarter Of an hour"
But Thomas ran up and down the
cabin like trapped mouse: he neither
heard nor saw Julie. 1t is impossible
that Sybil won't even speak to me! he
thought. Shortwell has forbidden her
and she does not dare to disobey him.
I shall have to get Shortwel1 out Of
the way-out Of the way somehow, and
not only for my sake, but also so that
Sybil may regain her liberty
Julie finally waylaid him and COM
PEELED him with gentle force to lie down.
II shall not ask you anything. no.
nothing at ALL she said, stroking his
forehead and cheeks with soft, warm
fingers. When she arranged the cushion
beneath his head it was almost like O
caress
she asked, stretching out her extraor--
dinarily white arm. She took a de-
canter of weak creme de menthe from
the table, filled tiny silver cup and
held it out to him.
"Do drink 1t. 1t will straighten you
up" =
He opened his eyes and Immediately
shut them again. With her free hand
she raised his head and then carried
the cup to his lips, just as one does
with sick people who are too weak to
sit up by themselves. He emptied the
silver cup, but his head remained in
her supporting hand.
Julie Kaposl was a woman without
any real interest in anything In life
and, for that heason, she was con-
stantiy bored. For a while she had
been an actress, showing no special
talent; then she had taken up arts
and crafts and, finally, writing. Ulti-,
that her real meter was love-love as
she understood it. 1t was love without
any real feeling, but sometimes asso-
ciated with the intoxicating sensation
of success" she having been a COM
plete failure in every more serious pur-
suit. Her easily stirred blood was q
deceptive substitute for the essential
frigidity of her heart.
please, stay" she said, though
Thomas had made no movement to-
rise. Please stay q little while with
you came in"
Thomas did not comprehend single
one of her words; all he heard was the;
sound Of her warm voice. His head
still lay in the fragrant bend Of her
arm. -,
"Shan we for half an hour forget
everything that troubles us?" she pro-
posed. Shall we?" -
This task was entirely In harmony
with her personality. She wanted for
half an hour completely to possess this
centrated upon another woman. Besides,
she had already convinced herself that;
she was in love with this handsome
young fellow.
He heard her talk, but he did not
understand what she was saying. He
did not know how it happened, but
suddenly his mouth found her lips. r.
But it wasn't a victory for Julie
Kaposi. Suddenly, without a single
word, without single gleam OF love In
his eyes, he left her.
When he reached the upper deck he
no longer remembered how she looked.
] He was thoroughly ashamed OF his ex-
perience with this strange woman.
1t lacked bare hour before dinner,
and Thomas was afraid of the solitude
of his cabin He went up to the radio
room, then downstairs again, having no
idea where to settle down. He went into
| the music room. LIIise Clemens and
Vladimir were rehearsing. They had
| not noticed his entry. Luise's power
full soprano had drowned out the OPEN
| ing Of the door. Thomas went on tip
toe to an armchair and let himself drop
| into it. g
"It viii be wonderful" said Luise when
she had finished her aria, and immedi-
ately began another. She stood behind
Vladimir, looking over his black head
into a morror. Thomas could only get
a side view of her, but he noticed how
she bloomed out when singing; perhaps
because she absorbed the Joy Of living
from her reflection in the mirror. Sud-
denly she raised her arms above Vladf-
mfrs back in gesture Of embrace.
Suddenly she stopped.
isn't it beautiful that we shall not be
alone over there?" said Luise. "Eve-
nings after concerts and Sundays "a
You will have me and you-whatever
may happen"
vladimir in his embarrassment struck
a couple of foolish octaves In the bass.
I'VE shall always be perfect friends
shant we?" e..
"You are much too lovely for a per-
feet friendship" said the Russian with
his soft, warm, somewhat somnolent
Slavic voice. He leaned back on his
piano stool so that his head rested
against Luise's bosom. Her arms
closed around his neck, and she bent
down over his face. x.
And Thomas left the room on tiptoe,
unobserved, just as he had entered.
Sister Martha was In the consultations
room; she had cut her finger and come
to paint the slight wound with iodine.
As he entered. she started to 60 out
so hurriedly that he asked In surprise
what the matter was. Couldn't he help
her put on the bandage? She held out
finger and bandage, and said nothing
was the matter, except she strongly had
the impression that she got on his
nerves. ~
lie protested Win great poSltiVcucSs,
and was convinced he was telling her
the truth. How could she possibly get
on his nerves; she who was so silent, so
cool, so professional, so almost disem-
bodied? But when he uttered the word
"disembodied, he suddenly knew that
she was not wholly wrong: in her.
ascetic presence he actually felt more
deeply depressed. She seemed so in-'
finitely far away from any earthly
emotion-so saint-like.
mo" he said again. as he was
fastening the bandage. "You don't get
on my nerves, but am little afraid
of you" :.
"Afraid?" she repeated with great
surprise in her blue, almost excessively
clear eyes. What In heavens name Is
there about me to be afraid OFF"