Evening star., 1933-03-28
LUXURY LINER
BY Gina KauS-
COPYRIGHT, 1888, BY GINA KAuso

1nterruptlng TO throw IN q wasn't It
so?" or do you remember"
Those were the real adventures" Z"
he said. Don't you believe 1t that the
jumgles are as dense and as mysterious
as the woods on the Kreuzberg behind
our school, and for our trip on the
Schelde In the canoe we built ourselves
do you remember-I wouldn't give
the whole ocean, together with its
40.000-ton Columbia-"
Columbia! said Thomas excitedly.
why do you mention the Columbia 2"
well, because that Is the steamer
on which I'm sailing today-have to,
whether want to or not-did you say
something?"
Thomas had not said anything. He
had at first smiled on account OF the
blind destiny which forces one 1nan
upon the Columbia, anG Nevents
another man, who 4 mad to sail. from
doing SO. Then the thought flashed
into his mind that Veith, on board,
would probably become acquainted with
Sybil, and that he would put two and
two together; a new pain seized him
so powerfully that he trembled. Up
to the present he had suffered on
account Of Sybil's treachery, because
he had lost her, and because of his
Jealousy. Now. for the first time, he was
tormented by the idea OF what the
world outside would think. Veith would
discover the facts on board the Colum-
bia: at home everybody would be sure
TO know them already. and they were
all mochng him or feeling sorry for
him.
Il have been at 1t for 10 years"
said Veith. Others get fed up after
two or three long voyages, and start
a practice Of their own. either at home
or in the colonies. They have had
enough experiences to impress women
and friends up to the end Of their lives,
and most OF them have taken to the
ocean only to cure some little leak in
their lungs or in their Temperament.
When they are healed they can't stand
the smell Of salt water any longer. It's
only now and then you meet a jack
ass like myself who has everything he
wants at home, good and charming
wife and two pretty blond daughters
and who still goes OF for weeks on end
and even sometimes for four or six
months.
"Ernestine tells me that do not know
what love Is. It isn't love that doesn't t
want to stay at home and watch
children grow up from day to day But
Ernestine does not understand, and she
does not believe me when I tell her
that sometimes at the other end of
the world grow almost Ill with hun
ger for her and the children, but that
after I've been home for a few months
I must sail away again. People are diff
ferent, every soul needs its own kind of
oxygen; one needs battle, the other
peace. What my soul needs is change
II a. a &c hYr,, f1-. -.
sea, when am at sea, it is hunger for
my home. Ernestine says: You must
decide. You must know which magnet
draws you most powerfully But what
I really need Is this tension between
the two opposite poles, this life be-
tween the heights Of homecoming and
sailing away"
But this time you don't want to go
away?" interrupted Thomas
NO. This time I don't want to go
away. This time ! would-I don't know
how many years Of my life would give
to stay at home"
Veith emptied his glass It was the
fifth or sixth he had drunk while he
was talking. Then he continued in a
soft, tired voice:
This time everything was diffe ent.
I saw it right away when I came home
last week. If you live every day with a
woman perhaps you don't notice so
much what changes in her But if you
have been alone for months and re-
member every word, every look-well
then you see right away when you get
back that something isn't in tune. You
try all sorts of questions-but she lies
No. nothing has happened, no reason
to be worried, nothing at all. But she
over pretty girls in other countries. and
no nagglng because I have to leave
again SO soon on the Columbia. She
is very quiet and friendly, puts my
linen and my papers in order. An then
there Is my colleague, who comes every
other day. He has been doing all he can
since the children have had scarlet fever.
Hes done it because am a doctor too,
and naturally he does not take any fee.
You must be grateful to him and you
can't simply chuck him out, because,
thank God, the children have recovered.
All this Is quite as it should be, for
know my Ernestine. Nothing wrong has
happened, and she doesn't even know
what this doctor and his intentions to-
ward her are. It was he who made her
so peaceful and contented, even though
1 was going to leave again. But I know
Ernestine. One night everything may
be changed, and when I return I may
find strange woman. And can't even
find fault with her. for. from her point
of view, she is quite right. I have left
her alone too much
Don't you see. Tommy, that Is why
don't want to go away this time, for
I know that when I return I shall
hnd my home gone. In that case I
would have to travel forever. and
human beings are so stupid-then the
whole world would seem unattractive
and all travelling an agony. But it's no
use. An agreement is an agreement.
These are things I thought about too
late. And that's that"
Vetth ordered more wine. When
Thomas had drunk his third glass his
head ached, and he had an almost ire
sistlble impulse to let go of himself,
to weep and to rest his aching head
upon Veith's shoulder. There they both
stood, on the fatal verge of lost love.
One of them believed he could save
himself If he might sail TO-DAY: the
other II only he could stay at nome.
But in both cases destiny had been re-
lentless.
II know could have arranged every
thing. I'm certain of it, said Veith.
Il could have settled matters in a
couple OF weeks. 1t is nothing but her
sense Of injury, because she's been left
alone too much. It's no sudden passion
for some one else-it is only the man
who is always there while am away.
If I only could stay and be nice to
her feel sure she would come back to
meebut what's the use of my know
ing that? For the last few days I have
run my legs off to find substitute.
People always say, you lucky fellow,
you can go on wonderful journeys
without it costing you penny-if only
were in your place. What's the mat
ter with you?"
Thomas had leaped up. He had only
had three glasses, but he was so excited
that hardly sound came from his lips.
He swallowed and trembled and finally
managed to say: would it be possible
that in your place. could sail on the
Columbia-"
Veith stared at him for few sec
onds. Crazy. Do you imagine have