Evening star., 1934-07-01
SHANGHAI ROSE
BY ANNE FORESTER
Author Of Spite wife"

| pallid New Year dawn that was as
yesterday. Electric lights, warning
with gaudy lanterns light. The
fetid stencil, the Cimmerian black of
the narrow Chinese street. Cries Of
the water vendor on the thorough
fare beyond. Rickshaws and palan-
quins, hooded carts and cars. Noise,
confusion and frantic color; crimson
and saffron, cobalt and green. Beat
Of a Sharkskin drum through the
gloom. Clash Of a cymbal, sound OF
lutte. Squalor and glamour and make
believe. And Harvey, her husband.
part Of the chaos and terror that was
the Chinese night.
This year-only the peaceful silver
river, flowing by her kitchen door.
This year, her baby, sleeping under
friendlier stars, ana herself on the
threshold of an open door which might
lead-where?
That tragic, gay figure, dancing in
a Shanghai cafe with light feet and
heavy heart, was dead. There was
no Shanghai Rosel
Jeffrey Therrold, launching his big
shoulders to shield his match from the
little breeze, spoke softly into the
gloom.
"Deering." he said grimly, got his
train to New York all right. I tele-
phoned that hotel when took Babs
into the house. He'll connect with his
boat in New York and tomorrow I'll
cable Shanghai. Which will just about
wipe the slate for Capt. DeeringI"
That his own retribution had been
swift and sure only the hand wrapped
in silk handkerchief bore mute tes-
timony. The girl, driving silently to-
ward the cottage by his side, had felt
that she did not want to know.
You won't have to worry any more
about him, Rose. You see-I've talked
to Aunt Abby, and know"
"About-about-" Rose faltered
and stopped.
He had called her Rose. She won-
dered whether he knew
About Harvey and that check
and a lot Of other things!"
His voice shook little: that sure, ar
rogant voice. But his eyes on her
own were steady and deep.
Larry Morgan" Jeffrey said softly,
with an infection she could not quite
define, came in to see me-just be-
fore l went away on my trip"
Larry" For a brief, startled in
slant gray eyes looked fast in the
depths of black. Then the girl, with
a restless, panicky movement, walked
to the edge of the porch. 81 see :"
Il wonder what it is you think you
do see?" Jeffrey Therrolds voice went
on.
| I see that there isn't much use In
this world of looking for loyalty any,
where in ones friends!" she flung out
| in smothered voice II liked
Larry. I understood him.
and took care Of him when he
was too useless to take care of
himself" came the vibrant, strangely
deep voice at her ear. "Oh, he didn't
spare himself And when he got
through-he told me what he thought
of me!'
''Of you?"
! of me. For not seeing what had
been right under my eyes all the while.
The thing that Aunt Abby saw-that
all the world seems to have seen
that I've been crazy about you ever
since the time my eyes first saw your
own! That I've been blind All,
Rose, can't you sec"
Bending forward, facing her as she
stood braced against the narrow rail,
all the white, blazing fire of the stars
above them seemed centered In the
darkness Of Jeffrey's eyes.
And suddenly she was swept into
the circles of his arms, clinging TO
him desperately, her slim body racked
with Sobs.
Rose, sweet I've frightened
you! What is it-oh, my dear, my
dearl"
With a swift, passionate tenderness
her arms went round his neck, draw
ing his face down to meet her own.
"I-waS remembering-what hap
pened-the last time you held me
here! I-promise you-it won't hap
pen again"
Slowly the man tilted back the
qulvering face, the soft cloud of her
hair spreading fanwise on his arm.
Gently he set his lips to the top of
tnat dark crown, to her eyelids, to
her soft, trembling mouth.
Above them, with a suddenness that
crashed splinteringly into the night,
sounded the clamor of wild, sweet
bells. Bells on the country club, bells
from the village beyond ringing
in the glad new year!
Il love you!' said the voice Of
jeffrey Therrold, vibrant and low.
And I love you :"
(ETNTCN