Evening star., 1936-04-17

luxury is lovely, Ism Z II, Mayne!
she added. Big rooms all fresh and
orderly, and fires, and walters bring
ing us fat steaks and oysters and
meringues glacees; it's all so restful.
I think like luxury; do tonight,
know. This Of all things in the world
is the one I wanted most to do to-
night"
"D'you mean that you actually
thought you'd like to dine here with
me?"
IT didn't think 1t out. But now
that we're doing it I know that it was"
The table was whisked noiselessly
away; the big davenport was wheeled
about to face the fire. While the
walters were busy Tam wandered to
the window, looked down on the splut-
tering lights Of the square under the
rain. came back again in great con-
tent.
Still sluicing rain"
"A nice sort of weather to be in
doors and snug" Mayne said.
We'll. yes-here. But our house
was horribly dismal today. Dark, and
rainy, and with Coral crying and
mama with toothache, and rain
nothing but rain"
She sat down, slight, almost child
ish figure against the tapestry back
ground of the big chair, and clamped
both her hands on the arms, and
stared into the fire.
Did you mother go out with a
toothache?"
1T stopped. A woman in the house
gave her something that stopped it.
She felt much better and she went
over to Kitty Ulmer's. They play
poker and drink beer; she'll stay there
all night"
And where's Coral?"
"Oh, Coral pulled herself together
and went out with her new boy-he
really is only boy; don't think he's
more than 20. Sherwood Spring, he's
in Stanford, and he has a nice
widowed mother down there who
simply dotes on him. Coral goes down
and they have dinner and usually she
stays overnight. She'll certainly stay
overnight tonight. She'll not come
back alone in the train in this rain"
so you would have been all alone"
Il wouldn't have minded. The
house is full of people"
Have you ever been there all
alone?"
We'll. yes. I think So Or at least
they've all been very late. I don't
mind"
You don't mind anything, do YOU,
Tam?"
Yes, mind your going away. And
I like this!"
The lights were lowered. Mayne
signaled with his hand, and she went
to sit beside him on the great velvet
davenport; their feet stretched to-
ward the fire. Mayne had his arm
about her and Tams head rested in
his shoulder.
I'll tell you where you'll sleep to-
night" Mayne said. Right on this
couch. III not have you goin,, back
to wake up, perhaps, and think Of that
girl who killed herself, and get your
sell 1rlghtened to death"
Tam laughed unalarmedly.
Don't say that, Mayne, or I really
will
Really will stay here?"
"No-o-o. Really will wake I'D
in cold terror of that awful voice. Let
me alone, can't you!"
IN move some pillows and blankets
out here Mayne said. you don't
have to undress if you don't want to-"
Tamara laughed scornfully, softly,
said nothing, For long while they
sat still, with his arm about her, and
her head on his shoulder, and their
eyes upon the dying fire. The big
hotel room was softly lighted and
very quiet; outside the windows rain
battered and splashed, and the wind
whined softly.
Its so comfortable here with YOU.
Mayne," Tamara said in weary con-
tent.
She came into the house quietly:
at 9 o'clock in the morning all of the
members of the family might be, and
some of them certainly would be.
asleep. Tiptoeing noiselessly, she put
her bags down in the foyer and opened
the kitchen door without a creak.
Coral and her mother, in spotted
kimonos, were sitting there breakfast
ing; they welcomed her smilingly.
We'll, what are you doing back so
soon?" Coral asked, as Tamara laid
cold fresh cheek against her mothers
kiss.
we folded in Stockton yesterday.
We were losing money all the way
along" Tamara threw her coat and
hat aside and rumpled her hair with
a quick gesture of her hands. She
got herself a cup, drew to the table
a low-backed cheap little wooden
chair painted a bright yellow and
stenciled with red-and-black poppies.
There's letter for you," Coral re-
membered to say. Color rushed into
Tam's face and light into her eyes.
From Mayne?" she asked.
NO; I think it's from one of the
nuns at ST. Brides"
"Oh," Tamara said duly. She took
it; saw the pale blue ink of the "a.
M. D. G." at the head, under the en-
graved little familiar photograph of |
the new dormitory and the gym.
Mother Laurence. Mother Laurence
saying that she would be down at the |
Menlo Park convent for a week and !
would love to see Tamara and any |
other Of the dear "old girls" Tamara |
the clean1y written brief mas |
sage in her hand, dropped it among
the broken eggshells and tumbled hot |
coffee grounds in the bucket at the
sink.
Copyright. 1885. by Kathleen Norris.)
(To be continued.)