Evening star., 1936-06-07

SuttiiB lthouBH tHc NcuduO tney
made for the Playa. The dance huts
in that sordid far retreat were already
engaged in their transformation of
night into day Here we're no tourists
and no Cubans such as are met in the
drawing rooms of New York - onlv
seven shades of natives yielding them.
selves to rhythm with such abandon
as can be seen nowhere else on earth
short of the heart of Africa. Thump
of palm on bong0. the rattle of the
qniJGdG, the beat of the m0rracds, ali
combined to stir the very dregs of
human blood into red cloud that
blinded the eyes of watcher and
watched. A stinging fire coursed
through Trent's veins He glanced at
Kathleen. E
That was rumba," said Kathleen.
her eyes strangely luminous, "a real
one. Did you ever see anything like
it?'
No, and when come to pick it to
pieces can't tell why it got me-"
1t isn't what you see." she ex-
planned; its what you feel" She
looked at him quickly. surprised at
her own avowal
Lets move on" he suggested.
"No" she rebelled. It's early
I'm sure it's early
II don't mean home" said Trent.
We've got one more place they say is
tops where we can join the show. I
feel the need of a little dancing. Don't
you?" Z
They stepped into the night, out Of
acrid air into fresh, and promptly
stood transhxed. With the shacks
wrapped in mystery, ugliness took on
beauty The gray sandy soil turned
golden. Royal palms swept the sky
with towering brooms But in spite Of
the limpidity of the heavens, Kathleen
felt sudden and crushing oppression.
What had happened. or was going
to happen? Could Trent save her?
Save himself? In the car she crept
close to him, for here was an avenue
of escape ready to hand and made to
order Would life ever produce anyone
easier to get along with, more present
able. wittier or better looking? They
scarcely spoke during the long ride yet
their accord seemed to bloom into a
tacit pledge neither could henceforth
ignore. Their blood was still tingling
when they paid off their driver at the
entrance to the Eden Cabaret and
stepped inside. Y
The foyer was disappointment but
the moment Kathleen caught glimpse
of the patio within she was entranced
by its oddity. 1t was a court rather
than patio, great square well FIVE
stories deep. Two sides were canopied
to shelter guests, musicians and per-
formers against a possible shower. The
dance floor was in the open. a patch of
tiles below, a patch of sky above.
Soon Trent was discovering he could
dance as never before in his life.
Rhythm was in his feet and in his
blood. AS for Kay. she was in trance
that felt like happiness. The unity
she and Trent had known in the car
appeared to be intensifying. He was
wonderful, growing more wonderful
every minute. But you can't dance
and think of something else. Who had
said that? Instantly her mood changed
and she beheld Nadito as clearly as
though he stood before her, a symbol
of division. His lips seemed to speak
without moving: Stay out of this,
you and your blue-eyed grandfather.
Trent"
Eyes. Kay"
Lets go. Please! Let's walk.
Couldn't we walk back to the ship?"
Sure. 1t can't be far. I'll ask the
doorman." #
They emerged into changed night
- dark. robbed of garish lights and
the moon. In silence they threaded
streets like canyons, for the houses of