The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-03-10

The steward hesitated. One was supposed to stand in line with the others. But Jane gave him her best smile, and he said, "Yes, MaamI" Jane gloried a little in that feat. There was something about her that made men eager to help her at any time.
 Then all of a sudden the crowd seemed to melt away. People went to the bar, or downstairs to their cabins to unpack their things. She was almost alone.
 But then she saw him standing by the rail, not 20 feet away. He had on raglan coat which made hic shoulders appear monstrously broad, but she recognized him by the blond head of unruly hair. He had his face to the stiff, cold breeze, breath ing in the salt air.
 It was the tanend young man she had seen in the city yesterday, ar- ranging for passage on Q cruise. And she hadn't ever expected to sec him againl Now he, too, was looking back at the soaring, crenelated tow- CTS of the city which were rapidly disappearing from view. He was restless. He tapped Q cigaret on his wrist. and lighted 1t.
 Jane kept thinking how easy 1t should be, on shipboard, to get to know Q young man who was good- looking and ready to say easy, bright things. She had always imagined that an ocean voyage would he filled with glamour. New, important peo- pie. Easy contacts and intimacy. She was honest enough to admit that she had hoped for romance on her first ocean trip. It was the bu- collie ideal, she realized now, but there was nothing she could do about 1t.
 The young man stood there with his hair blowing in the wind. The raglan coat and the suit he wore looked terribly expensive.
 Jane remembered the news story she had read of the Danish sardine prince visiting in America, and her eager mind built such Q role for this young man. But of course he was an American. swell tub" he had said to her casually yesterday in the street. Yet he was like some blond Viking.
 AS if in answer to the thoughts which went on in her mind he turned and looked at her. It was an interested gaze, the gaze he had bestowed on her yesterday in New York. It was not the rude look of q bystander in the street. He seemed to smile, and then turned to the sea again. He had not recognized herl
 Jane knew, by the sharp disap- pointment she felt, that she was def initely interested in that young man. Why, she wondered, couldn't two people without companions on shipboard simply say: Hello, are you all alone on this cruiser I am. Can't we just say how-de-do, and start talking about the weather?"
 He was probably only shy, Jane thought happily. She was glad that he was not adept at picking up girls. But what If he should walk away, down the deck and never see her again? Her heart felt sudden panic
 A small boy in a coat that made him look like little general came striding down the deck between them. He was a manly little chap with an insolent snub nose. The young man at the rail turned and beamed down on him. "The first trip, fellow?" he asked comradely.
 The little boy drowned, and kept on walking. No, the eleventh" he sncered.
 The young man blushed sharply. Friendly little cussl" he said, half aloud. and Jane smiled. When she smiled. the young mans eyes wid- encd. and she was sure he recog- nized her from that one glimpse he had had of her yesterday. But now she realized that people on the big liners might not indulge in easy back -slapping of strangers. It seemed to make her lonelier. The man edged toward Jane now on the rail. But as he made this obvious move the d0wager who sat immersed in furs and a rug looked at him through lOrgnette and snifIed audibly. Tt Is 0utrageousl'' she said distinctly to the companion at her side. "6ee"-she nodded at the bold young man--"I told you we should never have come on this cruise. It is like an excursion boat on q river. A cruise Co n0whercl Tine Idea is preposlerousl"
 The young Viking stopped. Ne eyed the dOwager hopefully. Blll