Evening star., 1936-04-10
H;f|f$W%Mt%9%42S' ~
kA&W%KA1HLEEN NORRIS ~

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wretched, second-rate productions,
borrowing each others hats, wraps,
money, glad to find meal or a friend
anywhere and anyhow. If Coral could
find a rich man who adored her :.
Already she felt herself infinitely
more fortunate than Coral. Coral
had had only casual schooling and
nothing Of that subtle thing that did
somehow penetrate into ones little
girl dullness and carelessness, and
that was called culture. Coral knew
nothing of poetry or history; never
read anything except theatrical maga-
zines and newspapers. and of them
she read only what touched upon the
theatrical personalities she knew or
might have known. She never wanted
anything except clothes and jewelry,
When in April Mr.. French suddenly
bolted for Alaska on q friends yacht,
Tamara could be very patient with
CoraPs angry evidences Of bitter dis
appointment. When he came back
Mr.. French was to visit other friends
on the klamath: he was to be in the
East again for the mid Summer tennis
at Forest Hills; everything was very
smooth and easy for him. For Coral
was left the dingy Valhalla and the
stuffy rooms, the discouraging round
OF the agencies, the veiled comments
or insufferable sympathies Of her
friends.
Mayne came up to San Francisco
often. The three-hour flight meant
nothing to him, and he preferred the
northern city to the southern one in
the languid Spring months Whenever
he was there Tamara was constantly
in his company, and they saw much
OF Persis and Joe. Pete, Mabel. Lucille,
Bill and Gedge; Arewell Adams wrote
some of his loveliest verse to "Mayne's
girl" Tamara had the thrill presently
Of seeing eight lines called "Tamara"
printed in an Eastern magazine.
From his first casual patronage Of
the shy little convent girl who had
never been out with a man to dinner,
Mayne had come to have a genuine
affection for Tamara. He told her
that he found her increasingly beauti-
ful; too beautiful" he said. You
know it's gift from the old lady's
left hand Tamara laughed indul.
gently at his enthusiasm. but some.
times when the dark gold of her tawny
hair was trinity dressed and he- hat
happened to be becoming, and there
was white at her young smooh throat,
her own mirror told her the same
story. Lucille sketched her head in
colored crayons, and Joe was constant
ly talking of painting her. They all
flattered her continually as much by
what they did and looked and implied
as by what they said 1t was all very
pleasant; after all, her life had its
grimy squalid under side; her people
were no credit, no help to her, and if
this pleasant silver lining came along
she would be nothing short Of fool
not to make the most Of every happy
moment Of it.
One night when he took her home
from a downtown party in an old
studio over the California Street Mar
ket, Mayne said:
will you do something for me some
time, Tam?"
Was 1t coming? her girls heart
asked in flutter as she looked up at
him in the warm Spring starlight.
Probably" she said aloud.
Some time-some night, perhaps,
when we've reached home after I've
taken you home from party, will you
kiss me?"
The earth tipped, and the. stars
wheeled, and Tamara stood still, look
ing up at him.
You've kissed me-" she said almost
inaudibly.
Yes, on your hair once or twice,
and on the tip of your ear. I've never
kissed you the way I've wanted to kiss
you. I've held your hand, and you've
leaned against me at Joe's or Pete's.
but I want you to kiss me. yourself
the way girl kisses man. Don't
look so scared, little st. Tamara,"
Mayne interrupted himself to say,
laughing, You don't have to do it
tonight. But some time will you?"
They walked on. Tamara's whole be-
ing on fire. When they were in her
doorway she said:
Some day, of course, will. Mayne"
IF came upstairs might I have
my kiss now?"
"Oh, don't know" she said, her
throat thick, her eyes fiuttering any
way except to meet his own.
Has any man ever kissed you,
Tam?" Mayne asked, STOPPING little
to look into the downcast face. Her
small, firm fingers we're tightly hold
ing his own: her lashes were lowered
so that he saw their shadow on her
clear cheek.
"Oh.' 'no-except Lance"
Don't want too-yet. Is that it?"
"Not-now," she said, laughing
nervously. But Mayne came upstairs
anyway. Two of Willette's elderly
friends, Horace Moon and his rad
died gray old wife, Fern Faraday, were
there, and proud to meet Maynard
Mallory. Tamara, demurely serving
ginger ale and sandwiches from the
delicatessen store downstairs, felt the
situation almost unbearably thrilling;
splendid, serious Mayne being won
derful to these tiresome old persons
and herself moving about silent and
busy, and all the time the night sky
rocking with the great words, "Will
you kiss me some day, Tamara, the
way a girl kisses mani"
She knew she would kiss him some
day. And meanwhile the thought of
that kiss was with her through every
waking hour.
Copyright. 1885, by Kathleen Norris.)
(To be continued.)