Evening star., 1937-05-30
Magazine Section


bright, stalk embroidered arras. From within,
the voice of Robert Mas said with irritation:
But can't. I've got to CO. If I'm not on the
mainland by Wednesday. III miss something
good"
Arafura John entered the breakfast room.
Good morning" He bowed, blandly courte-
ous Il trust you have slept well"
His gaze absorbed the fact that his daugh-
ter's face, in spite of its lurid makeup, was
white and strained.
''Hullo" jerked Mas suddenly, breaking an
embarrassed silence Whats happened to the
sun? It's going to rain
The girls eyes fluttered to the window and
then went straight to her father. What she read
there brought lines to her smooth. olive brow.
Its only Fathers rain don't you re-
member my telling you?"
"Oh. of course" said Mas, with an uneasy
laugh. Il ought to feel honored, but honestly,
Mr.. John, I'm afraid can't stay much longer.
In fact, was thinking of pushing off tonor-
row."
Does my humble and dishonorable house
displease you?" asked Arafura John sadly.
mo - of course not. But T."
Arafura John had seated himself at the table
and was toying with his frugal breakfast of
raisins and milk.
1T is raining" he observed placidly, be-
tween sips, land you have not yet seen my
poor, pretentious aviary. Do you like birds.
Mr. Maas?"
mot particularly. like to shoot them"
Most young men do. As one grows older,
the desire dies"
Father" said the girl sharply, II don't
think Mr. Mas really wants to see the aviary."
The old mans eyes dwelt carefully upon her
face.
You look tired. my child"
She rose abruptly.
''Oh, l wish you would stop this rain. It's
getting on my nerves. Mr.. Mas knows he is
welcome to stay y-i if he wants to-"
Have you any birds of paradise?" idly
inquired the young man.
LET me show you"
Down corridor, two sandalwood doors Slid
apart to reveal high grille of gilded metal
With a golden key, Arafura John opened this;
and upon the threshold. the two men were met
by medley of euphonic noise, a babel of notes
and twitterings, whose varied intonations
utterly confused the ear All about them, under
a towering, opalescent dome of glass. were
fluttering thousands of birds, large and small,
in waves of sensuous color and sound.
The young Dutchman spoke; but his words
were caught and drowned. Arafura John, ges-
turing to his ears, shook his head.
As an aviary it was. perhaps. unique. In a
riot of multitudinous color, blue breasted gold
finches mingled with sulphur-cr crested cocka-
toos; black capped lories from the Moluccas
We'd in stridency with Brazilian blue-headed
parrots; in greenish-golden rain. humming
birds with sapphire heads. came down arrow
like through their midst; scarlet tanagers and
cardinals, lurid as blood, made violent contrast
with black Bengalis and polychromatic macaws
from Guiana. Like svelte dragon flies, a swarm
of minute honey birds flashed by - vibrating
Jewels of metallic greens and ochres.
Flutelike through the wall of sound, emerged
the liquid notes of several golden orioles. Java
sparrows, dowdy in comparison with the orgy
of blues, scarlets and saffrons, twittered shyly
into corners as if conscious of their inadequacy.
A pair of New Guinea birds of paradise crouched
nervously, their feathers seeming to match
their emotions in waves of shimmering iri-
descence.
High above, at the very peak of the enormous
b:-<3 coco - r,tchinr tho ovo hv ITO ritter i'm.