Evening star., 1939-05-21

party went uO"Il " tiiS idi.uliis oAost,
to 60 across the lake Randall and
Anita set out together in canoe. No
moon, only a web of stars that made
the quiet water light Its so beauti-
full" Anita said.
"Therell always be things like
this" thought Randall. Even if your
marriage isn't ideal, there are always
plenty of other things
You'll like the Gilberts, Doug
Yes. sure he SAID.
Mrs Gilbert's darling
That's good. Carl Gilbert's one of
the distinguished men in his line
You'd never know it, said Anita.
81 mean, if you met him, without
knowing who he was. you'd think he
was pretty ordinary" She began to
sing, again; the same song. She'll
be coming round the mountain =.
Shut up" he cried. in his heart.
But he didn't have to say it, didn't
have to let her know, ever. 81 have
no business to be SO irritated,' he told
himself why shouldn't she sing?'
Only he felt so immense longing for
quiet in this quiet place; he looked at
the dark hills and tried not to hear,
but did hear. She'll be coming round
the mountain -" His face felt stiff,
his whole body tense: he took
paddle from Anita: he wanted some
thing to do.
The landing stage across the lake
was brightly lit; the house on top Of
the hill had every window lighted;
the sound of music reached them, a
stamping. hurrying. confused beat.
The launch hasn't come yet" said
Anita. They started up the path, and
she took his hand. My Heavens!
he said to himself YOU'D think ]
hadn't said anything - that nothing
had happened
He felt sure then that this was how
she meant 1t to be. She was going to
cling desperately to her belief that it
was phase; that his words. spoken
with so dreadful an effort. meant
nothing. 1t gave him the queerest
sense of helplessness :. She started
swinging their clasped hands. Its
going to be lovely party. Doug"
she said, and there was something in
her voice that he couldn't endure.
A woman was standing on the
lighted porch; stout and queenly. with
white hair dressed high on her head;
in her dress of lavender chiffon she
had a coy. old-fashioned look. She
gave them beamlng smile: You're
the first arrivals! Come right in!''
The sitting room was cozy. too, and
old fashioned; rocking chairs. couch
covered with Navajo blanket: two
lamps with red silk shades; big
radio playing loudly. And on table
an astounding display OF silver.
dazzlingly bright; great silver samo-
var. a tray - bowls. dishes. "Fow
marvelousr' cried Anita. Isn't it,"
said Mrs. Gilbert. This set came
from the laboratory. This salad bowl
is from the university where Carl
taught. years ago :. This is all the
way from England From very
well-known scientist The little set
comes from Carl's Golf Club
All sorts of people remembered u.s.!
at must be the most wonderful
thing r. said Anita. Twenty
five years
ut is." Mrs. Gilbert agreed. benev-
olently. And we were engaged for
eiekt years. before we got married.
Eight years. Anita repeated, her
dark. pretty face allght with interest.
'Yes. and we didn't see each other
for FIVE of those years. You see. Carl
went with an expedition to India and
China - they were studying tropical
germs. or something" She smiled.
81 never remember whether it's germs
or microbes or what. Anyhow. Carl
was away for five years, and stayed