Evening star., 1939-01-22
c r SING

staggered over the floor knocking into peo-
pie. Farewell parties still wrought within
him, no doubt. The strident voice of the gong
sounded: "All for the shore All for the shore.
How was Laurelle to know that the purser,
short, that voyage, of good material, had
selected her at random because he thought
hers pretty name? Destinies have hung on
slighter threads.
She looked about her Around her persons
fed, some delicately, in morsels, some coarsely,
in chunks. A steward bent over her. handing
her menu. He suggested oysters.
Yes Oysters" said Laurelle, very bright
ly One must be gay Certainly oysters"
4 musicians gallery like neat gold,
mousetrap was let in up above:
Our little day was brave and gay
. But it is done
The sad music rose above the babble of
talk. Laurele closed her eyes and put her
hands over her ears impulsively When she
looked up the Captain was looking at her
curiously.
You don't like musiC?"
Il love it," she cried One must be bright.
"Oh.. yes, love it. But not that tune
She smiled and nodded at him. He turned
his attention to his soup and thought he had
pretty queer collection this time.
Opposite Laurelle sat the splendid lady
who had had all that luggage. She must be
someone very important. The pretty, fair
girl with the Virginia voice was Lady Har-
binger
Rather to Laurelle's surprise, the fair
young man she had noticed in the hall that
morning slipped into the empty chair beside
her. He was still trifle hazy and bemused
He spoke with slight stutter "G-good
evening" he said, and smiled at no one in
particular MY name is Erren Steere.'
She remembered the name, vaguely An
American artist, son of motorcar magnate
Evidently he had been hitting it up.
The oysters were put in front of Laurelle
Well Here we are" she thought. go
to it," She was like someone walking
down a tunnel. As long as she
kept straight on. it was all right.
But if she looked back, for one in =
stant, she was lost. For then she
saw Walter Saw him as she had
known him first - tall, splendid,
tawny - like tiger.
Then all those terrible doubts
that had fluttered through many
sleepless nights returned again.
Perhaps she had been wrong not to
stay and do as he wanted. Perhaps
she had been wrong to say no. and -
again no perhaps - perhaps.
You have travelled lot?" said
the Captain, manfully striving
with small talk.
She started. mo. Very little. |
once went on cruise
The Captain abandoned her, and tried
Lady Harbinger.
The next thing she knew. Lady Harbinger
had gone, feeling faint. The table broke up.
Laurelle went back to her cabin. There was
dancing in the lourse. She hurried past that
Tunes are too poignant. They make you
think too much.
She saw the young man Erren Steere ahead
of her, stumbling Why did he not go quietly
to his cabin. and sleep his parties Off She
passed him. but did not speak to him.
Her cabin had sea-green walls and oyster
satin curtains Such luxury. She smiled. hall
laughing, half crying. Really it was all rather
sllv, but she hadn't been able to think OF
ANYTHING else to do Her life had been sud-
denly empty, her heart quite empty. You
can't sit down and face the accustomed days,
the known routine There has to be full stop.
In the long mirror she saw herself reflected.
axlark girl with small, oval olive lace ana