THE MARRIAGE SONG
A
fell and
recognised
almost choked her
Then she
all desire to cry For a few min- ates she had thought of Sybil as merely a kind old woman. She had been watching, as she lay in bed, the shapeless, unco ted figure as it moved here and there about the room, laying garment on chairs, examining near-sight- edly the labels on trunks, and for the first time in their long asso- ciation she had thought that there might be, cased in this splendid -but inhuman production of beauty. experts, dressmakers and fashion- able conventions, a human old wo- man who must surely love her, and who, if put to it, would prove tolerant, wise and understanding.
But when her aunt kissed her, she knew the wish had been father to the thought
"Good night, dear," she said, a bit bleakly but without weakness. You couldn't very well cry against a face which should have been 60 years old, but which had been lifted until it felt and looked like 40, and which smelled of nuit d'amour Nor could you show to those blank, unlined eyes, which should have been wrinkled with
years and understanding, the marks which your nails were making in your palms, nor shout to ears, long since trained to deaf-... ness, that you were hating every thing, that all your body was rigid with revolt. To do any of these things would prove you a fool. And you had spent a num ber of years learning not to be a fool
you
"Good night, child. And must go to sleep at once."
"Yes," said Louise. "And, Annt Sybil, I don't want to sound sen- timental, but thanks for every- thing." She waved her hand at the littered room. Her hand was small and very white and her nails were painted red as blood. "I'm sure that's the most mar vellous trousseau a girl ever had. You've been wonderful."
*
Aunt Sybil patted her niece's. golden head. “Darling" she said. "Don't talk nonsense. I've enjoy buying this trousseau as much as you have. I've always enjoyed your clothes-except the ones you were wearing when you first came here."
"I was not very smart" said Louise “Round-eyed, country innocent. with clothes, to match," She eyed a sports suit which had been left undecidedly on a chair back, and which cost ten times as much as the suit she had worn on that day when she had first come to live with her aunt. She won- dered if she would be as happy wearing this suit as had been wearing that other She thought it quite probable.
"Rustic beauty," said Aunt Sybil is not very effective
ept in poetry.
suppose not said "Louise Hér aunt regarded her
moments. “Can you see your
that
looked towards the
the silver
her golden gleaming head piled satin pillows. Her shoulders
Louise Tried To Pretend
That Love Does Not Matter in Marriage
gleamed. Everything gleamed glittered and flashed ex
web of lace which curved over her breasts She sighed.
“Do you think you'd look so if you had washed your hair your self for the last ten years and given your skin cheap cold cream instead of leisure and the right kind of food and attention? And would a cotton might dress against
illows give you beauty
"You're right, of course.
You see, real beauty costs money—a great deal of money, my dear. But it is an investment which repays one.
"Yes," said Louise. "I suppose Frederick might be called our first big dividend.
Her aunt smoothed a pile of satin lingerie.
"Darling," she said "Isn't that being a little crude? thought
Short Story
you'd learned the things one does not say. But you are overwrought and tired, dear. You simply must go to sleep now. And I won't have you called until ten o'clock. You're not to think of anything now, ex- cept your happiness. You are a very lucky girl Don't worry or fuss. You've not to think of
Single detail. All you have to do is rest (and look your best to- morrow.**
"Yes," said Louise, in a resign- ed tone.
"Good night, daring
"Good night, aunt Her were very wide and dark watched her at switch off the light near the table. then the light beside her bed; with stiff lips the old smile from the doorway, watch- ed darkness blot out the shapeless form, heard the soft closing of the door. Then she began to cry.
sense
coned
night,
of czy then
<round her
to herself. C ings, for
first blessing was Frederic husband night and gan to
up a book her bed den of
again
didn't know ho first verses
“A Poet Thinker
him she
By Velia Ercole
have many children And while they eat and drink
greatly for three days
I will wind silver rings upon And
gold
that
than most dina
let tho
And
ed under
the wind in
"and
popular. What ha
tristan
The kind, red face of
looking over the hill we are.
we are
And work and play together, And laugh together at things, Which would not amuse
neighbours
That was called "Marriage Song of Kafiristan, and she lay back with the opened book press- ed against her breast and stared the ceiling. And the pain she
ondering
rederick
that song more easily
well hang silver rings
gold, and, leaving
Pandu, it was part of the ment that one would have many childrensons for
had taken seven
This will be the talk of the town
and no wonder Any sale is an event for a w
but when MAIZEE'S are having a sale, and such
an occasio nobody wants to miss!
means
And to
such frocks
rence. It
centur
Page 2)
ion,
quality
MAIZEE'S
Alexandra