1932-10-31 — Page 28

HANSI

(Continued from Page 12.)

The two women glanced at each other. Friends of theirs had frequently offered to rent the house, but Mr. Godch hud invariably answered that it was a case of "buy or nothing." It took this lovely little Austrian to get round him. And suddenly Edna Lessingford thought of Sam, and her heart contracted with a sharp spasm of fear, as though hand had reached in and squeezed it hard.

You were wise not to buy if. you could avoid it," Vanessa said. "It's so pleasant to feel free. If it weren't for my hus band and children wouldn't have "travel."

permanent home"; Pd

Hansi istened to her visitors. when they spoke, with the closest attention. It was diffi- cuit. probably, for her. to follow them, but she made her deficient English the excuse for a wide eyed and flattering interest.

Ah, too love to travel." she said. "Maybe you have been to Vienna, eh? So much I hope 80,"

"My husband and I spent our honeymoon there." said Vanessa. "We adored it.. Such lovely music and sugh charming people.

long to go back."

"And you, please?" asked Hans turning to her other visitor. "You, too, have been?"

"No, alas!" said Edna.

."Sam

CHINA MAIL CHRISTMAS NUMBER.

By Susan Ertz

my husband, hates travel. What a lovely child your daugh- ter ist

"She is nice. my Else."

"She's simply enchanting." said Vanessa. "Do let her play with my daughter Margaret. She's six, but she's

very good! with younger children.".

"Oh, but how kind!" said Hansi, delighted." "Then my Else learns good English,"

"And perhaps you'll speak German with

us sometimes, said Vanessa. "My husband and I both speak a little.".

"Already I see I was wise to come hire," said Hansi "So nice people and everything good... Already am happy. Now Lis). comes and we have tea

Nearly an hour later, as the two women were on their way home, Vanessa said:

I don't think I'll ever forget this afternoon. I feel as though I'd spent it in conversation with an angel."

you pretend you are. I shall mind if Sam goes mad over her. And I believe it's just what he will do."

I

"My dear, the only one of us who really has anything to fear is Bertha Tanner. Frank will well, you know what he is.. believe he dreams of girls ke Mra, Merriden every night of his life, and then wakes to find poor dear Bertha's head on the con- jugal pillow.”

never

"Well, I wish she'd come here," said Edna. "The reason poor Bertha lives in a. quiet place like this is to keep Frank away from girls and night clubs and things like that. F think it's too bad."

"I wonder," said Vanessa, "whith of our husbands she's apt to like best. They're all

fairly good-looking, and not un-- attractive. Frank's the most impressionable, but she seems fairly intelligent, and 1 think she'd find him stupid, unless she falls in love with his face and figure. She, might like Charles, of course. Charles is serious- minded and chivalrous, and has an eye for beauty and adores. children. such a

Also he speaks Ger- well-much better Sam, I feel sure, she'd like. He's jolly and amus- ing, and has quite a way with women.""

"An Angel" repeated Edna. "I'm not a sure."

"Well, I never saw lovely face. And her figure. her hands and feet! Really, I think she's the most perfect being I ever looked at. Charles will go completely mad over her."

"And how will you like that?"- asked Edna, a trifle sourly, 65

"It will probably do him good."

"Oh, you're so full of modera ideas," exclaimed Edna.. "Or

man quite than I do.

"Oh, for heaven's sake be quiet, Vanessa. How you can think it's amusing to talk like that, I cannot imagine. If Sam fell in love with her I'd be so " jealous I'd want to kill her. I'm

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jealous already, and he hasn't even seen her."

"I believe," said Vanessa thoughtfully, "joking apart, that if she took a fancy to any of them, it might easily be

Charles."

"No, it wouldn't. She'd like z big easy-going, tender-hearted, gullible idiot like Sam."

"We've only got to wait and see. I suppose," said Vanessa as she reached her gate." "Will you come in awhile?"

"No, thanks. I think I'd bet- ter go home and give myself a face massage. Are you going to tell Charles all about her?"

"Certainly, and I advise you to tell Sam. Sing her praises. Men seldom admire the "women we rave about. Perhaps the

rave the less they'll'

more we admire."

"Not a hope," said Edna bit- terly. "I tried that once before. Well, I'm thoroughly depressed. I feel as though the worst had already happened."

"Don't worry," said Vanessa. It's a waste of time and nerve tissue." And they parted and each went to her own home..

"It's all

very ·well for Vanessa," thought Edna.. "She's probably looking for material for a new novel. Besides, she's got money of her own, and that makes things look different. I hope that girl does take a fancy to Charles."

She took Vanessa's advice, however, and gave Sam a fairly detailed description of their (Continued on Page 21.)

Hanet was an enchanting creature, and Charles had fallen in love with