1937-07-30 — Page 39

THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPI

THE MARRIAGE SONG (Continued from Page 1)

though she was excited she felt a bit foolish as well, and her scat tered brain could not seize on any really good reason for rushing down here. And, of course, the mo-

les to produce Frederick, and though some might think that, a waste of time, Frederick and his family didn't, nor that all the centuries to come should be de- voted to the continuation of Frement she saw Roger, she must be derick's line. Well, you couldn't lame them. A habit of mind must be cast-iron after seven hundred years. And they always married beautiful women. That's why Frederick was marrying her

because she was beautiful, and because, with her aunt's help, she had been so very clever in ap- pearing exactly the same as any one of the young women Fre- derick might have married only more beautiful Yes, she had been very clever.

Frederick's part of it was all right. Nobody was blaming him. He was going to hang silver rings and river gold and make her part of a tradition. And that was what she wanted

*

* Suddenly she got out of bed and she ran around the room clutch- ing at clothes here and there. She slipped off her nightgown and began to dress. She was tretabl- ing, but she was not crying. She. was swearing softly and innocu- ously and biting again at the broken spot on her lip, without awareness. She put on the new sports suit and a new hat and a new travelling coat because she didn't have 2 single garment which was not new. All her old things had been given away. Then she went out of the bedroom. All the lights in the house were out, although it was not much after eleven o'clock. But the wedding reception was to be held in the house and to-morrow would be a frightful strain. Servants, Aunt Sybil said, needed care like any machines. Without rest they were liable to crack under strain. Aunt Sybil was perfect at that sort of thing.

The garage was not far off and there was no need to hurry, but her body moved in unconscious swiftness, matching her whirling thoughts. As she half ran, she was forming, in staccato snatches, the things she wanted to say to Bog- er. Why, she would say, in rea- son's name, is it more landable to marry for love than for any- thing else? I'm giving up great deal to marry Frederick because I think I'll get something worth having. If I had married you instead, I'd still be giving up a great deal because I thought you were worth having In either case I'm only pleasing myself. The trouble with people is

2

When she had driven for an hour she was no longer feverish. She drew her coat round her. A fine drizzle was falling and the hood of the roadster was down.. But she drove on, feeling nothing in r particular. A bit sleepy, if anything. She hardly thought at all now. But when she turned into the village

again seized by began to tremble,

shaking hands

from one side of the ro

other, but she

she was ent and

mider her

bobled

in front of the red lamp

er Roger's gate

t

one, and,

ready with that reason or he might think That would be ghast- ly, if he thought, as he well might. that she had

come to him because she couldn't go through with things. If Roger kissed her

in that first mo- ment before she could speak well, that wouldn't do anybody any good.

She fled up the path, desiring now the safety of a closed door. But as she stood in the porch, she heard the sound of a car engine coming from the back of the house. It shattered the night in a spurt of sound, then died abruptly. That would be Roger. That was the kind of thing he did. Drifting about the country all night visiting the sick. She went round to the back, making no sound on the wet grass. She stood in the garage doorway for almost a minute, watching Roger bent over the engine of the bat- tered little car before he noticed her. He was swearing like mad. The engine was exploding and he was swearing. There was a kind of rhythm to it

Tun

Louise loved him so dreadfully that she almost fainted. She was quite literally unable to move, or "she would certainly have away. Her brain was giving or- ders: Get out of here! You're a foot her

ever to have come. Get out of here!

Then Roger looked up and saw her.

"For Pete's sake!" Roger said. "How did you get here?"

"I drove down,” said Louise; then added wildly, because Roger was coming towards her with a blind, strange look: "I thought Td like to see a doctor and get a little advice. I've been rather nervous lately and I thought you might be able to to give me something. You see, I'll have rather a day to-morrow."

Roger stopped short and laugh- ed He lit a cigarette and inhal- ed the smoke deeply before he came nearer to her

"Very flattering of you to pick on me. It'll do me no end of good, having anyone as famous as you for a patient "

"Please!"

"No. It's a fact You know we read the papers down here. Some of us even cut your pictures out Joe Cuddy you wouldn't know Joe, he's a friend of mine

has pat you in his frieze of film stars. You're over the bookcase." The shock had passed from his eyes. His second langh

red

is silly little huddle

of a house was in darkness. She

Roger impa take ter

got out and stood undecided. ing at the red lamp. Now, al able car

the Nage unt? one to lend me

said Louis

There's mine Her hands were moist and her. heart was thumping and she thought how absurd it was to re- hearse any situation which had to do with a man and a woman, be cause one never got the right ches

This comedy or tragedy or whatever it was had bolted right away from the set lines.

That's an idea. I've got to get out to this woman as soon as I possibly can. But-

"But what?”

“I don't know how long I'll be. Listen, you'd better take me. It's on your way partly. You can drop me and then go on. The sooner you get back and get to bed, the better for you. I don't know what made you do this mad thing. Only one reason would justify it and that apparently isn't your reason- He waited

Louise felt like screaming So she giggled stupidly. "In the set one moves in, it's rather fashion- able to do mad things. I felt like a drive, and thought I might as well

ell call on you as anybody, and that you being a doctor would be more likely than most

of Tay friends to be up and about.”

Roger turned his back on her "Possibly, he said. "I don't know much about your set. We are very sane down here. How ever, for once in your life, you can be useful as well as fashion- able. Do you mind if we start at once?" He took up his com With it on, he appeared huge. But he moved jerkily. He dead with sleep.

Where "Back along

throbbed

road you

He hunched in the seat wearily. "Louise, that's all rot about treatment isn't it? You're

ight?"

"suppose so

cope with this

"Well, do you mind if go to sleep? I think that would be the best way tion. There's you and me to

't slept

Im all m

ing eft for

other. hours and

until you

come to the fork about three miles out

es I know ite

"Then take the left turn and it's about two miles ther They've put a lantern at the lane there and it's only about half mile to the house. I'll walk that, and you can get away.”

Yes, she thought, it was rather futile planning things Situations you prepared for as dramatic turned out place generally He was There was nothing

of them to say He mi go to sleep. The laugh her

well

on

He was asleep road rocked the car sideways and bump in the

his head fell agai her. He went to sleep suddenly. Like a child. Like night coming in the tropics. Country doctors learn- ed to do that, Asleep, he moved his head so that it rested, more comfortably against her should-

His arm

She almost ceased

(Continued

́er.

Equal to

fine liqueur

AT

"I can tell

White Horse

blindfold! And to think that at on

time I used simply to ask for whisky and soda! White Horse is just like a fine liqueur !”

China: JARDINE

No& Co., L4D.