1940-07-05 — Page 16

Page 16.

SHORT STORY

THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 5, 1940

The Marriage Of Annette

OLDEN limelight spilling over, a

shining floor, and in the centre a delicate, swaying figure momentarily, breathlessly poised in space, while the low throbbing of drums, the muffled crashing of cymbals took up a swift, romantic rhythm.

Annette Du Val!

People leaned forward from tables that were set around that vivid patch of light; the expensively-gowned women a little jealous; the men en- thralled, wondering . . . and desirous. There were whisperings of: "Glorious dancer-incredibly beautiful. And: "Toast of Paris before she came here. Hotel darned lucky to get her.. Know anything of her history? I did hear.

"

Robin Mason

as he was tensed watched, first Annette and then the face of the man who sat beside him. There was a certain anxiety in his expression. Garth was such a hard nut to crack; he'd probably not see the artistry of all this. -

Lights up, now. And a figure smil ing, like a cherub standing in foamy clouds as the chiffon draperies flutter-

ed and clung and parted with a tan- talising grace...

"Well?" Robin's voice was keyed up. Garth Anderson raised his glass. "Damned attractive, Robin.” "But not your kind. Go on-say it!"-hotly.

"Steady, old man."

By Sonia Deane

Du Val

of getting to know you," he said swiftly.

depression

Annette felt a sudden take possession of her. There was an antagonism in Garth's attitude which affected her strangely. She had want- ed to like him, but in this brief meet- ing she felt, instinctively, that they would never be friends. She sald

"Wait until you meet her." Garth lit a cigarette with a certain Meet her! Poor cool indifference.

Robin's heart was pounding against old Robin! Still very much the public

holiday on

despite his his ribs as he thought of his own hap- schoolboy

Com- wealth and achievements in civil en- piness. This was happiness!

return from gineering. And this French cabaret pleted by old Garth's across His eyes gazed dancer?

to Egypt: good scout, Garth. Same pro- He must like where she was disappearing through fession; same college.

draperies. her! arranged extravagantly

"Let's go around to her dressing- Garth knew the type. (Don't be a hypocrite: why pretend you're pleased room," he said. "She's expecting us." Garth had a sudden vision of a about this engagement? Out with it;

woman deliberately trying to play the tell Robin what you think and spare him a damned lot of unhappiness in demure, innocent damsel for his bene- Go fit, and shuddered. It wasn't that he the future. Now's your chance.

and she knows, cherished any old fashioned notions ahead. You know, that Robin's money is the most im- about theatrical people: Garth was a portant factor. Nothing new about all modern and he prided himself on his this-just a rather cheap melodrama broadmindedness. It was just that he that's been played a thousand times couldn't see a girl like Annette Du Val

making a type like Robin happy "Now!" he thought as he followed his friend into the dressing-room.

before. Hell! Why did women have slowly, deliberately: to clutter up a man's life?).

me."

Coldair for 1940

THE BRITISH ELECTRIC REFRIGERATOR

DESIGNED for HONG KONG

BY THE LARGEST ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING ORGANIZATION IN THE EMPIRE

Coldair the SILENT refrigerator all you'll hear is praise

SEC

PRODUCT MADE IN ENGLAND

IMPORTANT ·

Unfavourable Exchange does not affect Coldair prices-it is cheaper to BUY BRITISH-there-

fore BUY COLDAIR.

VERY ATTRACTIVE

HIRE

PURCHASE

TERNS

AVAILABLE

THE GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. OF CHINA LTD.

"Reeverent nỷ THE GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.LTD. OF ENGLAND

5

YEARS

GUARANTEE

KARNI

Annette, dark-eyed, fair-skinned, vivacious, yet devoid of any artificial- ity, rose to greet them, going straight to Robin with an affectionate gesture that was appealing.

"And this is Garth," she whispered, her accent slight, but infinitely at- tractive.

Yes.

"I'd also like Garth to get to know

It was a challenge. "Beware, Garth, my boy," he said to himself as he went from the room.

"She's dangerous. Before you know where you are you'll 'be out on your ear. Bah! Women

are all the same!"

He travelled down to Mannerton

Hall, Surrey, the following evening. Already, the very name of the old house had assumed a different mean- she stripped ing. Annette intruded; from it the old friendliness; insinuated. herself between him and Robin like- What on earth some grim shadow.

His did Robin's people think of it? mother, for instance.

But Robin's mother belonged to the new school, and so long as Robin was happy she was prepared to welcome any woman who inspired that happi- ness, even though she happened to be a cabaret dancer. Secretly, Freda Mason was vastly intrigued by An- nette's charm and dazzling beauty, She liked nothing better than to hear her broken English, and was quite prepar- ed to admit that it would do the stuffy Mason family good to have some new blood in it!

"You Jike her, Garth, of course?" Freda's voice was soft.

He looked steadily at her.

Garth smiled. (And this is Garth! Very bright! Just what he had imagin- éd. Pretty-and empty-headed, very pretty). He held out his hand and replied, giving himself a mental kick for the trite observation:

"I've heard so much about you, Robin happy." Mademoiselle."

"Nice things?"--with a little laugh. "Very." (For heaven's sake get away from this cloying sweetness).

Garth had often visualised the wo- man Robin would choose. An out- door girl; strong and fine and accus- tomed to the rather "county" existence that would eventually be imposed on her as mistress of Mannerton Hall. He studied Annette, then. Obviously as young as she looked; cultured: one had to concede that. But she and Robin! What could she know of his life? How could she possibly fit into it? His ideals would be foreign to her. The whole thing was ridiculous!

Just then she looked at him with a steady calculating gaze as she said, with a touch of amusement:

sudden

"I don't dislike her," he said. “Just

a question of whether she will make

"Happy!" It was a laugh. "Have you ever known him so elated? No; I've a feeling that he's doing well for himself. And we women are pretty good at judging each other, you know." Garth watched the kindly face with its frame of silver-grey hair as he said:

"You mean that you are so generous you'd give the devil the benefit of the doubt." There was a fond indulgence- in Garth's tone.

Robin came down with Annette very late that night. Only Garth remained up to welcome them. Shorn of the theatrical setting of the previous even- ing, Annette seemed far more beauti- ful. She was dressed simply and her skin had a glow which not all the make-up in the world could achieve.

"Watch dog eh?" Robin said by way of greeting.

"I am a thought reader and I assure you that you are quite wrong, Mr.-"

"Hi! Stop that 'Mr. business," "Your mother knew you'd not ex- Robin broke in. Why the

pect her to wait up until this unearthly formality? Garth and I are darned hour," he said swiftly, and looked at nearly brothers. He and I have been Annette. "Must you choose a profes- in more scrapes together, painted more sion that keeps you working until towns red, and lived down more trou- morning?” bles that you'd dream of. Plus taking each other's place on occasion when things got too hot for one or the other . Garth always got the dirty jobs, if I remember rightly."

"Still time to reverse Garth and chuckled.

ly.

"I like it," she said, a trifle defiant-

"I'd dance all night.” Robin chuckled.

"Garth's getting old. Those thirty odd years of his put dancing well out that," said of reach.

"Sure." Robin's spirits rose. "Gee, it's great to have you back and now that you've met Annette-"

""The picture is complete," Annette said with Q particularly pleasing accent. She turned to her dressing table, picked up an exquisite diamond bracelet and clasped it about her wrist. "Robin's engagement present," she whispered. "Isn't it beautiful.”

"Very." (Silly little fool to throw his money away in that reckless fash- ion. Of course he hadn't been wrong. So she knew what he was thinking did she? That was to the good). "But I must rush off. See you to-morrow, Robin. Good-night, Annette."

"What time'll you get down to the Hall?" Robin asked.

They settled down to drinks, coffee for Annette, and sandwiches. Garth sat and studied her as she lay back against the cushions of her chair.

"Won't you find it rather dull down here?” he asked steadily. "You expect me to?" "It would be natural.”

"It is also natural not to be dull with: the man one loves," she said provoca-- tively.

"Got your answer," Robin laughed.. Garth smiled.

"By the way," he said, "I'm going back to Egypt. Another job-damned interesting, too. In different circum- stance we could have gone out to it together."

Annette sat very still. Her heart seemed to be somewhere between the base of her throat and her mouth. "Are you coming down for the Garth was leaving! Well, she was:

Annetta put in swiftly:

week-end, too?”!

"Yes."

Robin Interrupted:

"She wants to have the opportunity

thankful. That aggressive domination sapped her strength, made her feel in- significant and not a little afraid..

(Continued on Page 17)

"