1914-01-10 — Page 9

THE HONG KONG TELEGRAPH.

SHORT STORY.

THE KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO SAY THAT.

BY JULIAN STREET.

EXTRA

HONGKONG, SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1914.

in for a gay evening in New York. But all that lay behind, now. Any proposal calculated to alter her domestic routine was sure to be rejected-bзause she had (or hadn't) done her marketing for Sunday; because of the expeure; more frequently because of the children. Even her kisses were boooming sisterly.

ic

(Molly told herself) upon her "He'll be all right with Katie," strolled to a seat in the shadow Illusion! Suddenly he became

about his studio.

:

Aug-

other hand...

H

1

laat," that it seems as if one could "The air is so still," he said at

almost hear the moonlight.

She held up a hand for silence. "Listen! she whispered.

conscious

"Don't!" she drawing back.

whispered, Promptly more promptly than desisted. There came to him the be should have, perhapa-be memory of a school-girl with two said "Don't!" to him like that, long, long ago. Who might she wondered--or had she thought of ba saying "Don't" to her now, he something else to say?

mother-instinct. She worried declared Wickett. over him over bie fantastic along, Molly."

"Do come of the hedge. He tried to sound

"Shall we sit here?" he asked sest was hard and cold. bachelor housekeeping, his dish-persuasive.

that the marble bor. wasbing, the colds he caught and "Katie isn't his mother!" neglected (and got over), the Molly affirmed, with a defiant

"Why-why did you kiss Obediently, the seated herself, me ?” she murmured. buttons he rewed on, and the little nod.

Tossing four inches of oigar half-teme mouse which he called

The question annoyed him. He Boross the bedge, he dropped too had a feeling that she was going Wall-do as you think best, place at her side. His elbows to ask him that. It was the very Henrietta and allowed to run dear" said Wickett, with, the air rested on his knees. He regarded question that he asked himself. of one who surrenders only after her beneath his brows, and as he Why had he kissed her? Fer- So, one day, instead of asking

Yes, you se. what sort of story a hard fought battle. "I should did so he struck a fist slowly. haps he could find out by doing Molly in to town for luncheon, be it is going to be. But, in the insist upon staying myself, but, abstractedly, into the palm of the it again. He tried it. invited Mrs. Barton. They lun- interest of a faint originality, I you segTM! oked at Sherry's, and had a bot-would call attention to the fact, tle of choice Chateau Latour (ob, that never, at any time, was gested Mrs. Barton sweetly, but,

"Suppose we all stay ?" he'd have done as much for Molly Osgood the "best friend" of somehow, not convincingly. It is no matter what" the first world had changed. It had be if she had given him the chance.) Wickott. (They very often are, "No, no, no!" protested Molly, she was very round and very world-happy, but lacking the land intimate ideas. The sensation we named Higgins. He was fat door. "If you don't go at once"It's not the moonlight. It's the braids down her back. She had. girl's name was. Enough that come a parents and ohildren's And exchanged horizontal glances you know.) Wickett's beat friend shepherding them toward the pink, that her bathing-cap was rainbow radiance with which of adventure pleased them both an lazy and prematurely bald, you'll make me very uncomfort-music at the club."" blue with black Valkyrie wings their lovers' world had shone. ao presently they tried it again-and utterly uniomantic, inside ablo!"

In the silence that ensued, they at either side, And

that, For it is a truth (an annoying and again and again. And as an l'cut, and as he las nothing from the hour of her arrival at truth, which people will dispute they ate and drank and talked whatever to do with this story. Barton did not wish to make her as if wafted to them across the Evidently Wickett and Mrs. both heard it, riding and falling, the Seaview Inn, Shelley Wickelt as they dispute any truth un-their way along, they discovered wonder that I mentioned him at uncomfortable, for they gave in. links on intermittent zephyrs perceived a new romantic beauty pleasing to them) that children, that they understood "each all.

Wickelt went for his overcoat, which were like the soft breathing in the coast of Maine. Every however they may bind their par- other, and told the each other ag Every one who has lived-even and Mrs. Barton wafted filmily of the summer night.

Mrs. Barton rose to her feet. afternoon they strolled out to the ents together by a mutual interest with subtle implication that those who have not lived, but upstaire to get her wrap. Only point and watched the surf come and affection are

There is a terrace at the Coun-

"This is folly!" she exclaimed among the certain other people failed to un-have gathered their ideas of life Osgood hesitated.

try,Olub, a wonderful wide ter can't go on! Don't you see it

breathlessly. smashing in upon the rock; every strongest agencies for the des-derstand them. Thus, by degrees, from lays and stories-knows

Oh, Shelley! It Ob, say, Mrs. Wickett," he race facing eastward toward Long can't? We must-" She sighed evening at the club they danced truction of romance.

they become sorry for each other, that situations such as I have protested, in his impetuous, bor-Island Sound and on that ter- his collar to limpness; every Far up among the radiant and still more sorry for them outlined come to climaxes of oue ish way," let me stay behind, race are syrings bushes, and in deep. We must- morning they played tennis mountain-peake of Youth hub-selves. Wickett began to think kind or another." The climax in won't you? I didn't want to go the shadow of those bushed is &

"Part?" he filled in obligingly every midday they swam and bles the spring of Curiosity which, of Mrs. Barton as a combination the Wickets' case arrived upon to this darn dance, anyhow, I hate marble seat of classic and uncombe also arose from the marble ss, with a definite feeling of relief, splattered in the sea. Within a trickling downward, rane into the of Sappho, Helen of Troy, Mary the night of one of the summer dances. Honestly I. do. week they ceased to talk of people rapids of Romance. Your couple, Queen of Scots, Lady Hamilton, dances at the Country Club.

justfortable design, and on that sent came to be with you with you at Wickelt and Mrs. Barton reptitiously he stretched them.

seat. His legs felt stiff. Sur- and botels and clothes and things embarking in the matrimonial Isolde, and Guinevere; and of Several days beforehand, Molly people, to eat, and got along to Venice canoe, shoot these rapids, and are himself as a bleed of Paris, proposed to her husband that, as

and hardly know that it was not and the stars and the feeling that but vaguely conscious of the Tristan, Rizzio, Launcelot, and a Mr. Barton was away and Mrs. from the hall. Come along, Os-

"Nonsense!" called Wickett, upholstered.

She nodded. they had "known each other slaplandid scenery which fashes by number of other notoriously ard- Barton liked to dance, they ask good. You'll have a good time." say it was too hot for dancing; Wickett had not even had to Then, one day, just toon either bank. After a time ent gentlemen. It seemed to him her to dine with them that even- "You'll meet lots of attractive Mrs. Barton had not even had to ehow how deep and true her they come to the first cataract that, but for his family, his coffee ing, and go on, later, to the olab. girls there," Molly said. friendship for him had become, the birth of their first child-a business, and the conventional

make believe she had a beadache. Wickett said he thought that the girl came up behind him in long hard portags, with the larger and commercial era in which he would be oice. Deep down in temptuously, as if to imply that gone directly to the seat upon the Girls!" sniffed Osgood con-On arriving at the club, they had the surf and ducked him. portion of the burden on the wife. had the misfortune to exist, his his heart he was a little bit amused girle were the last things in the terrace, and forthwith fat all

After that there may be other name might have echoed down at Molly's blindness,

world to interest him. Then, track of time, The whole world rapids, but they never rush so through history sa that of an ex-

turning a gaze of deep sincerity seemed to them to be composed swiftly. With arch succeeding ceptionally picturesque and torrid

upon his hostess, he said: "Tru-of flower-scents, and music, and cataract the stream grows calmer, lover. (There are times when all until Romance bas been left far men anspect themselves of things

ly Mrs. Wickett, if you want to the dust of moon and stare, And be very, very nice to me, you'll oh, the mystery there was about behind and the matrimonial craft like that.) (if it has not capsized) Boats

lot me stay a while and talk."

her in that light! And oh, the "Molly besitated. "Of course, placidly apon the sweet, slow

she said, "if you really mean which his eyes caressed her! So rapt intensity of the gaze with flowing river of Affection.

it".

they eat and talked together, in I do!" he broke low voices, of Men and Women,

Life and Love,

Ways,

When Mrs. Barton talked to

**

and Molly returned. Mra. Barton Presently the wailing ceased made polite inquiries, and was informed that little Shelley bad af stomach-aghe..

21

46

Is But

Presently she said:"! can talk about things, yet keep it "Elow beautiful it is that we all impersonal!"

outlines of her. He did not feel The moon was making silver imperscual at all,

1

"It can't be wrong, osa it?' "Wrong?" he repeated pas- don't care!" aionately. "I don't know! I

"But oughta't we to care? Aren't we growing rash? Aren't we being driven on by our hun- ger for sympathy and companion ship?" Her voice broke; he heard her catch her breath,

I

home in your car. Don't try to must go at once. Just send me "It is the only thing to, do

accompany me. alono"

I wish to be

"Of course," he chimed in. "Alone with your thoughts."

"Ah!" she breathed. "How understand me." wonderfully you have learned to

And at that trath- he, sighed profoundly,

offered him her hand.

Good night!" she said, and

he ought to seize her in his arme, His sense of duty told him that bat he could not bring himself to do it.

"Good night!" He tried to her hand. convey fervour in his pressure of

I'll get my wrap," she said, Then she turned and made her sa their hands dropped spart.

way across, the terrace to the club house, adjusting her hair with both hands as she went.

A few moments later, beneath the brilliant lights of the portico, he handed her into his ear. ·

"Don't come back for me," he ordered his chauffeur. "I'm going to walk."

Mrs. Barton shot him a sympathe As she heard him say that, tio glance. He too, she believed, thoughts." "And, of a truth, he wiebod to be alone with his

did.

Good night!" "Good night!"

the car drove away. Then, put- He heaved a relieved sigh as ting on his hat, ho set out across the links in the direction of his

home.

Purposely, upon the following day, he reached the beach a little

"Is there any one else you'd late, and as he loped down the

like me to ask in to make us four stretch of burning sand his eyes

at table?" she inquired. searched the margin of the sea for

"How about Osgood?" he the familiar winged bathing-osp.

Auggested, And presently, amid the swirling

Molly said she thought that euds just inside the breaker-line,

him about her "temperament. would be niog aid it with an he sighted it. The girl's back

he discovered that he hid one I-hadn't-thought-of-bim expres was toward him. He horried

It was on this river that Wickett of his own. Had he not been on sion. into the water, and coming within found himself after eight years of the glee club at college? Had Fo the dinner was arranged. in. reach of her just as a great green married life. For a time he tried be not taken part in amateur It proved to be delightful, I'm sure it's might decent in roller topplad over pressed a hand to think himself contented, but dramatics, and even written a replete with those touches Molly you, Osgood," said Wickett, who upon her damp, delightful neck, he was forever dreaming of the verse that was published in the knew how to give. But, unfort was already in his overcoat. "I'd Her head went under for an rapide and the hills, and present college paper? He bad! But unately, just a the entree was gladly stay behind, myself, but instant. She came up a dishevel-ly he found himself admitting. after graduation stern necessity being served, there came, from you see Mrs. Barton loves to ed mermaid, blowing, dripping, asoretly, that the pastoral panora- had forced him to abandon Art above, wailing sound which danne, so I really feel" Hearing angry." And she had a right to mas surrounding him were cloy- for coffee. He began to see the paused the hostess to be angry, for she had never seen in. It bored him to be able to matter as a tragedy though just herself hurriedly and scamper did not finish the remark..

exouse that lady's step upon the stair, he Wickett before.

Vera!" he breathed. It was foresee, in every detail, the lands what branch of Art by had given upstairs; and which caused Mrs. He was horror-stricken. His cape that would lie beyond each up he never told Mrs. Burton. Barton to reflect that, thank Osgood agreed, setto voce." But her by her given name.

"Oh, you have to go, of course," the first time that he had called face crimsoned, beneath its tan, bend ahead. And the more he Probably, however, it was poetry goodness, her dinner-perties were don't thank me for slaying be- and the orimson oozed down into thought he knew what lay ahead, At all events, he had a

"It has been perfeöt-this relapse not subject to such interruption-hind; I'm really very glad to. his neck and disappeared beneath the more his longing eyes looked when Mrs. Barton had a birthday, one had enough trouble with one's

companionship of ours," she hia bathing suit. He tried to tell back.

Then Mrs. Barton came into the murmured. fór he wrote her a poem in which cook and one's Pomeranian

Oh, Shelley! Ito the story of the other girl anil

room with good nighta whick, can't be-be--" She did not fin Molly, on the other hand, seem-be rhymed "hair" and "fair '-- the other ducking and the other ed satisfied to drift aud doze and what post, I ask you, could

frosting on a fancy wedding cake. somehow, reminded Osgood of the ish the sentence. winged cap, and becaused he was through life, sunned by her make a better rhyme than that?

"Be what?" he asked in a so ashamed, and because his blart motherhood. Now and then her As he began to realize the depth

other pair to the front door and

He and Molly followed the tense voice. ed apologies were so pathetic, and husband made some effort to of his artistic nature. Wickett because he was so amazingly' awaken her, to remind her of the acquired the habit of dropping

Iwatahed them get into the car. good-looking her heart softened old days when the stream flowed in on Osgood, the illustrator, who Barton, in her sympathetic, mellow tail-light disappeared down the "Poor little lad!" said Mrs. Then, as the bloodshot eye of the toward him She forgave him. fast. But she was not responsive. had a bungalow not for sway. voice. And when she actually laughed And it was when he admitted to He liked to go there on Sunday

drive, they turned back to the ("What a wonderful mother living-room. across red lips and small white himself that she was not respon-mornings, while Molly represent- she would have made!" thought teeth, he forgot the other girl for sive that he first began to notice ed the family at church..

Molly crossed to a sprcions Ee Wicket to himself.) ever and became Molly's bonds that a handkerchief was flutter would fling himself upon Osgood's

table laden with books and ma- Zee," said Molly. He was gazines and lighted by a rotund ing at him in flirtatious signal couch, wave an 47m That was her name-Molly. from the shore;

at the pathetice asked why God lamp, and, taking up a piece of antidiness about him, and pro- sent him the stomach-ache." She had another name, but-ob,

The lady who inspired Wickett's claim with heavy sighs that, bat

embroidery, sat down where the her complexion was like a bunch interest was a Mrs. Barton, who for cruel fate, he too might have Mrs. Barton said. You have good did not coat himself. Ho a

quisitely soft and cool beneath "How fascinating of him!" light would fall upon her work.

The close-cropped turf, ex- of pink and white sweet-peas, and possessed black eyes, a "tem- been living, this sort of life."

such charming children." her eyes were like a pair of corn-perament," and a husband (fat Then he would look over Osgood's

walked with slow, dimless steps "That's just it!" she whisperstretobed out before him like a the thin soles of his pumps, "Of course 46-

to the far end of the room, drew a ed."Oh, tell me! Have you luminous carpet of green and flowers, and her ways were despite the exercises which she latest drawings, nod hie head beamed Molly reflecting to her- fresh cigar from his pocket, and, ever known the atter dullness of silver.. Behind him, fainter and baffling beyond belief. You made him do for fifteen minutes wisely, and tell Orgood exactly self that Mrs. Barton had her good as he lighted it, turned and re- living with a person whose every fainter, he heard the music of the never knew what she was think every morning) whom she credit what he didn't like about thom. points, after all. ing, or what she was going to any.ed with the phenomenal feat of

garded Holly curiously across the thought and every word is known dance. Ragtime! Oh, he was The apparent seriousness with She was Mystery personified. failing utterly to understand her. which the young illustrator pearl necklace, and Molly took bent; her needle passed swiftly

One of her, good points was a flaming match. Her head was to you before it is spoken?" Even when Wickett asked her to However, Mr. Barton bad money; listened to him would have been care to admire it, a little leter, in back and forth through the linen face in his palms.

eiok and tired of it! Wickett leaned and buried his become his wife he didn't know wherefore his wife (whose very creditable had it been prompted the living-room, while the men stretched upon the little drumlike "Have I "he said in a matted moon, became, as he drew near, a A low-lying olive cloud, sha- what she was going to say.. But prayer-book was gold-mounted by mere hospitality. But that were having their cigars. Then, frame. The young men awong groBD.

dowy and mysterions boneath the she did. So in about a year they had not the least intention of let wasn't it. Osgood liked Mrs. when the pigars were pretty well about again, sud, strolling to the Don't ask me ! "

clump of trees. He rounded them, went to a big stone charch which ting him goor of letting herself Wickelt. She not only gay burned down, there came the open French windows, gazed"Oh, don't!" she pleaded stone wall separating his garden was full of flowers and friends, go, either. She only wanted to charming little dinners to which momentary glare of headlights through the screen door at the with a quick access of tender from the eleventh green. Placing and presently reached the low and stood up before a minister be entertained; and so did he was invited with stendily through the window-shades, and little formal garder just outside. seas, laying her hand lightly on one hand upon the oapstone, he who could intone the sense out of Wickett; so they entertained increasing frequency, but-ob, the barely audible purr of a "You made the gardens, didn't his hair for just an instant. any service, and were married. each other.

her complexion was like a banch motor,

you?" he asked her, presently, Hesat upsuddenly, and, leaning and made his way up the grass vaulted over into his own domain, And for a long time after that Finding flirtation with Mrs, of pink and white sweet peas, and they seized every opportunity to Barton stimulating,

"Here's the car," said Wickelt. over his shoulder, Wickett ber eyes were like a pair of He arose, looking first at Mrs.

toward her, found her hand with path between the beds of hardy tell about their firet romantic began, in his own mind, to justify cornflowers, and her ways wore Barton, then at his wife,

"Yes," she said. He drew a deep breath of the Vera |" he breathed. "You the silver light.

pereniale shimmering at him in meeting in the surf.

Their first baby was called thing, it was not serious, and never knew what she was think began speaking with nervons gorgeous now, in the moonlight," Again he heard her draw a curving margins of the rose beds,

it. He told himself that, for one baffling beyond belief. You As the others stood up, Molly soft air that Giltered in. They're are so strange so wonderful!" the hardy garden he followed

Beyond the Molly and their second was called that, for another, it never would ing, or what she was going to say rapidity. Shelley, and both children gur- have started had Molly kept her- She was Mystery personified.

he said. "Don't you want to put quivering breath. gled, and looked at their handa Rolf a little more alivo-bad she

"Now, listen, she said, look down your work and come out- And Molly liked Osgood. She ing from ons to another. "I'm side?"

Then, drugged wish the deadly tall, stiff privet hedge which until at length he reached the and feet, and teethed, and were so been a little more the sweetheart liked his carious unconventional not going. You're all to go on Yes, I think I do. She and moon and music, be bent garden, nestling in the shadow combination of woman and scent marked the limite of the formal generally engrossing that their and a little less the auburban waya, his periods of dreamy just the same. I won't hear of arose, laid hier embroidery upon impetuously, and kissed her of the house. parents hadn't time to tell the wife and mother-plump, pretty, abstraction followed by flashes of anything elep. There's nothing the table, and moved toward mouth. And an instans story of the ducking as often a conscientious, and uninterest intense and eager interest, in really the matter with little the door. He held the screen after he was sorry, for he realize through the formal garden, access they used to. Even when they ing Wistfully he thought of which he emphasized his ulter Shelley-nothing. But ho might open and inclined his head as sheed, even as his lips touched hers, to which was given by an aroli His nearest way indoors lay did occasionally recall it, the their first yearn together. She had ances with gestures of the arms wake up again and want me, and stepped out before him into the that he did not love her. That tectural arch of privet m episode seemed vague and unreal, been a real companion then, up and head. There was an earnest, I simply couldn't be happy away moonlight and the fragrance was a disappointment. He want piece of which the gardener like a dream, or an anecdote about and ready for anything at a frack, ingenuous look in bis from the honse "

boy and girl whom they had moment's notice: to tour Europe brown eyes which was boyish and Oh, I'meg sorry," Mrs. Harton the moon looked up at them like tragically. And just before the

Passing the pool, from which ed to love to love magnificently, inordinately proad. But Wiokott known long, long ago. The with a pair of suitcases, or to rush charming, and which called said.

of Chinese gold, they kiss he almost thought he did, did not pans the aroh,

man.

"

think so,

11

dies

"Well," he demanded, "haven't right to some companionship? two human beings with feelings

་་

Have I! Oh, Vera

(Continued on page 3