1914-06-06 — Page 5

SHORT

THE HONGKONG

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

STORY.

AFTER THIRTY

BY JULIAN STREET

[This is a distinctive story with a

now favour. It is olover and original, and it reflects quite daringly the spirit of contemporary life. Maclure's, from which it comes, bas not often had anything batter in its pages.]

ir

Of her picturesqueness Shelley Wickett became strongly aware yhen he first caught sight of her, To the drawing-room, before din ner: Being New Yorker, Le first noticed her gown. It was fashioned from that fabric most admired by men-black velvet, It was black velvet. Tho usual duchesce lace was absent; nor was thore even an artificial flower at the girdle, for a touch of colour." Its entire embellish- ment was embodied in its own symmetrical drape and flow; for 'it was a very simple gown, or, to use the words of the distinguish ed Parisian gentleman in whose ateliers it was grested: "a robs truly olessio, of a simplicity pro- found, unthinkable

mouth

To

adventure that recognize the love of it in you."

"Love of adventure, is not always considered respectable, is it?" she asked,

"I'm afraid it isn't a thing to own up to," he smiled. "Buts can be respectable, for all that. It's the fruite that are likely to bs bitter.".

Dinner was annonaced, the company moved toward the diuing-room. Wickett followed Mra, Hailey as closely as her train permitted." Yes; there, at the right of her place, was a card bearing his paine.

*Au answer to a prayer!"he said, us he seated her. "More truth ?".

Yes;

and there is still more where that came from."

A maid placed olaborate half empty soupplarss before them.

it

EXTRA

HONGKONG, SATURDAY JUNE 6, 1914

"Gon!" she smiled.

If we were maried." The cheeks of both were flash- od a little; their eyes had formed

a habit of meeting; they burn: into soft laaghter.

"People speak of

harness," she said,

"I'm glad it was at thie mellow old estab

lishment that he had arranged

relenting, she added: you told me, though."

"Of course I told you!" he bis rendezvous with the lady of

the night before. replied, virtuously. "

He was there ahend of time.

But you agreed not to."

ing," he declared, "That we drawn her up into his strong err. He must be conscience- should probably ight awfully if embrace, and told her that her stricken about something,

fancies wore absurd. And now, His task accomplished, be Say only three or four hours later, passed into his room, and she Wickett caressed her with his slipped out of her dress. Through

"I know; but when I came to After a tour of the overal wait- eyes and anid the selfsame thing. the open door she heard him

Ah, if she could hat believe moving abont restlessly. Present my senses; I saw that it was the ing-rooms, he went to the re- them! But no.

She knewly be appeared again, in his only thing to do. It isn't square staurant, reserved a table, and, There were microscopio winkles dressing-grown.

He leaned to her, of course. She won't tell spent some minutes in the selec husband." He sighed. tion of a lyric luncheon. Then beneath her eyes-wrinkles made against the door-jamb, and looked her double by langhter: so happiness takes at her a moment without speak" Either way you look at it, I don't he repaired to the larger waiting- room, and took a chair com- marriage toll of us. Yet she was glad ing. She went on working with cut, a very pretty figure.”

view of the street' "She'll never know you told," mending said Mollie. "Your guilty secret door. The door was continually is safe with me!"

opening and shutting, and every He laughed, and took her in his time it opened Wickett looked. He saw all kinds of people come, arma again.

"Mollie," he said, with feeling, singly and in groupa. Some went you're a brick! I knew you directly to the cafe or the dining- were one woman in a million, but room; others sat down and wait- came, and· I didn't do you justice-I didn't ad. One o'clock think you'd take this thing so Wickett reflected to himself, with splendidly. I almost wish you mild amusement, that, where husband and wife were not con- ninded more."

cerned, the man was sure to ba early, the woman sure to be late

Laughter was something to look back upon-something that Time could not take from her. An in- finitesimal falloews was coming beneath

hor chin. As she

"Dearest," he managed to say, at last.

"Yes?" she replied, without prejudice.

"I am afraid I have dono something awfully foolish.'

isn't double hatmoas. It's a that she had laughed so much. her bei-and waited. tandem. There is bader to prance and sby, and a wheeler to pull and keep the cart in the centre of the road when the leader jumps towards the ditch" She spoke with sudden soriousness.

"That's true," he echoed. "And how patient the wheelers

are!"

They were silent. Then, with a rather crooked litle smile, Mra Railey asked:

.

very

thought of it now, she throw her hand back just a trifle, and Wickett, far from comprehend ing the reason for the action, ad- wired the spirited pose.

"

"Have you?" She looked at the glass in order that he might not see the little smile that flickered on hor face. Contrition always made him look so funny:

"Yes. I'd rather tell you now,

แ

She laughed.

"You haven't done anything. desperate in a long time, she

hasn't said. "Probably she either. But it's late; you had better go to bed now. You'll need your beauty sleep."

The street door was almost constantly in motion; the re- taurant was filling up, At quarter past one Wickett began to feel uneasy. Others who had waited met their friends' and With his conscience cleared by confession, Shelley Wickett re- went to table. A memory of long tired to a prompt and peaceful "go returned to him. He had waited, that way, for another leop; but, before she went to bed that night, Mollie looked for woman; years before; waited, waited, waited. The picture of a long time into her mirror. her flashed into his mind. He The name of Martin-pro hadn't thought of her in ages. nounced in the French manner-Where was she now? he wonder- is a famous one in the more reed. Who was waiting for her? wondor-cent and distinguished history of

Did she tell him of the little wirakles and the little fullness? Won't you be worry, though, She did not. She hadn't even if you don't mind." when prancing days are over? told Fred. It was enough like She turned to him, held out Time is the whip. When I think truth to particularize on certain her arma matternally, and said: of Time, I want to lay back my inward evidences of decline. She" Come, tell me all about it." ears and bite and lick at him." did go so far as to tell Wickett He creased the room, embraced Then, as though, by way of how she had caught herself, of her, and stood silent. explanation, she added, with a lato, reflecting gravely upou

"Well," said Mollie cheerfully, frankuess that amazed him: domestic matters of the leact was she so attractive, then? "I'm thirty."

importance. Yos, and she had He grinned, shamefacedly. She might have said twenty-six; yawned several times during the That Mrs. Railey?" he began. he would have slieved hor. last act of the new Shaw play, "Of course!" thought Molile. But thirty! Toe frank avowal, and, as if that wero not bad But she only said: Yes; I sat with its ring of truth, challenged enough, had wanted to go home, by her husband." hia admiration B completely when the curtain feil, instead of "He's nice, isn't he?' So far," said Mrs. Railey, that the

thought chiming in with Fred's idea to sup "Yes; why?' the truth is "agreeable and of a pretty answer was offensive, among the gay and gilded. "Oh, nothing. I just rather entertaining.' And then, She was the most fascinating Wickett declared it was the ed."

New York restaurants. It fret be wondered. Who was waiting for her? He even remembered because she was a woman, and woman he had ever met. (He weather.

"And Mra, Railey ? "

came into prominence with a was interested, she turned to the was always meeting the most "No," she insisted.

It is to

Ob, we got on famously," he Frenol hotel and cafe that the way she had of looking up at him beneath her lashes; it used gentlemsa upon her left. fascinating woman he had ever be the truth to-night. I'm getting rattled, with oppressive enthu occupied the old white-painted to give him palpitations of the

He was of the Wall Street.) Thirty! He himself was past the age of thrilla."

siam. She's really a charming brick buildings at the corner of heart. order. He quickly managed to thirty-six, and told her so. Thirty Ele was shocked. Again he woman, dear. Awfally nice, too. Ninth Street and University The clock struck. It. was half inform her that he kept three is no great ago. He felt it his arguod. and when a man at. She admired you tremendously." Place, now known as the Hotel past one. He arose, walked up motora; meanwhile she managed duty, as a temporary truth teller, tempts to convince the most recent

Mollie giggled.

ad- Cafe Lafayette. When

and down the room, took apa to inform herself that there were to insist upon the point; and the most fascinating woman he has", "She must have admired me," Monsiour Martin, the former French railroad pamphlet, and pearls upon bis platinum watch vehemence with which he did so ever met that she is not past the ebe said. "We spoke about four proprietor, thought best to follow chain, and that his finger-nails was in no wice dininished by age of thrills, the argument itself words. But what have you asked the general trend of business sat down again. Hang it! Ho glittered astonishingly in the the recollection that his wife had has thrilling possibilities. As he her to de-fly with you to toward the region of uptown, he wasn't in love-that is, not with light of the rose-shaded candles. told him, earlier in the evening, enlarged upon his theme, Wickest Venice ? **

succeeded to the historic building re. Railey! Why should he be norvous? Suppose she didn't Bofore the fiah. course was that his hair was gowing thin, grow rather indisorost, Mrs. "Mollie" he reprosoked, in Madison Square, left vacant

come? Why of it? removed, she had differed with When Mrs. Railey did not Railey did not object to that, shocked at be lovity.

by Delmonico's when that famous "Bat Mollie knows!" Be him, quite politely, about plays, prove an easy convert, Wickett however. On the contrary, she

restaurant moved up to Forty-answered his own question. If "What then?" Palm Benoh, and Virginia hams, insisted further, elaborating his liked him to be indiscreet; it

"First," he declared solemnly, fourth Street. Louie Martin, a Mrs. Railey failed him, if she had ile could have stood her views ideas and becoming politely per-stimulated hor. And be liked to" i want to assure you that she is brother of the other, is also forgotten, or though better of the on plays, or even Palm Beach sonal. Had he and Mrs. Railey be indiscreet; it stimulated him. perfectly fine woman, and all engaged in the business of pro-matter, Mollie would have to But hame! Hams were sacred been alone, he might have deem. One thing led quite naturally to that. But, you see, she's thirty."viding sustenance; but that has know that, too. rie would have to him. In speaking of them edit fitting to tempor somewhat another, as one thing has a

"She's thirty?"

uothing to do with Wickett or

to own up to Mollie. How she lightly sho outraged his finer the expression of his admiration; tricky way of doing, and before

Yes, she's thirty; and she has with Mra. Railey, save in would laugh at him! Yes, and sensibilities. He left her to her but, being tete a-tale with her in he knew it, and without quite the idea that

sidelong way. Safice it that; at she would have a right to laugh. fate."

the imperfect ecзlution of a large knowing how he ever got so far, But, how do you know she's the time of Wickett's indiscretion

He felt himself growing warm, there were two restaurante called dinner-party, he fell at liberty to Wickett found himself plunged thirty ?"

und fabued himself vigorously with the "She told me. We got to Martin's, and a third that had be outspoken, so long as none into a rash proposal.

pamphlet. Then, but Mrs. Railey heard. Other So long as they were there telling the truth about things, as formerly been called by the same throwing it down, he arose and

name. When deserted by the people might not understand. together, the project charmed sort of lark, and--"

the latter Whispered to a young girl in them both. Even after the ladies

original. Martin, establishment was taken over by

a

Wickett it suggested a jewel, oasket incasing, yet displaying, ita gem.

She was a slender figure, with fair skin and black hair, and she stood with ces arm resting on a Caen stone maut el piers of creamy colour. Where it was cut by the dark, gracious lines of the custume, the stone looked white but where it was contrasted with the rose-tinted ivory of her neck and arme, it turned a dull, life. less gray.

Hie hostess led him over and presented him to Mrs. Railey. At close range she proved engaging. The

was sensitive; the tooth small, regular, and very white; the eyes dark and intelligent, She posragsed repose of manner to an unusual degree, yet there was about her, chored like a raft in the black he thought, some subtle sug-waves at the back of Mrs. Railey's

a

made another circuit of the wait- gestion of underlying volatility, head. Wickett had been forced

"You did get on!" said

ing rooms. Three quarters of an ile hoped violently that he would to turn to the lady at his a moonlit garden, the things left the dining room, and the Mollie. be placed next to her at dinner, right. Ten years earlier she had that Wickett said might have men moved into close formation "Yes," said he; "I was trying two former head waitere, whour! He went to the dining- room and told the head waiter to preserved it unchanged the told his table no longer. Then and, rather to his own amaze been a beauty; now she was a made the opening to a matrimoni at one end of the table, with to make you understand that."

most truly French of all New he returned to his chair and ment, he found himself saying so bust Her hosom, revealed in al overture; printed here, they their liqueur-glasses before them, "You have," she returned. to her.

York cafea... It is not all marble liberal decolletage, had the grad- might suggest prelade to sad a canopy of smoke weaving Wickett continued: "She

tried to puzzle matters out. unl slope of a bookkeeper's desk, scandal; but spoken in the place above their heads, Wickett seemed blue-talked of the way

and fresh paint; and, if it is a and suggested that it had been and manner that they were, and continued to glow with fas people lost interest in things little bit out of the way, mbing inflated by one vase, deep breath, in a tone that atreve, with more mild adventure and its promise. after thirty-said there weren't so much the better. Ulimbing To be Concluded next Saturday.) drawn and permanently held. or less success, for an effect of Later, in the drawing-room, he any more thrills to be had oat of over its old bricks is a wisteria While they talked a few banali-cold-blooded amlysis, they had no chance to speak with life, sud-"

Her eyes met his in a flicker of

"This is so sudden!"'*

amusement as she burlesqued:

"Yes," said Wickett, "but it's

true."

影

Well, you don't think you

can go around telling the truth,

"The amount you can stand," Ι said Mrs. Railey, "depends, suppose, on how much you're accustomed to. I'm still szak- ing of truth."

I flattor myself," he said, "L'at, no matter how much I

After looking disconsolately et

an

a diamond hair-ornament

ded.

vine with a trunk as big as the

body of a boy. Within, the

floors ornak,, pleasantly, beneath

OUT.

"We are even alike," she said then added: "I've been looking have, a chance for independent is, we weren't to mention it to McDougal Aother neigh-|Strathspey valley batween. Carr

wives."

ties, Wickett kept sharp watch amounted only to very definite her; nor, to tell the truth, did Never mind the beginning," for Mrs. Riley from the cotao assurances, from avery sanguine he wish to, for he felt that their Mollie put in. "What's the

heir carpets., Old Frenchmen sip SCOTTISH WOODS BURNED au you?"

of his eye, and when she turned and admiring mia, that Tin responsiveness had been strange curi ?". meaven forbid! It was a from the broker bo was there, had been unable to secure aand very profect, and that there Wickett swallowed.

sirope, play deminose, or read the Journal Illustre in the men's sudden impulse. I'm load of instantly, to meet her. Their judgment, and hat in Mrs. was nothing left to say. However, "She's going to lunch with me, the truth, but I don't habitually exca met with a flicker of amused Riley's case, crtain painful their eyes met, now and then, alone; to-morrow," he confessor, cafe, while in the main dining- Las it to excess,"

understanding. He felt as if he laws of nature were to be ren-wish significant percussion, and and, drawing a handkerchief room you will find gathered, for Inncheon or dinner, a unique They helped themselves to had known her a long time. 80, dored null and voil.

they exchanged deep, meaning from a pocket of the dressing-

Heather and fir frees over an amber-coloured cocktails and soft sensing in her a temperamental Oddly, perhaps, the news that glances when they

Baid good gown, he wiped the moisture conglomeration of types: mer-... 1ttle caviar sandwiches which likeness to bimself, he put the she was to be the beneficiary of night.

chants from the wholesale cloth area one mile long by half a milo from his brow. fated by on silver trays."

ing, feather, and artificial flower broad burned fiercely all day, and idea into words.

Not until he slipped into his unprecedented natural phen-

"Well?" said Mollis. ... Still looking at him, sbe nod- bena left the lady unmoved. overcoat, and stood waiting in "There's something else," he houses of the region; painters far into the night recsatly on the

She said: "Yu are a man." the hall for Mollie, did Wickett rushed on ruefully.

The fact sculptors, and illustrators from

Washington Earl of Seafield's estate in the ia our taste in husbands a jo my glass to-day,"

thinking. When his wife came, any one-not even to you or her Square South, and

Bridge and Nethy Bridge, Wickett's imagination balked her wrap of far-trimmed velvet, husband. I suggested the whole bouring studio centres; editors Simultaneously their glances at the idea that mirror could she found him with a frown thing. It's all my fault. I don't from Spring or Weat Thirteenth The fire gained a hold rapidly

Even wifely know what put the crazy idea in streets; writers from heaven have had, I always carry my truth trayed across the table. Mrs. give such a woman aught but upon his face.

Railey's husband was soated satisfaction, but be refrained from wisdom saw in the frown only my head, or how I came to pro- knows where, eating at the owing to the recent dry weather, like a gentleman. It's not 80

next to Wickett's wife, and it paying ber the cheap and obvious the usual masculine impatience. pose it. We were talking of editors' expones; and always a Cottare hurried from the moun thugh the flavour I like, but-" was clear that they were enjoy compliment.

The stimulation?"aho finishing each other. in a placid way.

Sorry to have kept you wait adventure. Well there you are! aptinkling of "foreigners How amazed he would have ing, dear," she said. "These What on earth shall I do?"

people from uptown, who desire,tain sides to assist the estate ed for him. "That's what I like Wickest caught a word or two bien, could he bive ceen her on carriage-boote-"

Do?" repeated Mallie,

for various reasons which we bands in fighting the outbreak. about it. It's like adventure." of their conversation. It was she eat, that afternoon, before "Oh, that's all right," he an- "Yes, de l 'I don't want to go!" shall not attempt to fathom, to Armed with poles they beat down. "You have a taste for adven about salt marsh grassus a winter the triple mirrorsof her dressing swered, coming out of his abstrac Mollie rose to the occasion like theet and eat in an out-of-the-way the fire in the smaller fir trees and

haven't you?" said Wickest, covering for rose bushes,

place,

the aurab wood, working at night table, lips compressed, a look of tion. She knew then that there a wife,

As with a widow who remarries, Though he made the remark in

"He likes roses-hors38-dogs cold appraisal in her eyes. She was something on his mind. In

"If you didn't want her, why the form of a question, it had the the country?" Wickett neked. was balancing her account with the motor, going home, home, he did you ask her?" she demanded the Unfe Lafayette has not found by the light of the very flames it easy to teach its new name to that they were trying to put ont sound of a statement, .

youth-admitting certain items was silent, and once or twice, it

Then, before he could never its old frionde, the more so since The entire stretch of Docharn on the debit side which had; as seemed to her, he sighed. At she ran on: "Bat you've done "They're just the kind of yet, bein overlocked by all save home, he came into her room and it! You've invited the woman! the change of name and pro- Woode was wiped ont before the mates for people like ourselves," herself and hor massense. Even offered to unhook her gown. Now you have to take her she said: "aren't they? You Fred, her husband, had been While he did so she took down

"Certainly You've got your-

ture,

what makes you think so? " Te's hard to tell," he replied, regarding her closely as if look

ing for signs to bear him, cat

* Yong at Jasure, but it seeme,

Adores them. And she ?" "YOB."

酱

Even if I don't want to?

:

prietors has brought no alteration

fire was over-come, and all day, in appearance. And so it happens that many of those who used to watohers remained on the scene' and I are wonderfully congenial surprised when, on coming home her hair; and, even though she like a mantle covering this way, at a dianer, but" from business, la had found her moved about a little in the pro-selfiuto it. You ou expect me know the place continue to refer to check any further outbreaks strain underneath. Per-

She paused,

there and learned her thoughts coas, he uttered no complint to get you out! Then, in a voice to it as "the old Martin's."

Wickett was one of these, and among the smouldering remains. love

"I know what you are think some of them. He had laughed, This time wifely wisdom did nor that seemed to show a alight|

Page 5Page 6