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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1938-12-22, Page 12There was time to He down; to dyOt off ini© sleep* The glass missed its holder and crashed to the floor. Guiltily she looked around. If anyone came <— Jtat it was such a small sound* There was a knock on the doojr. “Miss Cattrell! Miss Cattrell! Are you hurt?” It sounded Sator., the one and so happy that she should be the last one. , . ■“Miss Cattrqll!’’ A man’s voice—- that slim dark man. “Do you think I’d better get the Captain, Star?” She forced a laugh and holding on­ to the bunk managed to reach the door and unbolt it. Their figures were blurred, indistinct. They look­ ed relieved to see her. “Just a glass-dropped it,” she ex­ plained, ed.” If They fainter, shake her head. She must have suc­ ceeded. They were turning away. Shut the door carefully. The bunk was there—right there—hang onto it —Oh Jim! Jim! Star stood in the ratrow corridor and wondered if her heart would ev­ er stop its mad racing. It was so horrible to think of anyone being an­ xious to die — eager to leave all the fun and happiness of life.' But Kent Barrett wouldn’t let anyone die like that. Howblmd she had been! Only this morning she had been feeling sorry for herself, worrying because of her own petty troubles. And within reach of her hand there was a woman need­ ing help and understanding. If only .she had gone to her. There wouldn’t be this need of waiting—waiting. “Yes, Kent.” “She’ll be all the cabin door “She must have when you knocked a”t the door. Lucky you were near enough to hear the crash.” "Can I do anything — anything? Oh, Kent, perhaps I could have stop­ ped her, spoken to her . . .” His hand pressed lightly on her shoulder. “Dont’ worry about it. She’ll be all right. I’ll stay for a lit­ tle while. She’ll sleep, I think, until morning. If her pulse is better after a few hours I’ll call the stewardess. Now you run along. Good night!” Elsie Cattrell would be all right. Impossible to doubt that, looking in­ to Kent’s eyes, hearing the quiet as­ surance of his voice. Star smiled at him in return. For a minute the cor­ ridor held them close in a comfort­ ing hush. “Good night!” Star whispered. like that pretty girl, who looked so alive to be alive. Strange “So sorry you were disturb- they’d only go away quickly, were getting fainter and If she could only smile, and right.” He closed and came forward, swallowed the stuff of his think- polite. “Of trell’s life were only a part duty. As if he knew what she was ing, Kent’s voice was coldly “If you like, you may see Miss Cat- trell for a few minutes. She was ask­ ing for j/qu. But don’t ask her why she tried to commit suicide.” Star’s eyes flashed angrily, course I won’t.” “Don’t even let her tell you about it,” Kent went on evenly as if she had not interrupted. “And stay only a short time” He turned and walk­ ed away and Star fo’und herself hop­ ing fervently that he would trip ov­ er a seaman's swishing mop. e But her anger had vanished by the time she found Miss Cattrell’s cabin. She tried to ask the white-faced wo­ man on the bunk how she felt, to say something about getting well soon. Miss Cattrell’s slender hand moved gently on the blanket. Star put her own warm fingers over it and found in'the won- ~n s expression a sudden keenness that forged an instant bond between them. “You’re unhappy too. Do you want to tell me about it?” The voice was only a whisper. Star shook her head. “I—oh, Miss 'Cattrell, I don’t know what’s the matter! It’s just—just that—” There was a faint pressure on her hand. “Please call me Elise. I want to call you Star. Such a pretty name. Perhaps later we can talk.” Only when she was out on deck, startled again at the strange brill­ iance of this tropic world, did Star realize that she had gone to comfort and instead had been comforted; that she had meant to sympathize, to pity — and had found a friend. * * * Gloria looked around impatiently for Kent. He was being unexpected­ ly difficult. Ever since that night on the boat deck when she had kept him from telling her it was all over, he had consistently avoided her. How lucky it was both the Captain and Star had seen that one-way em­ brace. Evidently — in Star’s eyes at least — it had looked as if Kent were doing the love-making. Well, it was too late for him to back out now. Whether he liked it or not, Gloria thought grimly, she would manoeuver enough situations to make it clear that she was engag­ ed to the ship’s attractive doctor. Let him try to wiggle out of it if he could! • ' She smiled wistfully ■'as Barton Un­ derwood drew near. She leaned gracefully against the rail, aware that her pink silk dress and wide-brimmed hat made her look particularly en­ trancing. “Yes, it is beautiful,” she breathed in response to his comment on the picturesque island before them. “Funny to think that in the middle Chapter XII “Lordy, it’s hot!” Gloria flung her light blanket away [ of the ocean, practically, those nat- ahd stretched until the crumpled silk I ives have to carry almost every bit nightgown was pulled tightly across of water they use in the hills. Must her rounded body. Then impatiently be a filthy lot,” he commented, she turned over and burrowed into | “Yes,” Gloria assented indifferent- tfae pillow. | Iy. Really Underwood was impos- • Star, struggling up from the depths | sible. Almost any other man. in the •of sleep, blinked against the glaring . world would have take the opportun- light that glanced through the shut­ ters of their cabin and danced on the ceiling. For a minute it was hard to realize that this was not just another summer day. There was scarcely any movement at all. Perhaps the ship was already at the pier. Haiti! The thought made Star jump up and dive for the windows — she got one down with a clatter that brought a groan of protest from Gloria. Then she raised' it again hastily as Coates, approaching along the deck, quicken­ ed his pace. “Sleepy heads,” he called taunting­ ly through the slats. “Go away," said Gloria peevishly. “Can’t a girl get any sleep on this boat?” “I was talking to Star," Coates said coolly. “I — I’m dressing,” Star faltered. “May I help?” “No, thank you?” Star was annoyed. Coates* insist­ ence on this pseudo intimacy was be­ coming unpleasantly obvious to Gor- 5a and to everyone else. Yet there was nothing definite. She could not openly object to anything. Later, as Star appeared on deck, blinking, the water was covered with gold dots that glistened and flashed with unbelievable brilliance. So this was Haiti! On both sides the green mountains stretched up and away — flung like a protective arm around the tiny thatched cottages scattered On the shore. The air was clear—so clear that the little clouds threw per­ fect shadows on the maintainsides as they sail lazily over. Star was smilin'g at Kent, rcsplend-. her. that nothing could be so perfect ent in a white uniform, stopped be- ‘ side her. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched him. He look­ ed so so right — standing against that background of sea and sky and savage hills. As if the brightness of the sky and sun was in his eyes; the adventure and mystery of the land in his heart. It was hard for Star to remember that the way he looked was really a credit to the father he had neglected; that the way he had Stuart and saved Miss Cat- » r 1 a 11 I t i ity she had offered, to assure her that she was beautiful too. Then up near the prow she caught sight of Kent. Near Star, of course! Gloria had seen, at first unbelieving­ ly, Kent’s eagerness to be near her roommate; that tenderness in, his ev­ ery gesture toward Star — a tender­ ness he had never shown to her. as she watched she was puzzled, was standing near Star, but he not look at her as she perched an impatient bird near the descend­ ing ladder. He seemed as unaware of her as if he away. Star seemed him. Perhaps what was happening to Kent. Glor­ ia’s lip curled sneeringly. Perhaps he did not know himself! But she knew, and if she could prevent it those two would never make the disovery that there was an electric spark between them; a current of thought and feel­ ing so strong that even she, reluct­ antly, had to admit it was there. Barton excused himself and Gloria sauntered toward Star. As she had expected, Kent tried to retreat, but Gloria was too quick for him. Her hand settled lightly on his fingers twined themselves brass button. “Kent, thjs is the most spot in the world! So utterly tran­ quil. Isn’t it glorious, Star?" Star turned and was apparently aware of Kent for the first time. Her face was alight with joy. She had what Kent called her “Christmas^ morning” look. He wanted to warn But He did like were a thousand miles equally unconscious of Star did not know c6at, her around a beautiful as she .expected. “I have to go below,” he said firm­ ly. Gloria pouted. “Mayn’t I come too?” “Sorry, this is routine.” Kent could hardly conceal his pleasure as he walked swiftly away. Gloria, furious^ joined Star at the rail, looking down at the 'chattering native and the reed huts near the shore. "Horrid little hole, isn’t it?” she commented. WINGHAM ADVANCE-TIMES “I guess any place would be hor­ rid,” Star said gently, “if you’re quar­ reling with the one you love.” * * ♦ The long dusty quai fairly flew-un- der Star’s feet. Tlie ship’s cars would take them up the purple mountain. It made her heart hammer just to think of ascending the peak that tow­ ered over the.little hamlet of Fort au Prince. A huge negro woman dressed in faded calico was walking on the op­ posite side, Her head was almost lost under a great basket, .yet she did not even steady it with her hands, As casually as if she were bareheaded and walking on velvet her slippered feet stepped along until she turned the corner and was lost from view. - The flash of Glorai’s pink dress drew Star toward her. “Did you see that woman, Gloria? The one with the basket on her head?” “What woman? No, I didn’t,” said Gloria. “You’d better find another car, I’m saving this seat for Kent. He ought to be along any minute,” “Oh — sorry!” Star backed away hastily. She finally reached the last car and found it already held by the Livingstons. At Star’s hesitant re­ quest Mrs. Livingston immediately moved over. The car next to them started and after an explosive report ran smoothly up the street and turn­ ed the corner. “Driver, we’re the last car. The others have already started.” Star leaned forward anxiously. She turn­ ed in time to see Kent’s hand on the door. The npxt minute his immacu­ late white uniform was crushed into the seat beside her. The driver start­ ed briskly after the procession of cars ahead. Chapter XIII As if to make up for his coolness that morning Kent explained every­ thing as they went along. Their car ran through narrow crooked streets that wound in and out between crude huts thatched with grass. Yet every once in a while they would pass a grand' stucco house sunk in rank overgrowth which seem­ ed to pull at its very walls. Lovely houses — Star tried to imagine them as they had been when they were new — white in the bright sunshine, their lawns trimly cut and banked with a riot of color. Then all at once they were in the Plaza — bare and dusty, with the President’s Palace rising hard and white on one side. Star did not like it. She was glad when they, turned off once more into a little road that wound slowly up the mountain. Wo­ men on donkeys, peacefully smoking pipes, drew to one side to watch them pass. They preserved a curious dig­ nity for all their tattered dresses and add means of transportation. Many other groups passed them on foot— almost every woman carried at least one tin oil can on her head. “For water,” Kent explained to Star’s question. “They need water up in these hills and they use old oil cans to carry it.” After that, when one of the tatter­ ed children ran alongside the car shouting “Five cent — five cent,” in a peculiar singsong, Star threw some coins recklessly into the grass beside the road. Yet she doubted whether the little beggars really understood what they were asking for. They lik­ ed .the fun of scrambling for the mon­ ey, but they hardly seemed to think of what the shining pieces would buy. “It’s like an enchanted land,” she told Kent happily. “They’re poor, but they don’t jpind. I doubt if they ev­ en know it. And, after all, they have the things that count—Sunshine and beauty and peaceful days. We need no more, do we?” Kent was looking off to the hills that dropped in- softly rolling terrac­ es to the now distant harbor. He was silent for so long Star wondered if he had heard. Finally he said, with­ out taking his eyes from the scene below, “Some of us don’t. I should think if two people felt like that about it, they’d own the world.” She was aware suddenly that he was close beside her, that this brass buttons winked at her in the sun. She stared at them, unable to meet his eyes although she knew what he was waiting for. And for the first time she was afraid—afraid that this new and startling inner turmoil his voice had the power to raise would be apparent even to them. The car stopped before a low open building floored with terra cotta tile and flanked with incongruous slot machines. Just outside, a lovely bal­ cony looked upon a terraced garden; below and away stretched the cane fields like dainty green patches of a colorful quilt. But there was no time to admire the view. The rest of the passengers were gathered in one ex­ cited group in a corner of the bal- qony. Even before Star left the car the crowd had parted and stood waiting for them. And she saw with a catch in her throat, 4hat it was Gloria they were surrounding. Gloria, limp and still, in a low chair! ♦ It was alt so mixed up, Gloria, leaning heavily on Kent's arm had immediately been whisked down the mountain. There were sympathetic murmurs that the altitude had af­ fected her heart. sStar did not see her roommate again until she returned af­ ter shopping with Barton and Stuart. Star was carrying an immense sun hat and a basket that she was sure would not fit into their already over­ crowded cabin. Stuart was quietly proud of his machete—found only after trips to every shop along the water front. Barton was only a shade less exuberant than his small son. He was prouldy carrying a tom-tom which he had been assured was once used for voodoo rites. They were tranquil, at peace with themselves and with the world. Spe could even manage to greet Jack Coates without the instinctive dislike he had grad­ ually aroused in her. They were still laughing and talk­ ing when they reached the ship, Kent watched them as they climbed the ladder and listened with a strain­ ed smile to Stuart’s excited chatter over his machete, He seemed defin­ itely ill at ease with them, Star thought, although she could not im­ agine why unless it was because he just didn’t like Coates. And when she went to the cabin she found that Gloria was equally distant, She acted like a martyr when Star asked about her heart and had only a weak smile for the account of the shopping trip. The next morning as the ship was nearing Jamaica Star tried to tell her roomate that she had not been re­ sponsible for Kent riding in her car to the mountain, “No?" Gloria’s smile was cynical. “I suppose you haven’t anything planned for today either?” Star resented her tone and the im­ plication. She didn’t care for herself, but surely any girl ought to be able to trust the man she loved! She slip­ ped away to the boat deck trying to recapture the feeling of joy and ad­ venture with which- she had started the trip and caught sight of Elise lying in a deck chair in the sun. Elise .smiled, her lovely hands out- strechejl in greeting. “You always look so fresh and inspiring!” she said admiringly. “I feel better just look­ ing at, you.” ' “That compliment works both ways—I was just feeling mean and ill-tempered and you’ve put me right .with the world.” Star settled on the footrest of Elise’s chair, “You must be in love.” “Oh, no! It isn’t that.” Star- sur­ prised herself with the vigor of her denial. “There isn’t anybody to be in love with, is. ’there?” Elise looked out to the sea. “There’s always someone,” she s.aid gently. “I didn’t know that a fqw nights -ago. I found it out just as I was going, and wanted to come back. There’s always someone—someone to help. Is it the doctor?" “No.” Elise was quiet, watching the wat­ er stretch away, watching the land flow softly by them reaching out to touch the boat, to bring it in to it­ self. Later when Kent stopped .her as she was coming out of the dining saloon she caught herself remember­ ing Elise’s question: “Is it the doc­ tor?” She looked at him curiously, spec­ ulatively. This was not just John Kenneth Barrett, the son of her ad­ opted -uncle. This was a man in his own right—a young man. Suddenly she saw that the motive for this trip—her motive—was entire­ ly false. A man had to go out. He had to get away from home. Other­ wise he was lost. He became just a shadow, an imitation of the thing a man should be. He had to found his own home, make it entirely his— possess 'it. He couldn’t take his fath­ er’s home. It would never be his. She was wrong to think that she could ever make Kent feel that he should have stayed at home. He was right. A man had to go away. And a girl—well, she stayed home until— until something happened. Now that he had stopped her Kent seemed at a loss for words. She could wait. She had last that sense of cold antagonism. Something for her. at­ titude must have been in her smile; He was looking at her as if he could­ n’t believe it. His words were slow, hesitating: “When are you going ashore?” “When the ship docks." “Yes, but I mean—couldn’t you—- that is, would you like me to—to show you around?” Gloria’s face came before her for a minute. Gloria’s voice, “I suppose you haven’t anything planned for to­ day either?” “I think that would be very nice.” As if her words had some strange magic in them, Kent straightened. His voice steadied, He said crisply: "I don’t know why you should. You don’t like me, do you?" “Why do you say that?” He looked at her deeply. She flush­ ed. It was hard to be evasive. “You know why I say it. Why I say this, too, Lets make 4 truce. For just One day1—today. Forget that we ' met on the boat. Forget everything yoU know about me. Pretend that we are meeting for the first time as we reach the pier, And we'll see Jamaica together.” His eyes searched her face. “Will you do that?” He was terribly in earnest. Trying to make her set that day apart’—a separate entity they could create be­ tween them, and have together. She held out her hand, His own was a- round it crushing the fingers in a clasp that was warm and strong. “It’s a bargain, then?” he was say­ ing “I can get away about one-thirty,” He ran up the stairs boyishly, two at a time, as if he wanted to shout. In thq back of hiS mind was the .thought that Gloria would be angry, She would expect him to take her out to the Castleton Gardens. He would have to make some, excuse,, say he had to stay with the ship. Perhaps, he thought hopefully, she would become so angry she wouldn’t speak to him. Chapter XIV . Star saw Gloria, leaning heavily on Barton Underwood, get off the b'oat. She still wore her martyred expres­ sion. It made Star feel guilty to look at her. Probably Gloria was still feel­ ing ill. ,Oh, why had she agreed to Kent's plan? She was the one who ought to be walking along the pier. Gloria should be the one standing here on deck waiting for Kent, She saw Coates quicken his” step, saw Gloria turn toward him; she could almost feel her roomate’s sat­ isfaction in walking down the. sun­ drenched stretch with two attentive men. “Ready?” Kent’s question was like an invi­ tation to adventure—to strange for­ bidden joys this little island had once known. “I’m going to make this real,” she whispered to hei’self. Then aloud ''to Kent, “Wait until I reach the pier.” He stood watching her as she ran down the ladder. She turned and sig­ naled to him just before she stepped off the boat. Then she disappeared' into the shadowy waiting room. He leaped down the shaky stairs, a nameless fear that she was slipping away sending him bursting through the door. She was going .out the other side. He raced after her. Out of the corner of her eye Star saw him approaching. Elaborately she took out her handerchief, patted* her nose and dropped it so suddenly he almost stepped on it. He bent down and picked it up. His hat came off—the sun found unexpected lights in the crisp waves. “Pardon me, Miss.” He bowed deeply, his eyes twinkling. “Your handerchief, I think?” “Why so it is! Did I drop it?” “You practically threw it away.” “Sir!" “I beg your pardon.” His grin was infectious. “I was forgetting. Is it too soon to ask, ’Haven’t we met be­ fore’?” “It is a little late," Star said re­ provingly. “You’re not very good at this, are you?” “I'm sorry. 'Shall we start over?” Star sighed. “No, we’ll just skip it.” He had not returned her hander­ chief. .It was tucked into his breast pocket and the flap securely rebut- toned. The afternoon was perfect, golden, like a single gem dropped into empty hands. Star and Kent held it rare- fully, finding laughter in little things. A sudden shower that caught them as they reached the botanical garden, not the big garden where the rest of the passengers had gone, but a small one with a black guide who persisted in following them around. He talked on and on in a blurred Oxford accent, reciting long lists of flower names in Latin and English. They scarcely heard him, - “Look—Mrs. Jenkins!” Kent point­ ed to a lazy turtle swimming the green water. The turtle looked at them unblinkingly through the thick glass. The resemblance was startling, and Star laughed in spite of herself. “You’re insulting one of them-—I don’t know which.” “The rain makes your eyelashes stick together.” "Things you shouldn’t say to a girl you’ve just met.” “Things I never wanted to say to any girl before ” They were shut in a world of green lights with the heavy fragrance of flowers all about them, The rain drummed heavi!/" oh the glass roof. Star could See it in a silver sheet outside the door. Then, unbelievably, the sun was shifting. The transition was as sudden as if an unseen hand had turned off a spigot. > “Would you like to have tea?” Kent asked. “I was forgetting. We’re on Eng­ lish soil, aren’t we? By all • means, tea.” He took her to a great white hotel set in rolling green countryside, a- part from everything. It was odd to find it, complete and sophisticated, in the midst of the lonely hills. They had tea on a flag­ ged loggia looking out at the deser­ ted tables in the garden. The waiters almost fought for the privilege of bringing thin cups and tiny* cakes. Afterward Star wanted to swim in the pool, but Kent insisted on return­ ing to town. There was another swimming pool, he told her, on the edge of the sea. “I'm no champion swimmer,” Star warned him, “Milford isn’t exactly* the towrt to develop a mermaid.” “I'll hold you up,” he offered. “I thought sailors couldn’t swim.” “I can do lots of things you would­ n’t suspect,” “I’m a stispicioius person,” * “Did you suspect I was falling in love with you?” he inquired suddenly, Kent watched her eyes widen, her hands clasp tightly together as if to keep from crying- 'out. She was so beautiful! Each moment of that after­ noon he had thought she looked love­ lier than the one before, and each moment he found fresh charm in her face, He leaned forward, but she was already on her feet walking toward the door. They went back to town—back to the Myrtle Bank Hotel. “Why do they call it the Myrtle Bank?” Star asked. Instead of answering he took her through the cool lobby, out to where the formal paths ran between grass plots that were almost miraculously green. He made her bend down. It was not grass, but a tiny myrtle vine like millions of clovers covering the ground. The palm trees rustled their branches at them. Ahead stretched the sea, completely blue, at one with the blue sky. “Got your bathing suit?” “Yes.” A few minutes later they were in the pool splashing idly around in the sun. His wet arms touched hers as he somersaulted in the water and shot up. She darted away swiftly, and lie followed. They touched the rim of the tile together^ She drew her­ self up on it. “You run away from me, don’t you?” “Yes,” she admitted. “You couldn’t try running toward me for a change?" “No.” He shrugged; the interest and joy died out of his face leaving it blank and hard. “I’m not marrying Gloria,” he announced. Her heart gave a leap, the silly color flooded her face. She turned away and looked out toward the sea. “Doesn’t it make any difference?” he persisted. She shook her head miserably. “Why not?”. “You ought to know why not,” she said angryily. His eyes widened, but he did not acknowledge the thrust any other way. “Can’t blame a guy for trying, can you?” With a sudden splash he sent her sprawling into the water to come up sputtering and grabbing for his legs. He laughed at her furious concentra­ tion in getting even. They were both startled to hear Coates’ bored draw­ ling tones from the edge of the pool: “Dr. Barrett. If I may trouble you. . . . ” They looked up. Star thought dully: It’s all over. We only had a few hours and they’re gone now. “Gloria’s had another heart attack while shopping,” Coates was saying. “We’ve been waiting over an hour for you. The stewardess can’t seem to help.” , “I’ll be right there.” Kent climbed quickly out of the water. Coates held out his hand to 'Star. “I’m terribly sorry about Gloria!” she exclaimed. “We’ll go to her right away,” “No hurry—for us, I mean. I think Gloria just wants her doctor. She’s probably hurt to find that he prefers taking care of • the passengers , who are Well.” It was impossible to go back to the old attitude of disapproval toward Kent. Now that they were on the Caribbean again, the sun warm on the top deck and everyone lazily at ease, Star could not recapture that right­ eousness of purpose that had actually been her inspiration for the cruise. When,he came toward her along the deck, she smiled at him a little timidly, but with no trace of her for­ mer hostile manner. ‘“How’s Gloria?” she asked. “All right. Never was anything the matter, really. Just-a fake, that’s all. She wanted some attention.” His thoughts Went back bitterly to that scene in the cabin, Gloria in a pale pink chiffon neg­ ligee rising in anger as he told her brusquely that she ought to stop this childish play-acting for the benefit of the other passengers, Gloria’s voice harsh and strident as she shouted at him, “You’re not going to make a fool of me, Kent. Ferhaps I wont* marry you. But no wide-eyed innocent is going to take you away Otherwise you may be leaving the ship and starting a land practice sooner than you think. I imagine they don’t want gossip about their officers in your company, do they?”. He felt trapped, beaten, ashamed scheming, creature in his arms. He- knew Captain Porter well enough to realize that a scene staged by Gloria would spoil the end of his career. And he was also sure that lie would­ n’t marry Gloria Churchill now if she were the last woman in the world, Chapter XV Kent couldn't drag Star into the mess with Gloria, of course. He would have to stand, by without ex­ planation and let her go out of his life. “By the way,” he turned to Star abruptly, “I want you to be careful- of Jack Coates. I happen to know that he needs money for this mus­ eum project of his and I don’t doubt, he’s got his eye on you to supply the ready cash.” Star stared, out at the water stretching away .in deep waves to­ ward some unseen shore. “Look here, didn't he ask you to* go aboard that schooner of his in Kingston Harbour?” Star was amazed, I-Iow did Kent know that Coates had asked her to do that just as they were returning to the ship? Coates had begged her,, in fact, to come with him, He was supposed to be leaving the Carta­ gena at this port, When she had refused definitely and shown that she was a little an­ noyed at his persistence, he had seem­ ed heartbroken. Then he had asked if she would visit the schooner when the Cartagena reached Kingston a. second time. Half grudgingly she had promised that she would. It seemed a long time before they would be in this port again, Coates had been unexpectedly jub­ ilant at her words. And. after they had sailed that night, to Kent’s ob­ vious displeasure, he had appeared at dinner, He announced gayly that he- had decided to continue the cruise: with them and get off when the ship touched Kingston on the return trip. His attentive manner made it appar­ ent to everyone that this was espec­ ially for Star’s benefit. Now she said coolly, deliberately ignoring Kent’s questions: “I didn't know that the Caribbean was a rough, ocean. I thought it was so calm and smooth—” “Listen—you don’t have to snub* me. I just want you to watch your step, that’s all.” Star’s eyes came back to him spec­ ulatively, but she said, “Just think .of it, in another week it will be Christ­ mas! Is there a Christmas tree on. board? Do we have a party and give- each other presents?" A faint smile crossed Kent’s* lips- Christmas! It was to have been his wedding day. And he had actually looked forward to it. He shrugged, and got to his feet slowly. “Yes,” he answered with a studied nonchalance, “We have a tree and. presents. We even have a Santa Claus. I guess you’re the type of per­ son who still believes that there’s a saint who takes care of good little girls and keeps them from getting involved with slickers like Coates. But—”hc yawned elaborately—“I’ve done my good deed for today. So, long!” When Star returned to the cabin Gloria was awake and seemed to have recovered from her huff. Indeed, she was in the highest spirits. Star was grateful that the trouble between them was over. She had expected Gloria to make a scene because she- had spent the day at Jamaica with Kent, but her roomate did not even mention the subject and Star found herself forgetting that there had been any constraint between them. Gloria could be entertaining when it suited her purpose. But Gloria was lost to sight all afternoon, playing bridge. Star wan­ dered around restlessly, unable to< concentrate on anything. She went down to the lower deck for tea. She found many others before her. Mrs. Jenkins was deeply engrossed in a game of shuffleboard. Nearby Stuart and his father were listlessly playing deck tennis. As Star settled back in­ to a chair Stuart aimed the ring over his father’s head. Star put up her hand and caught it. “If you do that again—” barton said threateningly. Then he turned and saw Star smiling at him, holding out the ring. Let’s call it a day, son,” he said over his shoulder. “I could do with a bit of iced tea myself” He sank into the chair next to Star, mopping the perspiration from his forehead. As always, Stuart looked mutin­ ous. He had not wanted to play deck tennis, but now that his father was quitting it suddenly became a** most desirable game. He glanced over at his father talkihg eagerly to Star. She was smiling. He picked up one of the hard rope rings used in the game. No one was watching him. Quickly he sent it sailing along the deck, , It caught Mrs. Jenkins just as she was shoving the puck info jjpsition. Startled, she turned and Bore dowtt on Stuart who ran over to Star and stood defiantly beside her. ft*n kntdl” Mrs. Jenkins towered that had ever held this cruel, above Star and Barton’, quivdrtag