YOUNG FOLK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20137, 24 December 1928, Page 2 (Supplement)

YOUNG FOLK.

By HILDA KEANE

A sumptuous invitation card confronted Zylio Vane. At the top right-hand corner ;i flag ot loyal Lino and gold, al the reverse coiner a champagne bottle with tho traditional golden cork, and. diagonally iic.o.-a. in all the glory of gilt lettering, was the information that lieg Aldon requested ' the delight of Zy Vane's companionship at a Christinas camp and cruising thereto on hoard his yacht tho Charleston " 1 lci\. simply gorgeous!" Tal Symex looked over her friend's shoulder. " Real snappy. eh '.' I'm"—on a nolo of detraction—" I can't understand why I!eg has an old fashioned thing like, a yacht. Mo Joi - a launch —ttit tlnongh tho water like mad, any old weather!" Zy seemed dreaming. "1 wonder who else i- going " Not me. .1 notice. Wouldn't mind boasked, (lot to \ isit. the old homo town, cat dad's strawberries, praise muni's cake, sit round under the family pohutuhaw as. However, it'll ho a rest for my complexion, aud my wave's running out. Our family is not used to me with a curly head. Tame eh ': Zy ! You don't know how luckv you are!"

Zylie Yaue had a spasm of —what? It Seemed almost like, loneliness. Yet all the girls envied her. She had known no restraining hand for years. Hoarding school when Iter parents, died, hotels ami flats since, steamer trips and motor journeys, anything and everything except what /.Libers " loathed " —a home to which one had to get back at a respectable hour and in which one had to take one's turn tit pleasure.

She threw up her head: the two care■ fully-waved side wings danced and shone. Yes. she had an enviable life: time all her own. an income suittoiont to pay for her frocks and her pleasuring what more could one ask ?

Kiipps have .-otue dinky yachting ?yiU and hats." she mused. " I suppose 1 had be;ter go down and g?t something. Will you come, Tal " Not much. I've got to make my own frocks and work for my living, worse hick. There's a dnuce to-morrow night jvnd my Paris confection is not finished. Ltiekv dog, \ou! Piesides. 1 should be green with jealousy."

The yacht heeled over in the blue waters of the ffaurnki. P>lue sky above, and far. far up, fine clouds chequering tho fields of azure. The sun's heat was tempered liv the breeze that sent the boat speeding forward; her how cut the crisp sea as with a knife. So far did she lean that her deck was almost vertical.

A girl screamed, like the cry of a gull. Then. "Won't she turn turtle?" she called. It was silly Dana I'rcmm. The owner sat at the helm, casting an evo at tho billowing canvas. He smiled wisely and sent a look at Zy ane. -V hint of scorn crossed the smile with which sho answered him,

. • Hound tho Head, through the Channel past tho inviting bays with their creamy nands, and their red-treed points skimmed the Charleston. A shriek arose occasion* ally from Dana sitting foavsomolv in tlio cockpit; a teasing hoy's voice laughed at her. Zy Vane was silent, loving tho movement through the water, delighting Vu tho strong swing-over of the boom, exhilarated by tho sting of salt water on her cheeks, yet curbed by the sea spirit, a power of such might against human ttvength, yet so ready for man's use. She did not consciously register such sensations, they came and were pushed away; tho modern girl dislikes being " stuffy." She roused herself front the pleasant let!)fcrgv and chatted to Aldan. On past tho promontories, which thrust their green tongues out into the-shiuintf »eas, past the velvety islands so soon ostein, the yacht headed for Kawau. " hook out, land!" They tacked now, beating off the long, low coastline, work ing nearer and nearer inshore, " Wheio do you think Dick's launch Is';" called Dana in liyr li.gh-pitclied iiotes. ' Not fur iiobi'nd.. 'J'lioy had to pick up the Treddens at Kohiniaraina. They'll soon lie here. You girls gel down out o) our way." So down in the cabin they foregathered until tlie sails flapped and little tender ripples whispered at tho side into that htiiiness which is always so impressive when a boat conies to rest. " We are going ashore with the tent, called a youth. " Will you girls get the tea made?" " Dossv eh ?" laughed Dana, who looked lilco a gay parroquet and stood watching the departing ones while Zy pumped at a primus. "Gee! It's going to he hot this Christmas, Zy' Did you bring thin frocks? My hamper is under that fur loat." Hate the smell of those kerosene contraptions, don't yon? Want any help dear? I believe 1 see tho launch com ]ng. I wish the boys v.onld hurry! Its hot <lll these boats when they stop. Why couldn't wo have had tea ashore? They could make a tire on the beach, That launch is corning this way, Zy, Good* oh!" The rest of tho party arrived and all had I tea on tho Charleston. Tho girls were ] lowed ashore to their tents, tho gramophone. Dick's portable wireless and all the other appliances without which life J is unendurable to voting pleasurers, were j net up and the reai holiday began. " Mother used to come here when she •was a girl." remarked Mae Manston. one rif tin; launch party, " but never to camp like this. They always had to take a chaperone to see that they did not misbehave themselves." She laughed, and Jier laugh bad a hard nolo in it. The other girls echoed in it. except Z.v Vane, wno said, T feel rather sorry for that chaperone." in a• meditative voice. " Sorry ?" blurted Mae. " Sorry ? The | old cats got plenty of fun out of it. The j men had trj ask tlienj to dance; tJiey ab I a*.ays * had the best beds; they made the j girls go to sleep ill their lime; and they j v.ere alwavs spoil-sports and tell tales." j Mae believed in late nights and late , mornings. She outsat the other girls ull- j til Zy herself, modern as filie was in her tiiouylits, began to feel like a chaperone. j Mao's going to spoil ihi.s party." she I f.-li<l to Dana, 1 like dancing and 1 don't mind a lew coel»tails. 1 can sit, up to twelve with anyone, but I believe in being leadv for bed when the others arc end iu taking a.fair share of the chores. Mae never gets up until lunchlinio and she makes the tent , like a pigstv, throwj.ig her things any old where, I'm goinf for a wall; ain| Map cini gel her own lunch this time unless she. chouses to come." " llathiiig this afternoon?" asked Da mi, " Yes, we all (ire. round at the little bay," Dana war, a leather-head and could not resist telling Mae about the walk and the swjni v.lien she went, in to get her bathing " togs," Mae was cross and said that she. didn't eaie. where they wi re going, ■with a few personal ornamentations to the;uneech Put- a* thev sat round their picnic ba-s- ---. lifter jii je;>l ,s'\vj(i), the girls in their jmrt/ivcoloured bathing suits and- their headt like wet mopa, since they bad dis. natrtiftl tboy* with shoulders and ,tbow of Mnuvtfi. an indignant over the hill iti shoes witli heels and a delicate lacy frock a

this morning,'' lie was apparently lisleep. Zylie Vane's hands went up to her faeo again. " I think J will let my hair grov,. I'm getting a hald spot with waving it. I drank my last cocktail last night ; 1 l:;ive always hated them. I a:u two hundred ;j(ii;nds in debt, and 1 l|ave (inly fitly coining in the no.\t'two months I am growing short in the temper with playing bridge for stakes, and i'liocolates maku uie bilious. lam sick to death of Hats, sicker still of hnardingliouscs, and. for ;i while, I'd rather nut go to a jazz party. 1 ley! very lonely most of tlie time," She said it in a mpnolone, with her eyes fixed dreamily on the,sea, and a liltlo hard Ciirl to tier lip, Keg Aldon did not stir. When (he sun moved Zylio Vane rose. " Come along. Heg. It's beginning (u get cold," She poked him. and he turned over, yawning. As they i.-finiy Into the fragrance of the manuka, liq caught her arm. " I wasn't, asleep, JCy. Could you stick it with me 1

little (lie worse for crushing. Into their innocent chatter she poured a stream of invective which offended the girls and amused the bovs.

" And I'm nut going to stay in your old camp any longer, she wound up, " 1 in going io the hoardingltottso for tho rest, of tho tiime." They offered her tea to appease tier wrath; she refused it j finally she was propitiated with chocolates, after she had looked nt. the bottom of the bo.\ and discovered their cost tp be extortionate. " Who bought these?" she asked. They pointed at Zylio. " Our Dollar Princess, Doesn't, know what to do with nor money." " If 1 had your beans, Zy, it's not on a ftisi» old yacht picnic I'd be spending Christ mas." ' Here, have another." exhorted Die};. And here's some lemon squash without, the ice. Uo good now and let's all go to sleep. • \lilon 1 u-l::'m to put tlie lunch things aside. Zy went off io dress. She did not return, but continued her walk. She was above sentinienl.il " nitish she hated to hear people " enthuse " about sea and landscapes. These things were in tin; world, but merely as, a background for one s. pleasures. An older person might therefore, have, wondered why this ultramodern young woman stood on a cliff that went steeply down to a bay where little green waves twisted about, gaunt rocks aud smooth terraces of sea .water rose and fell about in the silent sands, l'ar away the distance melted into haze, in which the low islets raised themselves as it llc>ating. Serenity was the keynote of the picture, and it should not have appealed to a girl of professedly iazzv tasles. Keg Aldon, anyhow, wondered what she was looking at and what kind of thoughts she was thinking, lie saw her seat herself under a crimson pohutukawa am] cup her chin in her hand. They were beautiful hands, he thought: he had noti.e.d them these last few days; but they were restless, as if protesting against the idleness of their owner. The fingers twined and untwined; the nails received inspection from all points of view: they wore seen at their best, ho considered. : when they were washing dishes. lie smiled to reflect upon the repudiation that would follow this statement if he dared to make it, and he walked over tho i springy rat-tajl grass and accosted the i owner of t hose hands " Hullo. Reg. Thought you were going [.shooting or something?" i . (1S > I w as, I nit J changed my mind, j What are you thinking of?" 'I lie hands fell into her lap and lav there like two white flowers, lilies, he supposed. " Nothing much." Then, suddenly. Peg, how friendly arc you with Mao Mansion ?" " Why do yon want to know V " Hecause 1 want to say nasty things about hoc and 1 can't- if yen are engaged io her, as 1 was told you were before uc came awav, 1 must say—" Hide it pretty well?" he suggested. \ es," she nodded, '' Kite an ay. I'll tell you later." No. not on your life." I'hal expression doesn't suit you, Zv." *' Doesn't suit me?" She turned am! looked straight at him, " Whatever (!;• j you mean ?" 1 mean that you are too good fe v ;.!l the kind of stuff that girls go In for—slanq and cocktails, Imon cuts an I lip sticks, and all tho rest." ; " Von prude. Hog." No, I'm not, 1 don't mind Mac doing • these, nor Dana, nor any of the others. 1 used to bo engaged to Mae, by the way. She got tired of mo: said 1 was too slow tor words. She wouldn't- come on my boat, though 1 stocked it. well with- ail the things you young things are supposed i to like. I did now, didn't T \ mi certainly did,'" she conceded, " So Mae turned you down ? I'm not surprised." " Well, the long and short of it is, that if you weren't a 'Dollar Princess' and you were not so dependent on all these luxuries, I think I would be proposing to you no\\^ M " Poach madness," she said flippantly, " Perhaps, but I mean it. I am not going to do it, all the same. 1 can't stand up to expensive (hits, and tweulvgllinea frocks, and motors home from yueeti Street when it's a bit hot, and parties ten times a wook, and all the rest, of it." " What about my—my dollars?" " I'm not a cad, thank vou. When I ; ask a girl to marry mo I intend to keep her myself, She can give her dollars away. I don't want tholn." " That makes it hopeless for mo, doesn't it ?" she laughed, " Oil, did -you see that fish jump ? What do you suppose it was, lleg?" " Shark—or mullet," Ho-picked up a stick that lay there at his hand aud sent it wliiz/.ing through the air, " So you won't ask me?" Her tone was frivolous, " And will yon have another try with Mae?" " No, I will not," " Meaning both? Poor me! Poor Mae!" There was no more to sav for a long | time, Peg Aldon stretched himself out j aud lay face downward. " flood-night," he said. " I was late going to sleep

I know I'm pretty stodgy, I really don't mind having a j;wz liow and then; it's being expected to keep going all the time that sickens mo, Jdo like being at Jjomo Sometimes," "Homo? I wonder—- " What do you w«nder 1'" be asked at last'. " What a home is like. I've never had one." Thfv were in sight- of the camp. A fire was burning and one ol the hoys was bending over a pot. 'I he. white tents made ;i pretty, restful sight. Out on tho bay the two boats rocked. The wand-Mvis we're greeted with a hail, which tiro'ighi their confidences to an end. At tho evening flipal Mmi Jluisloii asked two questions. " Where did you get to this afternoon, Zy 1 What weni yon doing, lleg ?" " 1 went for a walk," answered the girl, ami " We were getting engaged," said Aldon. "Oh!" Incredulous laughter greeted his statement. Mae .Mansion searched Zy's face. J( told her nothing. Tin: modern girl can keep her countenance \vitll the best.. ' 1 see Z.v settling down love in a bungalow and touring in l!eg's old sailing yavht for Christmas!" Thus Diana, as she ate cold turkey from the hone. "When are you going to tie i|)y. Keg?" " Wliat do you say to New Year's Day ?" .Ahlon aske<| of Zylio Vane. " Vou'll miss the races. I'm dying lo get back to town for them." I'hillipa Tulley found a week of camping soinewb.at long. " Aro vim coming out with me. Zv V

" No, not this time." The talk strayed ou to all kinds of things. None nt tlm others took Aldon s .statement seriously. Only -Mae Manston stared bard., now and then, at Zy lie \ tine. Sho was less talkative lha\i usual ; but then sjie had sat up late last night ami the cocktails had been good. SI in had herself shown Aldon how to make them when she was engaged to him. She wished that, she had Zy's money. She wished a tiny bit that slm had stuck to lleg. Still, she could always whistle him back when she chose, Again tin- yiiehl sailed the summer seas and the water hissed from her hows and ran in sparkles all muud her. Tho y»roat- white sails ballooned to the wind, fresh from the outer gulf. There was only one girl ou hoard, Dana having gladly accepted an offer of passage in tho launch. The one gil l I railed her hand overboard when the boat showed her side to the. sea. She looked with a straight smile at tho man who held the tiller, " Sorry you didn't go in the launch ?" lie culled to her. Zylio Vauo shook her head. " I his is perfect and I'm loving every minute," " Not afraid? Happy?" She laughed aloud. " I'm afraid of nothing and I am very happy—-now," she answered He smiled as he looked up at his lovely-.sails and down again to her. "I wish I hadn't got. to steer. I'll (like my toll later." Modern girls are not supposed to blush, but this ono did.