Page:Fire!! - 1926.djvu/40

Page Thirty-eight pulse no longer hammered from wrist to finger tip  wrist to finger tip  the rose dusk had become blue night  and soon  soon they would go out into the blue



the little church was crowded warm  the rows of benches were brown and sticky  Harold was there  and Constance and Langston and Bruce and John  there was Mr. Robeson  how are you Paul  a young man was singing  Caver  Caver was a very self assured young man  such a dream  poppies  black poppies  they were applauding  Constance and John were exchanging notes  the benches were sticky  a young lady was playing the piano  fair  and red calla lilies  who had ever heard of red calla lilies  they were applauding  a young man was playing the viola  what could it all mean  so many poppies  and Beauty looking at him like  like Monty looked at Zora  another young man was playing a violin  he was the first real artist to perform  he had a touch of soul  or was it only feeling  they were hard to differentiate on the violin  and Melva standing in the poppies and lilies  Mr. Phillips was singing  Mr. Phillips was billed as a basso  and he had kissed her  they were applauding  the first young man was singing again  Langston's spiritual  Fy-ah-fy-ah-Lawd  fy-ah's gonna burn ma soul  Beauty's hair was so black and curly  they were applauding  encore  Fy-ah Lawd had been a success  Langston bowed  Langston had written the words  Hall bowed  Hall had written the music  the young man was singing it again  Beauty's lips had pressed hard  cool  cool  fy-ah Lawd  his breath had trembled  fy-ah's gonna burn ma soul  they were all leaving  first to the roof dance  fy-ah Lawd  there was Catherine  she was beautiful tonight  she always was at night  Beauty's lips  fy-ah Lawd  hello Dot  why don't you take a boat that sails  when are you leaving again  and there's Estelle  every one was there  fy-ah Lawd  Beauty's body had pressed close  close  fy-ah's gonna burn my soul  let's leave  have to meet some people at the New World  then to Augusta's party  Harold  John  Bruce  Connie  Langston  ready  down one hundred thirty-fifth street  fy-ah  meet these people and leave  fy-ah Lawd  now to Augusta's party  fy-ahs gonna burn ma soul  they were at Augusta's  Alex half lay  half sat on the floor  sipping a cocktail  such a dream  red calla lilies  Alex left  down the narrow streets  fy-ah  up the long noisy stairs  fy-ahs gonna bu'n ma soul  his head felt swollen  expanding  contracting  expanding  contracting  he had never been like this before  expanding  contracting  it was that  fy-ah  fy-ah Lawd  and the cocktails  and Beauty  he felt two cool strong hands on his shoulders  it was Beauty  lie down Dulce  Alex lay down  Beauty  Alex stopped  no no  don't say it  Beauty mustn't know  Beauty couldn't understand  are you going to lie down too Beauty  the light went out expanding  contracting  he felt the bed sink as Beauty lay beside him  his lips were dry  hot  the palms of his hands so moist and cool  Alex partly closed his eyes  from beneath his lashes he could see Beauty's face over his  nearer  nearer  Beauty's hair touched his forehead now  he could feel his breath on his nostrils and lips  Beauty's breath came short  breathe normally Beauty  breathe normally  Beauty's lips touched his  pressed hard  cool  opened slightly  Alex opened his eyes  into Beauty's  parted his lips  Dulce  Beauty's breath was hot and short  Alex ran his hand through Beauty's hair  Beauty's lips pressed hard against his teeth  Alex trembled  could feel Beauty's body  close against his  hot  tense  white  and soft  soft  soft



they were at Forno's every one came to Forno's once maybe only once  but they came  see that big fat woman Beauty. Alex pointed to an overly stout and bejeweled lady making her way thru the maize of chairs that's Maria Guerrero  Beauty looked to see a lady guiding almost the whole opera company to an immense table  really Dulce  for one who appreciates beauty you do use the most abominable English  Alex lit a cigarette  and that florid man with white hair  that's Carl  Beauty smiled  The Blind bow boy  he asked  Alex wondered  everything seemed to  so just the same  here they were laughing and joking about people  there's Rene  Rene this is my friend Adrian  after that night  and he felt so unembarrassed  Rene and Adrian were talking  there was Lucricia Bori  she was bowing at their table  oh her cousin was with them  and Peggy Joyce  every one came to Forno's  Alex looked toward the door  there was Melva  Alex beckoned  Melva this is Adrian  Beauty held her hand  they talked  smoked  Alex loved Melva  in