Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-03-07
CHAPTER xIx-continued.
ID

you are not a child any longer. Sid
ney. You have learned a great deal
in this last year. One of the things
you know is that almost every man
has small affairs. many of them some
times. before he finds the woman he
wants to marry. When ne finds her,
the others are all Of-thete's nothing
TO them. It's the real thing then, in
stead of the sham
Palmer was very much in love with
Christine, and yet"
Palmer is a cad"
Il don't want you to think I'm max
ing terms. I'm not. But if this thing
went on, and l found out afterward
that yOu-that there was anyone else,
it would kill me-"
'Then you care. after ALL"
There was something bOyish in his
triumph, in the very gesture with
which he held out his arms, like child
who has escaped a whipping. He
stood up and, catching her hands, drew
her to her feet. You love me, dear"
I'm afraid l do, Max"
'Then I'm yours. and only yours, If
you want me-" he said, and took her in
his arms.
He was riotously happy, must hold
her off for the JOY of drawing her to
him again, must pull off her gloves
and kiss her soft bare palms.
Il love you. love you! he cried, and
bent down to bury his face in the
warm hollow of her neck.
Sidney glowed under his caress-was
rather startled at his passion, little
ashamed.
Tell me you love me little bit.
Say it,"
~ love you" said Sidney, and flushed
scarlet.
But even in his arms. with the warm
sunlight on his radiant face with his
lips to her ear, whispering the divine
absurditles of passion, in the back of
her obstinate little head was the
thought that while she had given him
her first embrace, he had held other
women in his arms. 1t made her pas
sive, prevented her complete surren-
der.
She broke the news of her engage
lnent to X herself, the evening of the
same day The little house was quiet
when she got out of the car at the
door Harriet was asleep on the couch
at the foot Of her bed, and Christine's
rooms were empty. She went upstairs
TO the room that had been her Moth
er's. and took off her hat. She wanted
to be alone, to realize what had hap
pened TO her. A year ago her half
promise to Joe had gratified her sense
OF romance She was loved, and she
had thrilled to it.
But this was different. Marriage,
that had been but a vision then, doomed
large, almost menacing. She had
learned the law of compensation: that
for every joy one pays in suffering
Women who married went down into
the valley of death for their children.
One must love and be loved very ten
derby to pay for that. The scale must
balance.
Harriet was stirring across the hail.
Sidney could hear her moving aboHt
with fiat, inelastic steps.
That was the alternative. One mar
ried happily or not as the case might
be. and took the risk. Or one stayed
single, like Harriet. growing little
hard. exchanging slimness for lean
hess and austerity of figure, tiat-chest-
ed, thin-voiced. All at once it seemed
very terrible to her. She felt as if she
had been caught in an memorable hand
that had closed about her.
70
down on her mothers bed crying as il
her heart would break. She scOlded
her rOundly.
You've been overworking she said
You've been getting thinner. Your
measurements for that suit showed it.
| have never approved of this hospital
training. and after last January"
She could hardly credit her senses
when Sidney, still swollen with weep
ing. told her of her engagement.
But / don't understand. If you care
for him and he has asked you to marry
him. why on earth are you crying your
eyes odt?"
81 do care. l don't know why l cried.
II just came over me. all at once. that
l. 1t was just foolishness. | am
very happy. Aunt Harriet"
Harriet thought she understood. The
girl needed her mother and she, Har-
riet. was a hard, middle-aged womaD
and q poor substitute. She patted Sid
ney's moist hand.
Il guess ! understand" she said. "TH
attend to your wedding tb'Igs, Sidney.
Wen show this street that even Chris
Nne Lorenz can be oGtdOre." And. as
an afterthUught: Il hope Max VII
son will settle down now. He's been
none too steady"
Ii was late when X. got home. Sid
ney was sitting on the low step. wait
ting for him. With long breath
of content, h. folded up his long length
on the step below her.
We'll. dear ministerlng angel, he
said. how goes the wOrld?"
Things have been happening, K"
He sat erect and looked at her. It
vas q moment before he spoke. He