The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-21
By CYNTHIA STOCKLEY,

taking the lift again. you came
down the main staircase, you would
find a door almost opposite, lead
ing into the garden. think you
promised?" His voice was very
pleading.
She did not answer or even turn
his way. But once safely in the lift.
out OF the range OF kenna's gimlet
eyes. over the shoulders OF the
stunted brown lift-boy she let her
glance rest in his, and IL told him
that he would have his wish.
There must have been some witch
cry in that southeast wind. She
knew IL was madness TO go, that
she was only entangling herself
more closely In a mesh which could
not be unraveled for many days.
Yet within half an hour she was
out there in the darkness, with the
wind tearing at her hair and flick
ing her cloak about her like
silken sail. f"
When she closed the door behind
her and went forward, IT was like
plunging into an unknown purple
pool full of dark objects swaying
and swimming beside her in the
fleeing darkness. Tendrils OF now
ering plants caught at her with
twining fingers. A heavily scented
waxen flower. pallid as the face or
a lost soul. stopped and kissed her
from a balcony as she passed.
The young trees were like slim
girls bowling to each other win
fantastic grace: the big trees STOOD
together terrible as an army with
banners" raging furiously in an
uproar like the banging OF thou
sand breakers upon a brazen beach.
The sky was full of wrack-with a
snatch of moon flying across 1T and
a scattering of lost stars.
She felt more alive and vital than
ever in her life before. The clamor
of the storm seemed to be In her
veins as we'll as in her ears. She
was glad with a wild. exultant hap
piness Of which she had never
dreamed when she found herself
snatched by strong arms and held
close, close. The maelstrom whirled
about her. but she was clasped safe
in a sheltered place. Sarle Kissed
her with long, silent kisses.
There was no need for words,
their lips told the tale to each other.
1t seemed to her that her nature
expanded into the vastness of the
sea and the wind and the stars, and
became part with them. But all the
while she was conscious of being
just a slight, trembling girl. held
close against q mans heart-the
right man and the right heart.
She had come across the sea to
find him. and Africa had given them
to each other. She lost count of
time and place and terror. The
burden of her trouble mercifully left
her she remembered only that she
and Nereker Sarle loved each other,
and were here alone together in this
wind-racked wilderness Of perfumed
darkness and mystery. Her ears
and mind were closed to everything
but his whispering words:
my darling! Ny darling. ! have
waited for you all my life! Women
have been nothing to me because I
knew you were somewhere in the
world. have crossed the weld and
the sea a thousand times looking
for you and have found you at last.
I; will never let you 60" He kissed
her throat and her eyes. More than
ever her Wilderness shone in the
/ gloom with the luminousness of a
pearl. your beauty makes me
tremble," he whispered in her hair.
Darling, say that you love me and
will give yourself to me forever"
II love you. Vereker."
call me Kerry
(To be continued Monday