Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1920-03-13

|
She struggled breathlessly, for Glib
son had jerked her swiftly into his
arms and was laughing softly, if un-
steadily, at her flaming cheeks. He
| pressed his lips to her rebellious, visit
| full mouth. She was molten gold in
| his arms.
"See, dear, can take you by one
route-to that place you're looking for
without craft or steering gear.
Come, just trust me to land you safely
| in heaven"
But Muriel had regained command.
She was bit white, but her smile was
mocking.
1T isn't temporary heaven I'm
steering for, nor one reached and sus-
tanned by electric wires"
| She nodded, turned, and left Gibson.
He was torn between disappoint-
ment, passion and keen apprecia.
ton Of Muriels tersely expressed COM
prehension of his route to heaven.
With shrug of his shoulders he
picked up his walking stick and hat,
lit cigarette, assumed a nonchalant
carriage and walked out into the night.
His mouth was rather splendidly set
and his eyes contained a speculative
| expression that promised well for the
appearance Of second pilgrim on
that road toward heaven.
Summer days had passed and gone
and cooler October days dawned on
the countryside.
Mildred and her chauffeur, fine
| strapping English girl, who during the
| war had driven an ambulance under
the w. A. A. c., were stopping for the
| night on a bit of the Long Island road.
The improvised caravan in which they
had driven and lived during the sum-
mer was costly wedged in small nook
| that jutted out over the harbor at
Cold Spring.
Muriel sprang lightly down onto
| the soft turf and then a few yards
beyond to the sandy beach. There
| was a buoyancy in her movements, a
brilliance in her eyes and a song in
her heart None of these had been
part Of Muriel when she began her
trip toward heaven in the early spring.
"Aren't we happy, Enid?" she called
| to the girl, who was even then hauling
out blankets as if she caught Muriel's
wish before it was formed. "ADd we
can sleep on this lovely beach tonight.
I often wonder why l was so blessed
as to find you. You have enjoyed this
summer as much as have"
She looked affectionately at the girl
who had seen all the destruction and
ravages of a battlefield. 1.-The haunt
ed, suffering. drawn expression has.
lifted from your eyes. Our little pill
grimage this summer has at least hung
soft curtain over your memories"
The girls were lying down now full
length on the beach watching tn
divine spectacle Of the evening sun on
the water.
They were unconscious that sput.
tering flivver had pounded its way al
most alongside their caravan and tina
John Gibson and his faithful man
Pitchins were about to disturb their
meditations.
ut looks as if you had found that
spot called heaven!" John startled
the girls into upright position with
his greeting.
The rich crimson that flung across
Muriers cheeks was not due to the
sunsets rays. Her meeting with John
was very lovely moment, for she
had learned that giving freely and
without restraint was one of the routes
to heaven.
She slipped for a moment straight
into the arms that swung around her,
then laughed happily. So great
love as theirs was in no way averse
to expressing itself.
And while Pitchins gathered drift
wood and rocks toward the prepare
ton of dinner, Enid and Muriel and
John drew together the cords of the
summer.
1--WE have been traversing Long
Island looking for desolate farms and
isolated humanity" said Muriel, land
we have gone straight in and offered
| our stock of cheer and hopefulness.
Not only their minds and hearts have
we bucked but Enid and I carry
regular travelling store of chintz and
cushions and cheerful accessories to
drab homes and we have just done
| wonders-havent we, Enid?"
"While l." said John, "have done
nothing but keep we'll within protec-
ting distance of you just in case the
steering gear broke or the roads be-
came too much for two wonderful girls
to travel alone" He laughed at
Muriels utter amazement. "And now,
if steering is still good. I think we
will blaze a trail tomorrow morning
for a quaint wee church that is not
too far from this spot. What do you
say, dear?"
The urge in Ends ewes ana the eX-