The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1921-12-22


softly about his neck, and her shin
ing eyes were close to his.
Its SO beautiful--its so wonderful
TO love this way" she said, in her
innocent, little-girl voice, shat 1t
seems to me the only thing in the
world! I'd come to you, Peter, If 1t
meant shame and death and horror.
It doesn't mean that, 1t only means
a man and woman settling down
somewhere in the south of France, a
big quiet man who llmps little, and
little yellOw-headed woman in blue
smocks and silly-looking hats"
1T means life, of courser' he inter-
rupted her. "The hour that makes
you mine, Cherry, will be the exquit
site hour of my whole life!"
They were silent for a while, and
below them the white moonlight deep
ened and frightened and swan like
an enchantment.
"There will be no coming back, Cher
ry."
"Oh, know that"
"There can't ever be-there mustn't
be-you've thought of that?" he said,
uncertainty. In the curious, unreal
light that flooded the world, he saw
her turn, and caught the CLEAN of her
surprised eyes.
"YOu mean children-a childT she
said,H surprisedly. "Why not, Peter"
she added, tightening her fingers,
"what could be more wonderful than
that we should have child? Can
you imagine happier environment
for a child than that little sunshiny,
woodsy beach cottage; can't you see
the little figure-the two or three little
figures !-scampering ahead Of us
Z! through the country roads, or around
the fire? Oh, can," said Cherry, her
extraordinary voice rich and sweet
with longing, II can! That would be
motherhood Peter, that wouldn't be
like having a baby whose father one
didn't-one couldn't love, marriage or
no marriage!"
And as he watched, amazed at the
change that love had brought to quiet,
little inarticulate Cherry, she added,
earnestly:
"Alix will forgive us; you'll see she
will! Alix-J know her!-will only
be sorry for me. She'll only think me
mad to disgrace the good name Of
! Strickland; she'll think we're both
crazy. Perhaps she'll plunge into the
orphanage work, or perhaps she'll go
on here, gardening, playing with Buck,
raising ducks-she says herself that
she has never known what love means
says 1t really meaning it, yet as If
the whole subject was a joke-a weak
nessv'
II believe she will forgive us, for
she is the most generous woman in
the world" Peter said, slowly. "Any-
wayne can't stop now! We can't
stop now! There is the steamer line
that goes to Los Angeles" he unused.
"Yes-I believe that is the solution" f"
he added, with frightening face. "No-
body you know goes there OH it; it
leaves daily at eleven, and gets into
Los Angeles the following morning.
From there we can get a drawing
room to New Orleans; that's only q
Cay and half more; and we can
keep to ourselves if by any unlucky
chance there should be any one we
know on the train"
(which isn't likely"
"Which isn't likely! Then at New
Orleans we go either to the Zone, or
to South America, or to any one of
the thousand places-New York, If
we like, by water. BY that time we
will be lost as completely as If we had
dropped into the sea. I'll see about
reservations-the thing is, you're too
! pretty to 60 quite unnoticed!" he add
! ed ruefully.
He saw smile flicker on her face
in the moonlight, but when she spoke,
1t was with almost fearful gravity:
"You arrange it, Peter, and some
how I'll 60. I'll write Alix--rn tell
her that where she's sane, I'm mad,
and where she's strong, I'm weak
And well weather 1t, dear, and well
find ourselves somewhere, alone, with
all the golden, beautiful future before
ne. But, Peter, until this part OF it's
over we mustn't be alone again--you
mustn't kiss me againl Will you prom.
ise mei' s--.--- I.