Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1922-09-21
The
Sole Salvage
BY MARTHA M. WILLIAMS


birds, wheeling, darling, tluttering from
shrub TO vine, or over the brilliant
beds. Their chorus of joy matched
her mood this midsummer morning
whose level early sunshine somehow
transfgured her She had come out
for flowers; deftly, with tender touch,
she clipped the chosen blossoms. She
did not crowd her basket-only the
choicest blossoms were fit for the day.
Her birthday-half her world would
come later with gifts and good wishes.
She would be grateful enough for all
yet somehow yearned for only one
well-wisher; since Austin Fay had
but shadows.
How her heart leaped at his joyous
hail. Rushing across the turf he
snatched away her basket, set it down,
and took both her hands, saying: For
give me, rose of roses but | had 10
come ahead of the crowd. | knew 1t
was my only chance of asking you
something privately. Something dread
fully important-to me! Can you
guess what it isY'
Let me see is it about the color OF
your new suit?-or If you had better
sell Sir Lancelot. while the selling is
good? Or maybe ii is what chance you
have with Nine. Duvernay?-" Esme
began flushing happily
"All wrong, Dead wrong Fay in
terrupted. Not disparaging your in
comparable wisdom, you're way, way
off. You. you only know the answer
will you marry me tomorrow morning
Just around this timeT
Esme tried to hang back, to say
something gay and Indifferent. Love
forbade; with dropped eyelids and
tremulous lips she half whispered:
This bloomed for you-just as l
did 1t holds my heart in its heart
and myself goes with it," holding to-
ward him royal half-blown rose
white outside hut with glow of flame
scarlet in its feeps
Fay took the flower eagerly, laid it
to his lips. and said, Darling, the
kiss is for you-given vicariously in
fear of prying eyes. The rose is a
happy omen-it stands, you know, for
silence. And-and-what we do must
be kept secret-for just how long L
cannot say"
Esme started family 81 hate Sc
crets," she said, II have never had
one Father begged me to the very last
never to do anything that could not
bear daylight"
IF you really love me you will
trust me-" Fay said in hard, strained
voice.
1t made Esme SILVER, but she faced
him steadily, saying: IF YOU can
show me reason" stopping there
as she caught a faint indetinahle
change in his glance. He did not speak
she went on her head dropping; Il
against all the world. Butt cannot
do it blindly-so much | owe to my
name"
you must trust blindly--or not ar
ALL" Fay said, fixing burning hypnotic
eyes upon her UNLESS you do, this
is goodby forever"
Esme shiyered again. Heart soul,
body, every fiber of her yearned to
yield to him. But against that whelm-
ing passion stood the traditions of
long, long line. No Wyeth had slurred
or stained il since the first of them set
foot in America, almost three hun
dreds years back Last of the name
she felt bound as no actual authority
could bind; but there was a traitor in
camp--her swelling aching heart
Duly she heard Fay say something
at first she hardly Sensed it, Then
his words took hold upon her ear:
You are twenty-one today-free
Your own mistress And l ask of you
just this one small thing-to let me
make sure Of you-before l go away"
"Then you lack trust" Esme said
piteOusly. N"YOu should not. A Wyeth
promise has never yet been broken"
only a fool would leave his great
est treasure within reach of bur.
glar," Fay said impatiently. mo need
to tell you, when | am gone John Lap
sley viii make you forget me-if he
can. He is as mad about you MS | am
almost 1t isn't in him to be fully
so devoted"
"Please-we need not speak of him"
Esme said gently 81 forgive what you
have said--you are not quite your
self"
Stop / can't be civil any longer.
Say YES or no at once-unless you
wish to drive me quite mad" Fay broke
in, his face working in passion. Esme
loved him. yet shrank from him in this
guise After a breath she said diff.
Guilty: "I-cannot at once. Give me
until tomorrow morning"
You will take me TO the station
then. Good! Fay cried catching her
hands again, Think hard. hearts de.
light, and be sure you think YES. Now
/ must leave you-to haunt the phone
half the day instead of staying to see
you queening it here. | would not 20
only next thing to life depends on
tt"
go at once p Esme interrupted.
She was too nearly faint to listen
further
Breakfast was a merry meal. with