The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-06-17

So IsOR S I7O OR
SALVAGE
Nj. Mec.wililams

S SALVAGE
ssy mi. Mec.Willlarns
fhe garden, a picture of filth anc
ssSfoyFth, invited Esme to be happS-
She loved growing things, the cieah
smell OF newly stirred earth, above
HI. birds, wheeling, darling, flutter-
ing from shrub to vine, or over the
brilliant beds. Their chorus oh41oy
8matched her mood this mldsunner
Snorning whose level early sunshine
somehow TRANSPORTED her. She nag
come out for flowers; deity VILE
tend er5t touch, she clipped the cnos
zen blossoms She did not cro@a nes
Nbasket-onIy the choicest blossoms
were fit for the day. Her birthday
her world would come later
wit gifts and good wishes. she
would be grateful enough for all
vet som chow yearned for only one
well -wisher; since Austin Fay nao
come into her life all beside him
were hut shadows.
How her heart 1eaped at his joy
Isous4 hail. Rushing across the turf
The snatched away her basket. set 1t
down, and took both her hands
saying: Forgive me, rose or roses
bnt IT had to come ahead OF the
crowd. 81 knew it was my only
chances Of asking you something
s&pTiyate Something sdreadfuily
me! Can you guess
What. It is q
Let5me see; is it about the color
sof your new snit?-or il you had
7hetter3seI1 Sir Clancelot, while the
selling is good Or maybe, it IS
What chance you have with Nine
apnyernay,?--'' EsmeN began, flush
ing happily.
All wrong. Dead wrong" Fay
nterrupted mot disparagihg your
wisdom. you're way
war off. You you only know the
sSanswer-wfll you marry me tomor-
rowsmorning just about this time?
Esme tried to hand back. to say
something gay and Indifferent Love
forbade with dropped eyellds' and
trernulous &Iips she half whispered
sSE..This bIoomed for you-jnst as
&f did. It holds my heart in its
NJ heart and myself goes with it."
8Sho1ding toward him a, royal half
Hsblown1rose, white outside but with
81 glow of flame scarlet in ito
ysstook the flower eagerly, laid
rs to his lips, and said, Darling
ssssthe kissis for you-given yicarious-
IN fear of prying eyes. The rose
happy omen-it stands, you
know, for silence. And-and-
sSwhatwe do must be kept secret
for Just how long cannot say.
Esme started family II hate
secrets - she said 81 have never
b had one. Father begged me to the
very last never to do anything that
v1ipf1t y.
;;7gEssggf9eeH you really love me you will
& trust me- Fay said in hard,
strained voice.
E4 It: made FEsme shiver, but she
faced him steadily saying: If you
3sScanS show me a reason- stopping
here as she caught a faint; indie
4 Enable chang in his glance He
I'd i'd not speak-she went on, her
mead drooping: q do love you
am ready to trust you against all
the world But cannot do it
bin dly--so much owe to my
Ssnsme =
must trust blindly-or not
&. at ialI,'' Fay said. fixing burning
you do, this is good-by forever
Esme shivered again. Heart,
& soul, body, every fiber of her
Ssyearned ito yield to him But
against that whelming passion
stood the tradition of long, long
line. No Wyeth had slurred or
stained y 1t, since the first of them
Sci sfoot in America, almost three
hundfed years back. Last of the
name, she felt bound as no actual
authority could bind; but there was
al traitor in camp-her swelling
\ aching heart. Duly she heard Fay
saysomething-at first she hardly
gensed it. Then his words took
6oIdSupen her ear: you are TWEEN
B ty-one today-free! Your own
# mistress And ask Of you just
tsiis one small thing-to let me
make sure of you-before I go
ava -
ssThen you lack trust" Esme said
spieously. "rYou should not. a
4 Wyeth promise has never yet been
broken.'
B; - Only fool would leave his
sEreatest treasure within reach of a
tsburgl ar Fay said impatiently. "Nc
need to tell you, when I am gone
John Lapsley will make you forget
I'D ii he%can. He is as mad about
YOU as am-almost. 1t isn't in
f1imsto be fully so devoted"
tPleaBe-we need not speak
Sc him., Esme said gently. 81 for
Is give what you have said-you are
d oI@quite yourself"
.s.ssSsf Stop! I can't be civil any long
Y osers Say yes or no at once-url-
less you wish to drive me quite
4 ID adj Fay broke in, his face work
v Ing with passion. Esme loved him.
vet shrank from him in this guise.
After a breath she said difficulty;
ssssI-cannot at once. Give me until
.sss5morrow morning.
You will take me to the sta
4 ZION then Good" Fay cried, catch.
$ingherShands again t'Think hard
hearts delight, and be sure you
think yes. Now must leave you