The Raymer enterprise., 1922-11-16
The
Sole Salvage
By MARTHA n. WILLIAMS

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
q 1874 BY Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.
The garden, 9 picture Of filth and
blowth. invited Esme to be happy.
She loved growing things, the clean
smell Of newly stirred earth, above oil.
birds, wheeling, darting. fiuttering from
shrub to vine, or over the brilliant
beds Their chorus Of JOY matched
her mood this midsummer morning
whose level early sunshine somehow
TRANSPORTED 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
come into her life all beside himiwere
but shadows.
How her heart leaped at his Joyous
hall. Rushing across the turf he
snatched away her basket, set h down.
and took both her hands, saying: For
give me, rose Of roses; but had to
come ahead Of the crowd. + knew it
was my only chance Of asking you
something privately. Something dread
fully important-to me! Can YOU
guess what It Isl"
Let me see; IL 1t about the color OF
your new suitf-or II you had better
sell Sir Lancelot, while the selling Is
good? Or maybe II Is what chance you
have with Nine. Duyernay?-" Esme
began, flushing happily.
"All wrongl Dead wrong" Fay In
terrupted. mot disparaging. your In
comparable wisdom, you're way, way
of. You, you only know thelanswer--
will you marry me tomorrow, morning
Just around this timer
Esme tried to hang back, ITO say
something gay and Indifferent. Love
forbade; with dropped eyeiids and
tremulous lips she half whispered:
This bloomed for you-just as I
did. 1t holds my heart In Its heart
and myself goes with It," holding to-
ward him royal half-blown rose,
white outside but with a glow oftfame
scarlet In ts deeps.
Fay took the flower eagerly. laid 1t
to his lips. and said. Darling, the
kiss II for you-given vicariously in
fear Of prying eyes. The rose is a
happy omen-it stands. you know, for
silence. And-ahd-what we dol nnist
be kept secret-for just how long !.
cannot say"
Esme started family. II hate Sc
crets," she said. II have never had
one. Father begged me to the yerytlast
never to do anything that could not
bear daylight"
IF you really love me you. will
trust me-" Fay said in a hard, strained
voice.
It made Esme shIver. but sheSfaced
him steadily, saying: III yoq can
show me q reason" stopping there
az she caught faint, lnde!anable
change In his glance. He did NOT speak
she went on, her head dropping: II
do love you'll am ready to TRUST you
against all the world. Butt cannot
do It blindly-so much owe4 to my
name"
You must trust bllndly-ortnot at
ALL" Fay said, fixing burning hypnotic
eyes upon her. unless you'll do. this
ID goodby forever"
Esme shivered again. Heart, soul.
body, every fiber Of her yearned to
yield to him. But against that whe,m.
Ing passion stood the traditions Of a
long. long line. No Wyeth had slurred
or stained It 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.
Ouuy ouc hcutu ~ Say DVinctihuB
at FIRST she hardly sensed DIT. 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 gosaway."
"Then you lack trust" Esme said
piteously. "You should not. A Wyeth
promise has never yet been bloken.'
.Only fool would leave his great
est treasure within reach of a bur-
glar." Fay said impatiently. mo need
to tell you, when am gone John Lap
sley will make you forget me-h he
can. He ID a mad about you as am
almost. 1t isn't in him to be fully
20 devoted"
.Please-we need not speak Of him."
Esme said gently. Il forgive what you
have said-you are not quite your
SELF
"Stopl ! can't be civil any longer.
Say .yes. or mo- At once-unless you
wish to drive me quite mad" Fay broke
In, his face working In passion. Esme
loved him, yet dhrank from him in this
guise. After a breath she said diff
Guilty: "I-cannot at once. Give me
until tomorrow morning."