The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-07-07
CHAPTER XXI
in Central Park

III SGnbTai FaTH
Johnnie burst into the kitchen beam
ing. Were gonna pint for the hills.
Kitty. Clay he's had a letter calm
him home.-
When are you goingr'
Thursday. Amt that greatt-
She nodded, a~bsently. Her mind
was on another tack already. .John-
ME, I'm going to ask Miss whitford
here for dinner tonight"
Say, you ce'tainly get the best no
lions, honeybug," he shouted.
do you think she'll come2-
"Sure she'll come"
III fix up the bestest dinner eve
was, and maybe
Her conclusion wandered OFF into the
realm of unvoiced hopes. hut her hus-
band knew what II was as well as II
she had phrased 1t.
When Clay came home that evening
he stopped abruptly at the door. The
lady Of his dreams was setting the
table in the dining room and chatting
gayly with an invisible Kitty In the
kitchen.
The delicate fragrance of the girls
personality went to Clay's head like
wine as he stepped forward and shook
hands. To see her engaged in this
intimate household task at his own
table %quickened his pulse and sent a
glow through him.
You didn't know you had invited
me to dinner, did your she said, little
flags a-fiutter In her cheeks.
They had a gay dinner, and after
ward a pleasant hour before Clay took
her home.
Neither of them was in a hurry.
They walked through Central park in
the kindly darkness, each acutely SEN
sitive to the others presence.
Her gayety and ~piquancy had given
place to a gentle shyness. Clay let
the burden of conversation fall upon
her. He knew that he had come to his
hour of hours and his soul was
wrapped in gravity.
She too sensed what was coming,
and the sex instinct In her was on
tiptoe In flight. She was throbbing
with excitement. Her whole being
longed to hear what he had to tell her.
Yet she lodged for a way of escape.
Silences were too significant, too full
pulsed. She made herself talk. 1t
did not much matter about what.
"Why Didn't you tell us that it was
Mr.. Bromfield who struck down that
man Collins? Why did you let us
think you did it?" she qHeried.
swell, folks in New York don't
know me. What was the use of gettin'
him in bad?'
you know that wasn't the reason.
You did it because" She stopped in
the midst Of the sentence. 1t had oc-
CURED to her hat this subject was
more dangerous even than silence.
II did it because he was the man
you were goin' to marry" he said.
They moved side by side through
the shadows. In the faint light he
could make out the fine line of her
exquisite throat. After a moment she
spoke. you're a good friend, Clay.
1t was a big thing to do. l don't know
anybody else except Dad that would
nave uOne III Tor me.
you don't know anybody else that
loves you as much as | do"
1t was out at last, quietly and with
out any dramatics. A flash of soft
eyes darted at him, then yelled the
shining tenderness beneath long lashes.
1--WE had an attack Of common
he went on, and in his voice
was a strength both audacious and
patient. Il thought at first | couldn't
to win you because of your for
tune and what IT had lone for you.
Even when l knew you liked me l
you. l couldn't offer you the adj
santages you'd had. But I've changed
NY mind. I've been watching what
money does to yore friends. 1t makes
hem soft. They fiutter around like
butterflies. They're paupers-a good
many of them-because they don't pay
heir way. A mans a tramp If he
saw wood for his breakfast.
don't want you to get like that, and
Z you stay here long enough you sure
will. It's In my heart that if you'll
ONE with me well live"
In the darkness she made a rustllng
novement toward him. A little sob
Yelled up in her throat as her hands
fitted to him. "Oh, Clay I've fought
gainst 1t. | didn't want to, butt
owe you. Oh, l do love you'll"
He took her lissom young body in
is arms. Her lips lifted to his.
Presently they walked forward slow
Clay had never seen her more love
= and radiant, though tears still chung
D the outskirts of her joy.
Were going TO live-oh, every
she cried to the stars, her
)ver's hand in hers.
Johnnie felt that Kitty's farewell
inner had gone very well. 1t was her
rst essay IA a hostess. and all of
lem had enjoyed themselves. But,
, far as he could see, 1t had not
chieved the results for which they
nd been hoping.
Clay came home late and hex morn s
was full of plans about leaving. !
Two more days and Wen hit the |
all for good old Tucson he said