, 1923-03-27

for years to believe. I was bent on
believing it. You know. Betty, the
thing we assert most positively isn't
our real faith. We don't have to as
sert that. It's likely to be what we're
trying to convince ourselves OF.
I'm just beginning to under
stand that, just lately. since you
came into my life-and during the
fighting. I had to bolster myself
up in Tho faith that n man can run
away. 1--we alone. because it seemed
TO be the only basis on which I. as
was, could deal with life. The only
way I could get on at all. But you
see what happened to me. Life fol-
lowed mo and :lnal'y caught me.
away out here in China. No. you can
not get away from It. You can't live
seifishiy. II won't work. We're all
in together. We've got to think Of the
others. I'm like a beginner now
going 10 school to life. I don't even
know what l believe. Not any more.
Tim eager to learn. from day TO
day. The only thing I'm sure or
+. he turned, spoke with breathless
awe in his voice 'is that
love you dear. That's the foundation
on which my life has got to be built.
It's my religion, I'm afraid"
Betty's -yes filled; her little fins
ers twisted in among his: but she
did not speak then.
The shafows stretched farther and
farther along the hi side. The sun,
a huge orange disc defending amid
ooppery strips OF shining cloud.
touched the rim of the western hills:
slid smoothly, slowly down behind it.
leaving a glowing vault Of gold and
rose and copper overhead and a ium-
nous haze in the valley.
or to The eastward. toward shau
Ting n tho crumbl!ng ruins of
the Southern Wall (which still winds
sinuously for hundreds OF miles IN
ana out Of the valleys. and over and
around the hills tho tumhlinE masses
Of upheaved rock and loess were
deeply purple against a luminous east
ern sky.
'wln you let me travel with you.
john I've thought that I could draw
while you write. Maybe I could even
help you with your books. II would
be wonderful, exploring strange
placcs, I'D like to go down through
Yunnan. Assam and the nurmnh
country, Two been reading about It.
sitting IN tho hospital at night"
There would DO priyaton - and
Dangers"
II don't are"
"You wouldn't be afraid"
not with you. And it-lr any.
thing happened to you. Id want to
go, too. OF course. thcre'd be
other problems coming up. Don't
think I'm altogether impractical.
dear"
what are you thinking of"
She hesltated. children. John. 7
know we shan't either OF us be sat
iStied TO live Just for cur happiness
in each other. ] couldn't help think.
ing about that. watching you here.
during the siege"
mo. We shan't."
The Reverend Henry wIthery
came in that night. on a shaggy Man
chu pony with his luggage behind on
a art.
AND late the following afternoon a
wedding took place at the residence.
a great event was made OF It by
the young pe1ple OF the compound.
Tho hills were searched for flowers.
A surprising array OF presents ap.
peared.
Mrs cartwright was prevented
from attending by a severe headache,
but her husband, at h last moment.
The other T'ainan folk were
there.
His Excellency. Pao Tlng Chuan,
with fifteen attendant mandarina, in
full official costume. among whom
was Mr.. Pc sultan. lent the color Of
oriental splendor to the occasion. His
Ex~cellency's gift was a necklace OF
Jade with a pendant % anc,ent work
ed gold.
Withory performed tho ceremony;
and Griggshy Dome Eave tho bride.