Evening star., 1923-03-16

beyond Distance meant nothing to
Cherry except as ground which was
TO be covered in a given time, and,
the exactions of the traffic policemen
having been grudgingly met in a
short while they were bowling along
in the general direction of Albany
with no particular object in view
except to find as many fine straight
strcches of road as possible and to
pass over them with the greatest
speed consistent with the bare pre-
serving of life and limb.
Among other reasons. Cherry liked
Bruce Cowan because he knew more
about the diseases of motors than any
one that she had ever met. She liked
to talk about motors and their trou-
bles. and the relative merits OF diff
ferent makes of cars These were the
chief topics of discussion among the
young people that she knew unless
they were talking about one another,
and Bruce Cowan more than others
spoke with tho voice of authority.
Her roadster was a Magnificent,
which her companion had sold her.
and il had lived up beautifully to its
expensive reputation. She was
sure that she had made no mistake
in il or in him. for in way Bruce
was quite as magnificent as the car
he so1d-big. masterful with an air
of general proficiency which left very
little to be desired. It was true that
he was not quite so splendid In mu1ti
as ne naQ Deen III uililoIHl-puI tiieh
his eyes were lovely and his chin was
quite the finest that she had seen-a
strong, blue chin shaped like the one
on the masque of Antinous which She
had once drawn from at boarding
school. And then-well. masculine
strength had always appealed to her.
They had spun off the last five
miles of a lonely road in something
less than four minutes and Cherry
shut off the power and sank back
Wi
qualification.
THAT was great-great--
shes lady, isn't she?' he muttered
trumphantly. Handsome, every inch;;
Not even warm. If you could BUY goon
gasoline she'd jump the riyer-F'act.
Il love it. Glad / didn't get the
X k" she said.
"Oh, say. Cherry. you couldn't have
bought the *. X with me selling the
Magnificent. even if it wasn't all !
Il like that! Do you think I'd have
bought it just because of you?'
Sure thing" said Cowan. You like
me enough to have done that for me,
Now! You needn't get SO pleased
with yourself all of a sudden Bruce
Cowan."
Love me-love my dog. You love the
car, you've got to love me, too.
"That doesn't follow" she said with
1T ought to. 1t will" The road was
quite deserted. He bent over her ana
laid his hand over hers on the wheel
Say. Cherry. Tell me. you'll marry me.
won't you?'
Look out.' Cherry's toe pressed the
accelerator and the car lurehed violently
forward He bore himself in patience
until she reduced her speed and then
with laugh:
"You little devil. What did you do
that for?" he said.
"TInl ba rrassment," she said coolly.
"H-m. I'm not going to let you off
so easily
to do?"
"This." And he turned off the
switch. holding her hands. "Now an
swer met
"Cave- stuff" she muttered.
eyes, if you like" And he kissed her.
LET go my hands" she gasped,
stif1ed.
The car had come to a stop, slowly.
in the ditch.
NO" he said, and then more quietly,
Damn it. Cherry. You've got to listen.
I love you. You ought to know it by
now. I'm keen for you. Honest I am.
And you wouldn't want to come out
with me II you didn't like me lot. Tell
me you'll marry me-"
IF don't like to be paved. Bruce" she
said, struggling.
Please! Answer me-
shs afsutSisa s sno4hg.uasAsska men.