The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1924-10-16
know are all right"
THAT isn't what l want" MYRTLE de.

THAT isn't what want" MYRTLE de-
clared. II want to 60 to the party to-
+. night You will dance with other girls
! il am not there / don't want you to
mot today, at any rate. You have
danced with me, and II was wonder
| full" m
81 begin to think that I don't want
TO dance with any one else myself"
/ Gerald confessed. looking ut her admir-
/! ingly. .T'lI think II over on the way
back"
They made their way out to the open
space in front of the hotel, where Ger
aid had left the car. and very soon
they. were on their way homeward
Driving. for the first half-hOur. alb
sorbed Gerald's whole attention. and
MYRTLE leaned back in the low seat by
his side, filled with the joy of their
rapid ascent, the smooth, birdlike mo-
ton which seemed to be taking them.
with scarcely an effort. up into the
clouds.
81 Think" MYRTLE whispered, that
this is the real road which leads to
happiness The road down there Is
tangled and twisted. Here one seems
to breathe more wonderfully, to come
nearer to things one feels but does not
understand. 1t is more like the air
around the farm, when used to get up
sometimes before the sunrise and walk
through the violet patch and the
expresses to the gate. The sun rose at
the end of the road"
'You are quaint child, MYRTLE"
Gerald reflected. ~ wonder what would
have happened to you if we had not
passed along that night
She shiyered.
81 know" she answered. II am quite
sure that know l felt 1t in my heart
when leaned over the gate and looked
to the end of the road. There was the
mystery there towards which seemed
always to have CROPPED. That night 1t
was the mystery Of life or the mystery
Of death. You came, and It was life."
They were travelling more slowly
now, crawling along the level stretch
of ledge-like road at Its extreme sum-
NIT. Gerald had never before felt the
fascination Of the girl by his side as
he felt II In those moments. He
stretched out his left hand and she
gripped 1t In hers. tearing of her
gloves so that her fingers could clasp
his
"And since it is life" he asked. "is
the mystery passing?"
Her eyes were swimming with the
desire Of happiness.
"There Is no mystery any longer"
she told him II know what lies at
the end of the road. where the sun
used to RISE know now"
Gerald, impressionable as ever, felt
the spurious glow of exaltation. spuri-
Gus because its influence was wholly
external. His face became graver, his
tone was almost stern.
"what we hope you will find there"
he said, 'is happiness. Christopher
has explained to you about this post In
England?"
'Yes," she answered.
You will like it,"
'Nop
"But you must be happy, MYRTLE. We
want you to be happy" Gerald de-
clared.
IF you want me to be happy" she
whispered. 81 shall always be happy
because 1t is you-you-"
Gerald, a moment ago, had been full
of good intentions. Of good advice.
MYRTLE leaned toward him. Her slim
body. sweet but tilrobbing with eager
ness, prayed for his embrace. Her left
arm stole out toward his shoulder. ~
though to turn his head.
"Gerald!' she whispered.
"Myrtile!" he begged. you naust
not"
Then all Gerald's good resolutions
crumbled for the moment. Her lips
were pressed to his, warm and sweet.
passionate with the fervor which comes
from the soul alone, which takes no
count Of lesser things than the heaven
where, to the innocent. love only
dwells. She rested in his arms, tumul-
tuously happy. Somewhere in the field
below was a bonfire of fallen pine
b0ughs, and for years afterward the
0AAACu "a OuAulA6 WVOup AAd6AoAS anu
aromatic, brought back to Gerald the
memory Of those few seconds There
was flash Of lights below from an ap-
preaching automobile. Gerald drew
away, pale and a little remorseful.
Myrtile's face was like the face of .
child who has seen Heaven.
"We must get on he said hoarsely.
She lay back In her place without
moving until they began the last de-
scent into the town.
May come to your party tonight,
Gerald-now? she whispered.
mol"
She laughed quietly to herself. There
was no longer any shadow Of disap-
pOintment in her face.
"But you are very foolish" she re-
m0nstrated. How can you think that
1t would not be well for me to be
where you are7 Besides, / want you to
dance with me. There are very beauti-
ful young ladies who come to your par