Evening star., 1929-11-17

was Just an average boy. Average boys were
good enough for her. Now, dreamily, she oWelC
on Derry. The rattle of Martins dishes came
to her ears. Derry would be taught TO heip
with the dishes. Shed make good husband
of him for some girl Derry would pronaoly
rattle and bang and clatter everything just as
Martin was doing now. Males are noisy Iot
hut female ears are attuned to them, and there's
room for only one shishing, shushing, pernlckety
sex in the world, anyway. Oh, yes, her house
would be noisy enough, with Derry crashing
around it, and dogs barking and cats fighting
and radios squawking, and at night, one more
noisy person-would this person, could 1t, pos
sibly, be Martin, after all?
For somehow her sure knowledge Of q few
hours before had begun to falter. No, no, she
shook sleepy head. No, she was just dreaming
now.
Martin. with a dish and a towel in his hands;
stood, watching her.
"Well you didn't snore"
Certainly not"
did you do everything told you to?"
"Yes"
Did you think nice things about me?"
"Y-yes-"
"Awfully nice things?"
SILLY" She stirred uneasily. Was Martin
flirting with her, the impudent thing?
"You want to know what happened to me ouE
there while washed your cup?"
You broke it?"
mo But I made great decision"
"Yes?"
"I decided that when we are married, I'm al
ways going to wash the dishes. You're too little
and weak to wash dishes
Martini"
"Anne, darling, this is going to be either the
biggest moment in my life, or the greatest f1op.
I've been scared to death to ask you, you little
self-sufficient, Smart-alacky brown thing. I've
been scared even to see you a lot. And don't
see why in the world you would want to marry
hut N
shoulder-Martin's cocky head on her shoulder
and Martin gripping her arms. Martin, on his
knees had flung himself bodily at her, at her,
Anne, who had plotted so ruthlesSly to fling
herself, metaphorically, at him! Anne's room
began to revolve around her head The table
was chasing the fire-the fire was chasing itself.
Martin raised his head to look at her.
"Oh, Anne, what are you going to do to me?"
he cried.
For moment Anne was only dizzy. Then
she smiled at him. her own birdlike smile, quick,
flashing, irrepressible.
I'm going to marry you," she said
When Anne had recovered somewhat from the
sweet delirium of those first few moments, she
told Martin about Derry.
Martin, would you object If I-if we adopted
a baby straight off? I've applied"
Shyly she told him of the plan that had
grown in her heart ever since that day when
she saw Janet Pirie. Stone by stone she built
up for him the dear walls of the Palace in King
dom Come, the retreat which Derry and the
puppies and the kittens, and now Martin him.
self. were to fill to overrmning with their own
happy noises. She told him about the garden,
which she was to tend herself, and she mem
toned the furnace. and his role as furnace man.
She omitted the rocking chair. Martin, she
knew, would rear up at that Spelling him,
see. A fine mother you are" And-wise Anne,
kind Anne-she said nothing of her husbands
dilemma of few hours ago. It wouldn't do to
spoil Martins fun. OF course, this marriage Of,
theirs was all Martins doings!
Martin listened, grinned over Derry, held her
closer as they entered the door of the little
house. chuckled over the furnace, boasted
largely Of his talents as a coal-heaver.
oh" he groaned as she finished, "supposing
hadn't. Supposing hadn't stayed tonightl i
would have lost another whole day out of King
dom Come. But why" he asked. 'only one?
Don't we want a whole houseful of kids?"
"Oh, Martini" sighed Anne blissfully, you
are, without a doubt, the man for me-"
"Of course am" stated Martin modestly.
Haven't known that all the tinle?"