Evening star., 1932-01-10
ANOTHER of The StarMagazineS
Firyt-Run Stoies-a StuyWith q Quick
Turn at the End, and Written to Hold
the Reader to the VeryLad Word-Next
Sunday5Magazine WiHFeatnre 'For
the eLove Of Rosetta, "3y alberta Haden
Stafford.

s-HE girl sat almost hidden in the tall
dry grass, TREMENDOUSLY awaiting the
signal. A fitful wind caught at the
mass of thick, reddish curls which
hung above her shoulders caught at
one and whisked it across her small
oval face. She rose cautiously from her shell
tered hiding place and quickly scanned the
fields, but nothing answered her save the coast
country she had always known. Never before
had she waited SO long. A quiyering sense of
panic seized her. Maybe he would not come.
Visiting artists had been known to deal rather
abruptly with the native girls
Perhaps it was just as well if he didn't come,
she reflected bitterly. If Seth found she was
meeting another man She trembled at her
knowledge of wrong-doing fear of Seth mo-
mentarily displaced anxiety for Cullen. "Wor-
ried about one finding out we love each
other" Cullen had chided her, when I want
the world to knowl" She Rugged her knees in
recollection of his tone her eyes shone, remem-
bering the look in his. Then she whisked back
to the present. Wanting the world to know
and fearing what ones betrothed would do If
he knew were differing angles. And not only
was Seth her promised husband, but he was
her guardian well, and had cared for her
for years.
CHE scanned the fields again. Not a sign.
y Her heart was as troubled as the wide,
she rose to her sandaled feet, pulled down her
salt-stained jumper more snugly, picked up
an old tweed hat full of beach-plums and
tucked three or four pieces of driftwood under
her arm Then it came, the signal. The
slight flicker of a paint-rag from a clump of
pines. She sank to her hiding place again,
face drained of color, heart humping The
young artist came galloping across the open
field, lifting long legs higher and higher to
clear the tall grass. He reached her breathless,
running slim, paint-stained fingers through the
heavy mop of fair hair that grew low on his
forehead.
Where in heavens name have you been?"
he demanded, breathing hard under his suede
wind breaker.
~Where have you been?" she returned:
He took her hands in his. Now that he was
here, she could not lift the weight of her eye
lids.
Mara, darling I've been in that group of
pines three hours. 1t was the only sheltered
place could find for the easel You demand
secrecy, sweetheart, but what good is secrecy
without sense? You should have looked for
me" His steady blue eyes were pinned on the
girls long gray ones and Oh her wind-blown
russell curs.
"I look for you every day of my hfe," she
answered in a low voice.
He caught her to him. Don't know it!
But does Seth?"
She pushed him fearfuly away. II wish you
wouldn't talk like that! 1t isn't funny You
know very well If Seth knew"
He stopped her outburst with kiss. He'd
shoot me and pluck out all my feathers" he
laughed. when are you going to tell him?"
so you'll be plucked?" she demanded, gray
eyes blazing.
so we be married"
Cullen I've told you time and again how
our men feel toward the visiting artists-how
most of our countryside feels. They're
vinced they're no good and nothing could con-
vince them otherwise. In their estimation
artists do not come here to paint, they come
to let their boards grow and make mischief"
Her eyes were fixed midway across the bay, be-
tween the long ridge of sand dunes bordering
the far shore and the narrow stretch of white
sand a pebbles throw from the matted grass
that sheltered them. There on a short sand
bar a flock of soft gray and white birds had
ahghted. Seagulls.
He'd shoot quicker than it takes to tell it.
For the hundredth time, Cullen, it's impos-
sible'
Nothing is impossible if the people love
enough"
Her hand clenched impatiently. "If merely
loving enough were ALL it would be simple"
He tilted her face to meet his. His painter
eyes loved the brown homeSpun that peeked
from the jumper and blended perfectly with
the vivid hair; loved the line of neck and
breast; the 1.-THE, wiry body, the extraordinary
simplicity of mind that was not without a
certain poise.
Tell me, Mara little while ago were you
worrying more about my not coming, more
about what Seth might do?"
She thought moment Both. First one,
then the other"
How can we get anywhere when you answer
like that?"