Evening star., 1935-02-09


IxF HE'S there, Cynthia. won't
~ you let me 60 in and bring
him out to the car to talk tc
you? There's no need of your
getting out in this rain"
"All for peace, aren't you, Geoffrey?'
She frowned as she saw the CLEAN OF
a beacon a little way ahead. There's
the Severn" A timer light. moveless
golden, shone close. And there's the
camp. No, I'm not dodging anything
I'm going in
Every little while the sweeping light
of the airport beacon on Wyatts Ridge
flashed through the driving rain, shin
ing on the flooded sea meadows and
illuminating the little square panes
of the fishing shack windows
Sometimes the sound of the fog
horns in the bay lifted deep means
above the wall of the waning storm
Once the whistle of steamer, sharp
and shrieking in sudden, startled
warning. rode in the wind from the
Chesapeake; but Holly Barlow, held
in Kim's arms upon the big couch
before the fireplace, smiled at him
in blithe scorn of perils and portents.
Before them a log on the fire
Sizzled and cracked. squirting tiny
torches of blue and amber flame
upon the hearth. The CLEAN of a
copper kettle caught her eyes, and
focused her browsing thoughts. Here,
within these flimsy rain-rocked walls,
she was blissfully happy, utterly con-
tent. Just to be with Kim-that
was all she wanted. II wouldn't
matter where they'd be, what they'd
have. Any place would be home
Every possession would be loves
Love. What had some one called it?
A door to infinity? 1t was more. far
more than that. 1t was inf1nity
itself kim, darlin'," she muir
INJURED.
Beloved" He moved a little that
he might look the deeper into her eyes
"Oh. Holly. dearest, you're so lovely
Lovelier than all the lovely women ir
the world"
who were they?" Not that she
cared. He couldn't have loved any
one else as he loved her now What
could they matter, those half forgotten
women? Nothing counted except hi:
love for her. What were yesterday;
kisses? Tonight and tomorrow anC
all the tomorrows she'd be his anc
he'd be her own. Even his marriage
to Cynthia, a deed done before hec
known what love could be to him, was
nothing now but frail fence theyC
fling down lightly. Have I knowr
any Of them. dearest?"
They've been dream women. Sigr
posts on the road to you. Ever since
| I was a boy I've been seeking you
Holly" His lips brushed her cheek
and his arms once more tightenec
around her Il saw a promise of you
in all beauty. Sunsets. Moonlights
Paintings. Poems. The tales of great
loves. The traditions of wonderful
women. Do you remember the verse
about Mary Stuart?
But surely though it die or live,
Your face was worth
All that man may think to give
On earth
That's you, beloved"
"All that man may think to give
on earth" Slowly she said the lines
after him. "Shall I be worth what II
cost you?"
You'll be worth everything" Hi
lips closed on her own. Beneath hi!
kisses her thoughts raced. Oh, Kim
Kim, I'll make up to you for all you've
missed, all you've lost! Those long
lonely years. Through all the day.
Of our lives I'll be thinking of no one
but you. Well be together, together
| Where?" She drew little away from
him. What are you going to do with
me?"
DO? I'll take you to an island
know. Not the island in the Orocaizo
harbor, where the tankers go by day
and night, but little island off the
Spanish Main, where the big boats
never pass. Well build us a house