The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1937-04-29
CHAPTER XIV

OnO YOU still feel that you want
- to see him again?" Joe asked.
Tony's face dimDled as she looked
fhoughtfully down at the sand she
was marking into even ridges with
q bit of silvery smooth driftwoOd.
"Not as did," she said, color
ing a little as she smiled.
"Almost willing to take a chance
that half your children will be
Dutchy- looking little blonds?"
"Almost. l love Dutchy little
bonds"
Joe lay silent for while in the
warm sand. Presently he said:
"Well, I imagine you'll have your
chance SOON"
my CHANGER
To see him."
sOh, yes, that. Now that your
grandmother's dead they'll prob
ably come West"
She fell to musing, and Joe pulled
his cap a little farther down over
his eyes and appeared to dream.
"After the Office yesterday this Is
heaven" Tony presently said. "Is
there anything In the whole world
more wonderful than an autumn
sea, and gulls. and waves coming
In, and sunshine like thisy'
'It's SWELL" Joe murmured inel0-
quently.
Autumn sunshine" Tony went
on after space. "Pure and thin
and sad. somehow. Cosmos in
stead of liIacs. and figs instead Of
cherries. and that soft veil over the
sea-" And Unexpectedly she con-
cluded with vigor:: 81 adore it!'
Joe laughed Iazily.
"YOu almost had me In tears,
Tony. You were going on into
the sere. the yellow leaf, your voice
getting sadder and sadder.
thought you were going to end up
with the death of Little Nell"
Tony laughed, too. trifie shame
facedly.
"Well. do love it-autumn." She
meditated deeply. "Spring first" she
decided. "then autumn. Then win
ter. and then summer"
Summer last Of all?"
ooh, yes-don't you think so?"
swell. like corn on the cob"
'Yes. and peaches" Tony conced-
ed. 'But there's something so cock
sure about summer"
winters one long revel Of drag
Ing wood In. down here"
"And wet walks, and rain sluic-
Ing down, and pancakes for break
(asti"
''NOt that you often touch them. -
II know. But I love that warm
kitcheny smell Of hot butter and
strip and hot cakes on q freezing
morning"
eff they come through with the
Rio offer"
eff they come throughy What
nonsense! Why, they're begging
you on their knees"
swell, then, II l accept the Rio
0ffer-N0, but what do you sup
pose they eat for breakfast in RioT'
Coffee and melons and sour
bread and fried chicken" Tony an
swered readily.
evil you go to Rio with me,
Tony?"
do you want me to, Joe?"
"Yo' knows ali do, honey"
81 reckon y0' does"
They basked on in the mild sun
shine, and the lazy waves came
punctually In a smother Of emer-
aid and ivory over the nearby
rocks, spread in interlocking circles
on the strip Of sandy beach, and
went away again, leaving the little
pools brimming. and the silky pur-
pie and blue ribbons, weeds and
mussel shells glittering and drip
ping.
you're easy on my old eyes," the
man said presently, glancing up.
II love to have you think 80. We
ought to 60 up pretty soon;, Bendy
was going to telephone about din
aer."
II thought they had company"
"They have. But It was only Cliff
and Mary Rose. And If Patricia
was all right they said they might
oil come over"
81 hope nobody comes!"
They climbed the great ridges of
rock up to the cliff level and were
at the gardens end, where the new
brick paths and the tall roses and
chrysanthemums were rustling In
the afternoon airs, and the slender
jbeeches sent trim shadows across
the lawn. In this setting, and witt
the descending sun flashing In ev
cry window, the square-cut house
did not look too awkward; there
was q pleasant air Of greenland
white seaside hospitality about j
and its open windows and awninget
terrace.
81 love this house," Tony said
as they went in. 1T was my escape
In the darkest hours of my life