Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-04-25
CHILD" by R XeHA
FROM THE RHYME THURSDAYS CHILD HAS FAR TO GO"


over the room!
what in the world are you do
ing?" asked the girl.
"I'm packing" Martha explained.
'I've been meaning to tell you.
can't stand this. Besides you don't
need me any more. Pm going home,
sailing in five days. I've written
Kirk. Sonny, this is an impossible
life for any American woman"
Sonny was speechless. The thought
of Martha's desertion frightened her.
"Come with me, darling. Please!
Leave this place. You can't live on
here! l know it,"
Go home? Sonny's heart contract
ed. But she had no home. There was
nothing for her back there.
Martha pleaded and begged for the
next five days. Often Sonny was on
the verge of going but, always, some
thing held her back. 1t was a bad
five days for Rene. He was so afraid
Leslie would leave him. He pleaded
on his own behalf:
"I'll see we have more fun. I've
kept you here so that you could un-
derstand the kind of life we lead.
want our marriage to last. Maybe
/ was wrong"
"No, I'm staying, Rene"
"Promise?"
She did.
The morning the boat train left
they were up early. Even the Count
ess got up to say goodbye and there
was CLEAN of triumph in her eyes:
"Shell be happy here, 1 know her
kind. She has courage to take what
she wants." the old woman said to
Martha in parting.
But Martha had her doubts. "Come
with me, Sonny" she begged even at
the last when Sonny said goodbye at
the station. "They can send on your
things"
Sonny shook her head. "This is
where belong. Pm sure Pm right"
AS the train pulled out, Sonny
wept. Rene led her back to the an
cient car, and tried to comfort her.
AS they drove, Rene pleaded his case:
81 love you better than any wo-
man I have ever known. Please be-
lieve me-"
Sonny listened alphabetically. The
die was cast. She must go ahead.
Rene was happily making plans.
"You must notify your guardian at
once. Then the dowry can be arrang-
ed. We can be married in three or
four weeks, Leslie, and go to our
place in the country. 1 must stay
within call of my regiment, you
know"
EYES,"
"You agree?"
EYES,"
"You will write today?"
eyes, today. I'll do better than
that. I'll cable my attorney and ar
range to telephone him tonight at
ten"
"Perfect!"
Rene did not go out that evening. |
Before dinner, when they were alone
for moment, he mentioned the tele-
phone call to her: 81 had an engage
ment tonight, but I'll keep it later.
I'll wait until you hear from your at
torney. Pm very impatient"
The evening seemed interminable.
Rene played some games of cribbage
with his mother and she chided him
on his Observation-Disclosures. At nine
thirty when she rose to retire, Son.
ny breathed sigh of relief. She did
not want to talk with Dick under the
Countess sharp eyes. Rene must
have told his mother. Otherwise she
would not have changed her iron-clad
schedule.
Rene put in the call for Sonny.
Then they sat down to wait.
Suppose he refuses to let you stay
on with me?"
mo power on earth can stop me,
Rene"
"But if he ties up your money!"
"They can't do that, only until I'm
21.''
Rene nodded. That meant they
could arrange the prenuptial agree
ment as they chose. Beyond that he
did not care.
The girl was getting more and
more nervous.
"You won't mind my talking to
him-alone, Renee"
"Of course not, darling. l realize
it is difficult"
"He may not understand at first