E.

Sunrise on Angel Island.

In and out among the trees, wound a procession following the northern trail.  First came Lulu, white-clad, serious, pale, walking with Honey.  The others, crowned with flowers and carrying garlands, followed, serious and silent, the women clinging with both hands to the men, who supported their snail-like, tottering progress with one arm about their waists.  On the point of the northern reef, a cabin made of round beach-stones fronted the ocean.  It fronted the rising sun now and a world, all ocean and sky, over which lay a rose dawnlight.  Still silent, the procession paused and grouped about the house.  Frank Merrill stepped forward and placed himself in front of Honey and Lulu.

“We are gathered here this morning,” Frank said in his deep academic voice, “to marry this man to this woman and this woman to this man.  If there is any reason why you should not enter into the married state, pause before it is too late.”  His voice came to a full stop.  He waited.  “If not, I pronounce you man and wife.”

Silently still, the others placed their garlands and wreaths at the feet of the wedded pair.  Turning, they walked slowly back over the trail.

F.

Midnight on Angel Island.

Julia sat alone on the stone bench at the door of the Honeymoon House.  She gazed straight ahead out on a star-lighted sea, which joined a star-lighted sky and stretched in pulsating star-gleams to the end of space.  She gazed straight out, but apparently she saw nothing.  Her eyes were abstracted and her brow furrowed.  Her shoulders drooped.

A man came bounding up the path.

“Has Ralph been here?” he asked curtly.  Billy’s face was fiery.  His eyes blazed.

“He’s been here,” Julia answered immediately.  “He’s gone!”

“By God, I’ll kill him!” Billy turned white.

Julia’s brow smoothed.  She smiled a little.  “No, you will not kill him,” she said with her old serene air.  “You will not have to kill him.  He will never come again.”

“Did he try to make love to you?”

“Yes.”

“How did he justify himself?”

“He appealed to me to save him.  I did not quite understand from what.  He said I could make a better man of him.”  Julia laughed a little.

“How did you know he was here?”

“I stopped at their cabin.  He was not there.  Peachy did not know where he was.  Of course, I guessed at once.  I came here immediately.”

“Did Peachy seem troubled?”

“No.  She doesn’t care.  Pete was there, examining her drawings.  They’re half in love with each other.  And then again, Pete doesn’t know, or if he does know, he doesn’t care, that Clara is doing her damnedest to start a flirtation with Honey.  And Lulu has walked about like a woman in a dream for weeks.  What are we all coming to?  There’s nothing but flirting here!”