Chance of a Lifetime (28 page)

Sherrill looked up half frightened, but he hurried on.

“Sherry, you didn’t pull off those grand marriages or engagements your aunt suggested, did you—not yet?” He waited breathlessly for her to answer, and Sherrill sparkled at him mischievously.

“Not yet!” She laughed.

“Well then, Sherry, may—do you—can I—” He plunged his free hand into his pocket and brought out something bright and thrust it forward. It was a ring with a big pearl in a quaint, sweet setting.

“Will you wear this for me, Sherry? I wouldn’t have dared ask so soon, but I saw you still wore my pearls, and I hoped. Will you, Sherry? Sherry, I love you so. I’ve missed you so.”

Sherrill surrendered her hand to the ring, and he drew her close to him and set his lips reverently upon hers.

“Oh, Sherry, my darling!”

“You know we’re only kids yet!” gurgled Sherrill from the folds of his nice coat. “You said so yourself only three months ago.”

“Yes, that’s the best part of it!” the boy’s voice rang joyously. “Please God, there’ll be more time ahead for us together. But, Sherry, dear, it’s not half so bad as it sounds. Dad has sold a lot of land he thought was worthless, and he insists on my having the whole proceeds. He says it’s my bonus for staying home from Egypt and pulling the business out of a hole while he was sick. Yes, he found out about it. Judge Whiteley told on me. Well, it’s a slick little sum, and Sherry, I—we can start as soon as you say. Dad’s made me a partner! What do you think? That is, we’ll wait till your mother feels we’ve had a long enough engagement of course—”

“Oh, Alan!” said Sherrill. “I didn’t know there could be anything so sweet— And God has had this waiting for me all the time while I thought I was having a hard time! That and what He had let me do in reading to my uncle! Oh, I must tell you about that, too. There is so much to tell.”

“Yes, but I’ve another one yet, Sherry. I bought the old barn, and if you still think you’d like to build it over into a house, why you can begin your plans tomorrow. Dad says he can fix a way to finance it, and he’s willing. Then I wouldn’t have to take you far away from your family, and it wouldn’t be so hard for them all. I had a chance to buy the lot cheap, and I thought it was the chance of a lifetime—that is, if you like it, darling.”

Sherrill lifted shining eyes.

“How good God’s way is, when you just trust everything to Him, isn’t it, Alan? Oh, I’m happy, happy, happy! All my dearest dreams are coming true!”

Mary Washburn stole near to the door to offer some late refreshment, in the way of cake and lemonade, but she changed her mind and concluded she would leave her tray on the dining room table. The children did not seem to need any other refreshment than the presence of one another. It was a moment that would never quite come to them again, this first time of understanding between them. So she smiled and slipped away murmuring, “And we thought that going to New York was the chance of a lifetime for her, and here God had her joy all planned close by, for her and for us all! The chance of a lifetime! There is no such thing as chance!”

G
RACE
L
IVINGSTON
H
ILL
(1865–1947) is known as the pioneer of Christian romance. Grace wrote over one hundred faith-inspired books during her lifetime. When her first husband died, leaving her with two daughters to raise, writing became a way to make a living, but she always recognized storytelling as a way to share her faith in God. She has touched countless lives through the years and continues to touch lives today. Her books feature moving stories, delightful characters, and love in its purest form.

Grace Livingston Hill began writing stories in 1877 at the tender age of twelve and didn’t stop until her death in 1947. But what may be more amazing is that she has sold over eighty-four million copies and is still loved by young and old alike.