THE STORY: By the light of a full moon, Kerney has just received a marriage proposal from Kip, who swears his love for Kerney over and over as he has done so many times. But before Kerney will marry him, he must swear off seeing Ora Lee, the daughter of Kip’s maid, Sarah, who raised Kip since his mother died. When Kerney’s own mother died, when she was very young, the butler in her house, Walter, took to watching over Kerney and likes the idea of marriage with Kip. Even her father, John, seems to be in favor of the idea. But Kerney must still contend with her own fears and the thought of leaving the safety of her home. Her father, John, in admitting to Kerney he would be just as happy if she lived out her life with him, tugs at her heart; but John tries to show her that life has stages and he is willing to be there for her in this new stage if she does not abandon him. Not having her mother around while growing up, Kerney also feels the loss in learning what it means to be happy as a wife, so when her mother comes to her in a dream and seems to push her toward starting a new life with Kip, Walter encourages her to interpret the dream as her mother’s wish. Kip, acting on what he knows he must do, tells Ora Lee he can no longer see her. Ora Lee reacts with venom, but both begin to bury a love that were it not inter-racial, might have blossomed for life. Kerney finally accepts Kip, willing to believe his love, and Kip accepts Kerney with all her fears as the moon again sheds light on their embrace.
This lyrical tale of young, hesitant love, weaves passion and yearning with the ageless fear of growing up. Two motherless young adults approach marriage with the safety of their fathers’s need tugging at their sleeves, as well as the loving push from their fathers guiding their hearts.
