Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-24
SIS TEL
BY KATHLEEN NORRIS
Author of JosseIyn's WHe"
Copyright, 1919. by Kathleen Norris)

~ tOitott lot WnbI tnhh Wo
what shall we do Cherry in love with
Peter But Peter is my husband--he is
my husband" And in a spasnn OF
pain she shut her eyes, and fiung her
head hes as u snffocatlns. The beating OF OF
s SICK Il 60 on this way" she remindea
They mustn't know. But Peter--" she
whispered suddenly. Peter, who has
GUS e @e@and nc fG0S L was 50 Cherry Cherry All the
time While we were up here, reading
and talking, and" her lips trembled,
AND cooking she told herself, he
thisv,n Was vt,ninkins 20 OF Cherry-he was always
ago, when we used to tease him about
the lady with the orinoiines and ring
lets, II was she. But why didn't he ask
her instead of me?" wondered Alix. and
brow she began to piece II ali together.
The terrible truth rose triumphant
from all memories. Sometimes for Sec
ond hope would flood her with almost
down upon her again, and hope died,
and she realized afresh that sorrow,
stronger than before, was waiting to
seize upon her again.
Sorrow and fear and pain. these
had never known them before. She had
grieved for her father few years ago
she would always miss him and need
him-perhaps never more than tonight.
But that was natural loss, softened by
everything that love and loyalty and
faith could give her, and this was a liv-
,ng anguish, which wrung and twisted
her heart more terribly with every in
stant of It's realization.
Well-I can't stand II In here !" Alix
said, suddenly. The walls, the peaceful
room, seemed to smother and stife her
| she crossed to the door, and opened II,
ana slipped noiselessly out into the night,
I a lr~, al .k.
| passed.
The night was wrapped in an ocean
ZOE, there was no moon and no stars,
put the air was soft and warm. The
garden was so black that Alix, familiar
with every inch Of It as she was. groped
her way confusedly between the wet
pushes and shrubs. Roses drenched her
with fog and dew, a wallfiower spring
ing erect as she passed by sent q wave
| OF velvety perfume into her face.
| When she gained the woods she made
petter progress. for under the great
snatts OF the redwoods there was little
growth, and the ground was unencum-
bered and almost as smooth as a floor.
With no goal in view. Alix climbed up
ward, walking rapidly. breathing hard,
and frequently speaking aloud, as some
poignant thought smote her, or standing
sun, TOO sick with pain, under an un-
| expected rush Of emotion to move.
Sometimes some small woodland ami
NAL scrambled noislly through the dry
brush. In escape, and now and then an
owl, perhaps mile away, broke the
silence with mournful and muffled cry.
Tiny squeaks and sleepy chlrps from
Dirds and chipmunks recognized the dis
| turbance of strangers passage through
the wood, and once the ugly snarling
or Wildcats, always alert in the night,
as suddenly away.
or these things Alix heard nothing.
IN trance OF feverish dread she went
on and on. trying to escape from the
conviction that grew momentariy more
He would have told me about it
why didn't I let him !" ran Aiix's
thoughts. II thought Of some older
woman. I don't know why--anyway,
now! Peter. / care now can't give
you up. even to Cherry. It Is nonsense
to talk Of giving him up" Alix told her.
self, sitting down In the inky dark, or
log against which her wild walk had
married people. and we all love each
other. But oh. am sorry! I am sc
sorry. Peter" she whispered, as II she
were speaking to him. You couldn't
help It, know that. She is pretty
and SO sweet. Cherry-and she turns tc
you as II you were her big brother!'
She sat motionless. her hands clasped
and raised so that her cheek was pressed
against them, For a while she seemed
|
vaguely aware that the hands she hat
plunged into the pockets Of one Of Peter:
OLD coats were scented with tobacco now
and SO reminded her of him. She pressed
them hard against her face, as II to ease
the pain of her forehead.
But the thoughts; exactly like a pain
psgan to creep back. With choking bit
terness, 1t was upon her again. and she
got TO her feet and went on.
What am I thinking about--it's alb
surd Can't people like each other. ir
this world, Just because they happen tc
be married Peter would be the first tc
laugh at me. And is It fair to Cherry
"oh, but it's true!'' the honester i'm
pulse interrupted, mercilessly ut II
true. Whether It's right or wrong, OF
sensible or absurd, they do love eaci
other: that's what has changed then
And she began to remember a hun
dred-a thousand-trifles, that made Il
all hideously clear. Words, glances
moods subtler than ether, came bacl
TO her: Cherry's confusion Of late: wher
was raised. her indifference to her In
heritance, her restless talk during one
hour. of immediate departure. and dur
Ing the next of an apparently termles:
all .ssss %sfs sssSsnt ussanpy nSS sS.rr,
had said. And Immediately after that
Alix recalled wretchedly, had come 8
| brlef ana apparently aimless talk about
Alxs rights. and her easerness to share
Cherry had been In misery, Of course
Alix knew her too well not to know with
what suffering she would admit that tn,
one desire Of her heart was for some
thing to which Aiix had the higher. Il
Poor Cherry"' the older sister sale
aloud, standing still for a moment, anc
pressing both hands over her hot eyes
Poor little old Cherry-life hasn't beer
very kind to her! She and Peter mus
And dad would be 80 sorry; Of all things
he wanted most that Cherry should bt
happy! Perhaps" thought Alix. n,
realised that she was that sort Of a ma
ture, she must love and be loved, or she
cannot live But wny did he let her
marry Martin, and why wasn't he here
to keep me from marrying Peter? What
a mess-mess-mess we've made OF II
As she used the term. she realized that
Cherry had used 1t. too, this same eve.
ming. and fresh conviction was added to
the great weight of conviction in her
"Shs was thinking Of that" Altx told
herself, "and It has been in Peters mind
all these weeks. Oh, Peter--Peter--
escaped her. why couldn't Il have been
me? Why couldn't II have been me? Why
/ know ] am not so pretty as Cherry
Alix went on, resuming her restless
walk, "and I know that those things
don't seem to mean as much to me as 70
softly. aloud. mo wife ever loved man
more than I love you, my dear " She
remembered some Of his half-leughing
half-fretful reproaches, when he had told
loved Buck, and thas In these respects
she was no more than a healthy child