Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-14
s is TERS
By KATHLEEN NORRIS
.y,. STARTS THE STORY
Author Of "Josseiun's WHe'
tCopyriEht. 1919. by Kathleen Norris)

Xix and Petert marry. Cherry ,dgdin
a.fs dissatisfied Nth married We ~
q plenty sS q 'ro"sg 70 1ns s"S and sf'YST poseS
sser,v ~ ,oonders hoo Altc manages TO
yns Sssr zach O pleasant home. In tho
sonp,ng thsv discpss their domestic
osSisrsrnonts, eto. "It costs ~ goovt
i:ss Wi" yss rssss. rsss. :sS. %S. oona T'a says
nsrer clothes, ono co,o, ard Iet ,he
gsot ooi we'd bs Just as happy"
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES
,turo SOME people," Peter had OBJ
j jectcd, doubtfully. more than once
.4b.re arc other things than clothes and
| food 70
what thinssT
well, various things"
.wo have books. flowers. music all
out-of-doors," Alix protested, briskly'
sympathy, my dear--interpretation'
seif.expression -
"Tommyrot. she had responded
uiynout aninosity. He realized win
surprise, not many months after their
marriage, that she meant what she said.
II abe ato and slept and walked and
road with her usual healthy relish, she
n.eJed nothing more. She was the loast
exactIng OF wives. II he was late Tor
meal. she smiled at him absently. or u,
after they had entertained, he apoIo-
ssticaIly approacned her with some ref
erenco 10 an unfortunate sentence or
circumstances, she would meet him with
Angel boy, never heard you even, wen
or IL did don't remember u-eVeh
II I had heard It, It's true J"
She was one OF tho rare women VINO
can lake marriage calmly, as matter
Of course; she had done 80 since @ .ne
hour that made her his wife, AT her
ilIness uhe had rebelled; she hated
nurses and their fuss. she said. She was
perverse with doctors. In an unbeleva-
bly short time her magnificent constitu-
ticn had responded she was well again,
athis side at the steamer rail, as eager
for the sights and SOUNDS and smens OF
Hawaii as IL che had never heard OF a
Her only sentiment was for the babies
and small animals. She would cuddle
rabbits or birds against her brown, lean
cheek, and hug her setter enthusiastic
cally Peter suffered an agony OF sym
pathy whenever she spoke Of a child.
I'D hate all the preliminary fussing,
Pete--we both would But oh. IL the
Lord would send me six or eight of
them!"
Then and then only did the bright
eyes and the confident voice soften. and
then only was Alix no longer nat,
straight, splendid boy, but woman
indeed.
ent in every way. Cherry was full of
softness, OF ready response to any ap-
h peal of sympathy and comprehension
She had been misunderstood. unhappy,
neglected; she had developed through
suffering a certain timldity that was al
most shrinking. a certain shy clinging
TO what was kind and good.
Her happiness here was an hourly de-
light to both Alix and himself. She
seemed to flower softly; every day Of the
terest, new energy, new bloom. She and
Alix washed their hair again. damned
the creek again. tramped and sang duets
again. Sometimes they cooked, often
they went into the old senseless spasms
of laughter at nothing, or almost
nothing.
One evening, when in the sitting room
there was no other light than that of the
fire that a damp July evening made
pleasant about a week after her arrival
tin. She had had long letter from him
that day, ten pages written in flowing
hand on ten pages OF the lined paper
kof r cheap hotel. with n little cut of the
mackerel sky at the top OF each page
He was well, he had some of his dinners
u the hotel, but lived at home: he had
Peen playing a little poker and was
lcker than ever He was looking into
proposition in Durango, Mexico, and
would let her know how 1t panned out.
The letter ended with the phrases
Have good time, babe. and write me.
Send me line when you can. / have
jbeen running some with Joe King but
am not strong for the crowd 1t was
signed: "An'tly, Mart
Peter had been playi..s the piano laz-
Wy when the letter was tossed TO Cherry
by. Alix, who usually drove into the
village every morning after breakfast
for marketing and the mail. He had
seen Cherry glance through It, seen the
little distasteful movement of the mus
cles about her nose, and seen her put 1t
carelesslY under a Candlestick on the
mantel for later consideration. At lunch
con she had referred to 1t. and now 1t
evidently had caused her to be thought
ful and little troubled. An open book
was In her lap; she and AliX had gone
through the farce OF saying that they
had finished some business telephoning !:
now he had joined them. but still she
did not read and seemed disinclined for
talk.
Mart may go to Mexico !" she said,
presently, with a sigh.
To stay" Peter asked, quickly.
Cherry shrugged.
AS much as he stays anywhere :" she
answered. dryly.
HIN! Does that mean you?" Allx
asked
u suppose that's the plan" Cherry
IT'S a rotten country" Peter offered,
thoughtfullT. AT least I should think
II would he" he added. more moderate
ly ito select for a permanent home"
natives are black, or yellow. isn't Mt for
white people, or the natives would be
white" AliX explained, brightly
AN mining towns are horrible" :"
'.They'r" raw. crude. coarse places and
the people in them are just as bad"
Peter had moment of pity for her
so young, so helpless so tied.
Perhaps he won't want. you until he
is sure of staying" :" he offered.
oh, Mart always thinks the last thing
is the, permanent thing" his wife an
swered. YEARLY He says he'll want me
to join him about the middle OF August
"Oh, help" Alix said disgustedly.
Cherry was silent few mlRutes, and
Peter smoked with his eyes OF the fire
AIiX glanced from one to the other,
sighed, and glanced down at her naga-
zine.
If" Cherry said presently. 'Ir I
' get my money Ill have enough to live on
You'll have about Sa0,oO0-yes. at
per cent you could live on that. Espe-
IalIy II YOU lived here im tho valley"
Peter answered after some thought.
went on quietly. with sudden scarlet IN
hcr checks. that I'm going to tell Mar
tr think we have tried II long
enough !"
noct"r looked eravely at rc-. soherlv
moide1, nnd resumed his study OF the
nre: But Alx spoke IN briSk protest
frfd IL You mean tried marriage
nnt one doesn't try marriage It's a fact.
Ns IKE the color Of your eyes"
AS matter Of fact, 1t isn't anything
or ths KIND Cherry said mildly.
Lloyd has given you cause. eh?"
feter took his pipe out OF his mouth long
enough to slx hripHr