Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-19
81 TER s
Bu KATHLEEN NORRIS
Author of "Josselun's WHe'
tcopyrisht. 1919. by Kathleen Norris.)

way, now. That's the only way--now.
VIII you go away?"
Go away Cherry's face was ashen
| as she moved her tragic and beautiful
eyes to his, 60 away where?''
Anywhere" Peter ,apswered. con-
tusedly; Anywhere" He did not meet
her look, his own went furtiveiy about
the garden: Immediately he seemed TO
sosan fosi b self,e0ntrol sId I'm talking like
what I'm saying half the time. I'm
sorry-Fm sorry, Cherry. Don't mind
me, me-, say that you'll forgive me for
He had taken her hands, and they
were were Looking distressedly and soberly at
mace them step quickly apart. Cherry's
heart beat madiy with terror, and Peter
| flushed deeply
:, IT was Martin Lloyds aunt, Mrs.
North, their old neighbor, who came
approached them smilingly. How much
mad she seen? Cherry asked herself, In
u panic. What were they doing?-
what were they saying as she appeared :?
how much haG their attitude betrayed
them?
Mrs. North was the same loud-laueh.
ing. cheerful woman as Of old. She
had moved to Portland to be near
Martins mother, some years before, and
was delighted with the chance that had
| oiOuBul ntT DaCK 10 tne valley on the
very day that brought the Strickland
girls back to the old house.
She kissed Cherry, and was full Of
queries for Martin.
Durango? Belle told me sonnet thing
ABOUT his going there" she said. Isn't
ne the wandering Arab? And amt YOU
the good-natured little wife to follow
been here. Cherry?'
I've been with Alix and Peter for
1or several weeks Cherry said, un-
easily. Her eyes met Peters, and he
conveyed iiS reinsurance to her with a
When you going back. dcar?" Mrs.
North asked, with so shrewd a glance
from Cherry's exquisite rosy face to
Peters that he felt a fresh pang Of
SuSp,Sion' SWh. She had seen something =
here by the-the lawsuit, haven't I,
Peter Cherry explained. but ex-
Pect 10 go as soon as IT'S all settled
neres AIN, she said, gladly. as Alix
eamG sIbmn, diowhnstalrs 10 hs with an old kodak
Look, Cherry--Id forgotten this 20
AK sald. IN deep amusement, holding
out the book, But she Immediately put
ASIDE aSide TO greet the old friend.
good times pes %NoH MI three % are having real
CURIOUS look from one to the he other .
roy know what | hope" Alix told
ner, is thRt Cherry and Martin will
away aiwavs keep the old place open now
uney could get Chinese boy for very
little to Keep 1t In order, anG then. vol
see, with all Martins moving about
shed always have headquarters here
And ] don't believe Cherry'll ever lov,
ANOTHER place as she does the valley
will you. sis?" Alx ended eagerly
merry met the arm her sister iinke,
around her, halfway. and gave her {
, troubled smile
. .oS,n And yet few moments later. whe,
, some quest took Peter suddenly from
the group, she watched the shabby cor
. uuroy suit, the laced high boots. an,
, tne black head touched with gray, dis
. appear In the direction Of the kitchel
with tearing pain at her heart. an
the words the other women were sayin,
huinmeu without meaning in her cars
: When you three girls got started
: You all went Off together :" Mrs Mort
: Go,'mGnIeC. cor, 1s,,I Il used to say ! though
YOU girls never would marry-you neye
men - ~ III
n - never thought we'd marry All
y agreed, pleasantly. Did you, Klrsch
!. :, Il don't think I ever thought abou
: from musing mood.
d According to age Alix pursued. /
t Ume o,o, OF her absurdly argumentativ
moments moments: Anne should have marie
=. prt pprteti Cherry, Justin: and I, Martin
f the e, matter ii,sd sufficient thought! !"
: Mrs "'ris Nn,t never do; II isn't expected
laugh, as they followed Peter into III
: empty Kitchen which smelled of dr.
h woods and drains. Dust was thick q
S angs aiong range, and one of his old whit
, Cherry's eyes were thoughtful, f,iie
n with look of pain. 1t was true ,J qirl
" didn't think anything about it. 81"
n lash thnS expected of them. And vet, /
her ' 70 very c9r IiT%1ms' her father had urge
e masn IN that feather Drained IIttl
= head OF hers In those days,
n woro words seemed to have no meaning. q
/, mere Were transmuted into different mean
= mad asked her to wait, wait Int;i oh
Y was 10 Nineteen had seemed old the,
!. Sne mad felt that at 10 she would hay
h y rm1Teiy delayed the great joy of life fo
n nSmnt V,dIt.'s al ~ she would be only $
oent upon this marriage.
S 2hd teter was there then. was comm
e ana going advising and teasing her
S So SO near, go accessible, loving her eve
" gagement might as easily-and no,
G much more wisely have been vii
o Peter y the presents. the gowns III
. Wedding would have been the same
d tier Te childish egotism; the rest how dii
L
instead Of darkness. joy instead of pair
r dignity and development and increas
t ing content instead OF all the months q
c restless criticism and doubt and dist
h ,usionment. The very scene here, vii
d Mrs. North and Alix, might easily hav
+ Deen, with Cherry as the wife OF Pete
G merry as her sisters hostess in tn
II mountain cabin
t At the thought her heart suffocate
: her' She stood dazedly looking out c
d the old kitchen window. and her sense
/. =, And Alix? Well. Alix might have bee
n Mrs. Lloyd, Martin had told her NOR
e than once that he had "a crush on Alb
e right off the bat! And Alix had like
a him. too-any girl would, like any ma
l. and environment. Alix would have mad
y Martin better wife; she would hav
y loved the mining towns, the muddy rail
n road stations, and the odd women Sh
$ would have had her dogs, perhaps
g child or two now. Anyway. ran Cherry
: home now, and that, to Alix would hav
It meant a very triumph OF JOY. She woul
t have to come to stay with Peter an
Cherry while 1t was put in order sh
a would have reveled In cows and duck
: Cherry, child, come and lend US
{; hand - Peter said. They were tryin
e to push aside the iceboX that blocke
t the unlocked kitchen door. Cherry wen
g TO them at once; the little word child
I danced in her heart all day, and warme
e II when she was lying walteful and rest
!. less deep into the summer night,
!, you and | must go away" sal
l, Peter. 81 can't stand it. love yol
e love you so dearly, Cherry. ] can
! think Of anything else any more more i,
d never happy any more. unless my arm
are about you. VIII you let me tax