Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-20
SIS TERS
BuKATHLEEN NORRIS
Author of "JosseIyn's Wife"
(Copyrisht. 1919. by Kathleen Norris)

rupteu ner. Inc hour that makes YOU
NINE. Cherry. MI be the exquisite hour
They were silent for n while. and be-
low them the white moonlight deepened
and frightened and swan like an en-.
chantment.
"If you will face IT," Peter said.
presently. II will give every instant Of
.I know you will" she said, dreamily.
cutlery There will be no coming back.
"oh, I know thatr'
There can't ever be-there mustn't
be--you've thought OF that?" he said,
uncertainty. In the curious, unreal light
that flooded tho world. he saw her turn,
and caught the CLEAN Of her surprised
eyes: ..-'
=, You mean chIldrsn--a childg' she
sad ssn snrprisedly. Why not. Peter,
could be more wonderful than that we
should have a child? Can you ina gine
a napier environment FOR a child than
tnat little slinshiny, woodsy beach cot
.age: can't you see the little figure
pering ahead Of us through the country
roads. or around the fre2 oh, can."
sald Cherry, her extraordinary voice
rIch and sweet with longing, II can |!
Ihat would be motherhood, Peter. that
wwouiont be like having baby whose
marriage or no marriager'
And as he watched, amazed at the
E,nnanse that love had brought to quiet.
earnestly:
I've been thinking how bitter It was,
ireeter. TO have the greatest thing In
lately-just this last hour les come to
me that II is right-it's best to have
u so. We give all the world UP, and
We get only each other, and yet how
nttie it seems to give, and how much
minute will hold more Joy than we've
ever known! / couldn't" she added,
suddenly grave, "I c6uldnt take you
from any one who loved as I do;
couldn't hurt any one, TO be happy But
AK Wiil forgive US, you'll see she will
sorry for me-" Cherry unused. She'll
only think me mad to disgrace the good
name Of Strickland; she'll think we're
poth crazy. Perhaps she'll plunge into
the orphanage work. or perhaps she'll
go on here. gardening, playing with
Buck. raising ducks-she says herself
that she has never known what love
means-says II really meaning II. yet
as II the whole subject was a joke-a
weakness -
Is the most generous woman in the
world" Peter said, slowly. Anyway
we can't stop now! We can't stop now
II will take me only few days now to
close everything up, to arrange matters
so that she shall have plenty of money.
of my mothers estate at long range.
Spencer will attend to the rents. mall
me quarterly checks; the whole thing
is simple. And ] will let you know"
1T all seems SO unreal J" Cherry said.
with her heart beginning to hammer
with excitement. TT doesn't seem as II
It was you and me. Peter. shall not
need a trunk; I shall buy new things
II will be a new life"
There is the steamer line that goes to
lieve that is the solution he added,
with a Frightening face Nobody you
know goes there on It; It leaves daily
at II. and gets into Los Angeles the fol-
lowing morning. From there
IT don't know anybody there" Cherry
you wouldn't see anybody anyway.
From there we can get drawing-room
to New Orleans: that's only day and
a half more and we can keep to our
selves II by any unlucky chance there
should be any one we know on the
(which isn't likelyr
(which isn't likely! Then at New
orleans we go either to tho Zone. or TO
South Americs or & to any any one ve OF l,Ks tne
by water. BY that time we will be lost
as completely as if we had dropped into
tho sea
thing Is you're to-. toH pretty, s,,,i, to 80 quite
He saw smile flicker OF her face In
the moonlight, but when she spoke. 1t
was with almost fearful gravity:
You arrange It. Peter. and somehow
I'll go. I'll write Alix-I'll tell her that
ha' I'm mad and WHARF
she's strong, I'm weak And well
weather It, dear. and we'll find our
selves somewhere. alone, with AL the
golden, beautiful future before US. But,
mustn't be alone again-you mustn't
kiss me again! Will you promise meT'
AS stirred as she was. he gathered
her little fingers together. and kissed
hem,
"I'll promise anything"
'I'll make It up to you" Cherry said.
With Il sort of feverish weariness. I'm |
Ill confused and frightened now only |
want It somehow-somehow. to be over
want you to take me away some
We was clasping resting on his breast,
md her fower-like face raised to his.
take me somewhere. and take care OF
ne! I only want your
Cherry. my darling-my dearest !"
Peter said. II will take care OF you:
Snly G trust st me for o. ,,, few days more and and
'ou put It all out Of your mind, and run
n and 60 to bed. You're exhausted.
nd IL Alix gets the o'clock train she
will be here in a few minutes. I'll
Sander down the road little way. and
Goodnight !" she breathed, and he
aw the white gown flicker against the
oft light on the -lawn. and saw the
lack shadow creeping by IT, before she
nent that seemed actually to consume
er, Cherry lived through the next three
avs. Alix noticed her mood, and asked
Ier more than once what caused Il
mile with eyes % full Of pain, % ana t,uttsr
way. She was we'll, she was quite all
light. only she-she was afraid Martin
'ould summon her soon-and she didn't
'ant to go to him!
,Alix was puzzled, watching her sister
nth anxious eyes. The cleaning and
eeding rapidly. and Alix feared that
ne constant memory OF the old times
'ould be too much for Cherry. She
lied to induce her to rest, to spend this
lock, but Cherry gently but irreslstibly
sfused. Her one hope was to be busy.
} tire her brain and body before night.
Suspecting something gravely amiss.
lix tried to win her confidence regard;
g Martin, But briefly, quickly, and
ith b sort of affectionate and apologetic
npatience, Cherry refused to discuss
m. =
II shall not 20 back to him" she said.
'eathing hard. and withf'lhe air OF
ling than what she was saying. She
I'd Alix were dusting the books In
cir fathers old library. and arrang-
g them on the shelves, on quiet Sep
mber morning.
But, Cherry, dear, you we're saying
'sterday that you dreaded his sending