Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-16
SIS TIE X S
Ru KATHLEEN NORRIS
fT4i.yja
, Author of "Josseipn's Wne'
ocooyrisht, 1919, by Kathleen Norris.)

and Cherry" Peter answered, yes air,
ny ,George,-tts perfectly clear! He
bn," bIs receint ~ piaciK-9yery cent OF II, and got
morrow. This calls of his suit
Really, Pete - Alix asked, with dane
,ng eyes And 1t means that you can
keep the old house, Cerise," she cx-
together part Of the year anyway! oh.
come on, everybody, and sit down. and
| lets talk and talk about II! Let me
see it agatn--'in recognition Of all claims
mentioned down, Pete, It's only
10 o'clock! Let's talk. Aren't you
simply wild with JOY, Cherry|'
But she told Peter later that she had
been surprised at Cherrys uuietness
Cherry had looked pale and distracted,
ana had not seemed half enthusiastic
enough.
Though very probably" mused Aiix.
IT brought back dads death. and sad.
dened her In that way, and more than
mat ] know she Is worried all the
time about feeling as she does toward
mining scheme Cherry is not mer-
cenary, I'll say that for her"
What will you do with all yours?"
| Peter asked.
~ wish we three could 90 about the
world together" Alix answered. ia
love to see Japan and India-ld like
70 see ourning-ghats on the sacred
GunSa !" she added, cheerfully. But
! don't know-money doesn't buy you
some old ladies' home, and give eacn of
the old girls 800 a quarter-wouldn't
they have fun, buying scarfs and wool
Their families would Immediately re-.
move them, for the revenue Peter
suggested. He was grinning at her he
felt suddenly the wholesomeness and
safety Of her absurdity and originality.
He liked the characteristic earnestness
with which, In the very act of swapping
off her bedroom light before going out
TO the sleeping porch. she widened her
eyes at him, and frowned In concen-
trated thought.
Then III give them $50 a quarter !"
she decided. "Just enough to buy them
some little things. you know. brass tea
kettles, flannel underwear, whatever
they wanted! Presents-they must al
ways want to be making Christmas pres,
ents." And she yawned again. shut
your door. Pete. II you read" she said;
"'rhe light shines against the trees, and
it's right In my eyes But ten MN
utes later he heard her call through
the door, "Or I could give 1t on condi.
ton that they stayed in the home and and
didn't let their families get IT, and
grnned again over his book.
After that there was silence. and
gradually the little sounds OF the sum
mer night made themselves heard again
Alix's light was out. Cherry came
trailing her thin wrapper, to the porch
bed opposite her sisters bed and slippeo
into il with only brief good might
But Peter read on deep into the hrs'
hours of the morning. ~
Kow Yu. finging the striped BLU
tablecloth over the porch table the mex
day at the noon hour. ana c,nkn,
knifes and forks, was questioned by hi
} master. x,u,r
Peter said. ~
missy no come" Kow answered. un
ruffled Him say no can come ,,.
Cherry" Peter shouted. DID All
say she wasn't coming to lunch. ..,
"N-n-not to me! !" Cherry answere'
from the garden. She came up to IN
porch, with her hands full OF snort
; stememed roses.
Him go fend house" Kow eluoidated
Did she stay at Mrs. Garvins 10
, lunch? Perhaps it's the Garvin baby,
she added to Peter "she said she wa
. going to stop In ~
: "Ill find out" Peter was consc
y that everything was beginning to trem
BILE and thrill again, as he went 70 IN
[ telephone, "why, yes," he said cominl
back to the porch. 1.-THE baby arrived jus
before she got there and they were a.
unset, she 5 III nPT blplS' " 'oS'S -
Says that she'll be home to supper. evei
!, II she goes back!
oh" Cherry said. In a small voice
She sat down at the table, and shoo,
r out her napkin. Peter sat down, too, ano
: as usual, served. Kow came and went
and a silence deepened and spread an'
3 grew more and more terrible every III
) slant.
It was a Sunday, foggy and overcast
but not cold. The vines ABOUT the pore
I ,l,,.y
ure among the bushes In the garden ~
: tie scarfs and wells OF fog were caught
I and from far across the ridge tho dron
, ing warning of the fog horn penetrated
at regular, brief intervals. ,
} Cherry" Peter said. suddenly. Wne, ,
, the silent meal was almost over. "wil
"Taik--?" she faltered. Her voic'
thlckened and stopped. "oh, l Woult
rather not" she whispered with
Listen, Cherry" he said. follow,ns
her to the wide porch rail. and STANDING
behind her as she sat down upon u
"G'm sorry! I'm Just as sorry as ! car
would like do think 1t would be wiser
Just toto look the matter squarel'
In the face. and--and perhaps discuss
for q few minutes, and then END H.
shs gave him a heetins glance 0N owe,
her shoulder, but she did not 60 awaE
and she turned to face him. although
| her troubled eyes we're still averted.
i Cherry" he said then. I'm as sur
prised as you are-l cant tel you a %ne,
tit, all happened sHt nta chest ant
with a grimly squared jaw looked OF
/ into the misty distance-"ft Is there
he finished. .A,.-od
"Oh, I'm so sorry" Cherry "hlSpereu
on a breath OF utter distress I'm s.
, sorry on, Peter, we never should hav'
lei II happon-our caring for each other
: we never should have allowed our
selves to think--to dreamer sucn
thing oh, Peter. I'm SO SICK aSo9H AIM, IT,
cherry added incoherentiy, with nlllh'
> ewes. I'm just sick about 1t ! know
r know that Alix would never have per
mitted herself to- know she Woulnn
, He was close to her, and now he lal'
his hand over hers. ,.o ,,vo,urtar
. iIy. II have always cared for you
> know it's madness-l know IT'S 100 iaT' ,J
> but I love every hair OF your beauu
+ fuI head Cherry-Cherry- o,
They had both gotten to their feet
and now she essayed to pass him. hsl
face white. her. cheeks blazing 1
, stopped her, and held ner close IN nv nv
arms, and after few seconds he teI
, her resisting muscles relax ana '"''
For full dizzy minute they ciuns
.. together arms locked hearts oeatns
madly and close, and lips meeting Asahh
and again. Breathless, Cherry wre'ie,,
ed herself free, and turned 70 crop pstood d
looking down upon her. About then
was the silence OF the dripping garas,n
all the sounds of the world came n'u"'eo
,, and dull through the thick mist ~,
Then Peter knelt down besce ne,
! chair and gathered her hands tosetneii
on his, and spent and silent. leaned