Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-06
SISTERS
BuKATHLEEN NORRIS
Author of "Josselyn's wife"
(Copyright, 1919. by Kathleen Norris)


When Alix was gone, and the doctor
wandering happily about the garden. II
oon't know what we'd do IL any one ever
usurped our places here "
She had said II deliberately; the fas-
cination Of her recent discovery was too
denly. For full minute he did not
speak, and Cherry was surprised to hnd
herself a little thrilled and even fright
ened by his, silence.
What put that into your head7"- he
asked. presently, smoking with his eyes
fixed upon the valley far below.
"Just--being here" she answered And
as he glanced over his shoulder he met
her smile,
you've been here a thousand times
without ever paying me compliment
he reminded her.
Cherry considered this, her brows
drawn q trife together.
Perhaps" she offered, presently,
'it's because there are 30 many changes,
Peter: my marriage, Annes--every-
thing different It just came to me
that It is nice to have this always the
same"
deliberately. Cherry's look Of elaborate
surprise and pleasure died before his
serious glance. She was silent for
moment.
a low, thoughtful tone. trembling, eager
to preserve his mood without a false
note
'"T have" he answered simply.
Cherry's heart jumped with a sudden
pleasure, not all surprise-surely there
could be no jealousy mixed with her
feeling for Peters plans2 But she was
dazed with the rush of feeling; hurt IN
some fashion she could not stop to dis,
sect now. only this morning she had
felt that Peter was not good enough
for Alix now, suddenly, he began to
seem admirable and dear and unlike
"And she said nor" she stammered
"She said no. Or. at least, I intimated
that / was a lonely old affectionate
man with this and that to offer. and
Il fee was 'e" ai he se"f iaushedm as 1t s %ss ali
extremely sketchy!
Peter. but what does she want7"
There was actual sisterly Indignation In
Cherry's tone.
"oh, Alix is quite right =" he answered,
lightly. IT ought to have said-I ought
to explain-that I had told her, only a
| few days previously, that had always
loved somebody else"'
| "Oh-h-hn" Cherry was enlightened.
She visualized an affair In the last
years Of the old century for Peter. "Oh,
and-and she didn't love your" Cherry
asked
| Inc lauy! Sno was unfortunately
married before l had chance to ask
"oh-h-hw Cherry said again, i'm
pressed, "and you'll never get over lt?"
she asked. timidly. Peter. never knew
that !" she added as he was silent
"Does--does dad know
Nobody knows but Alix. and she only
| knows the bare facts" he assured her.
"Oh" Cherry could think Of nothing
to add to the sympathetic little mono
yun
the hilltop, the canyons were filling with
| violet shadows; the sweet, pungent odor
Of the first dew, falling on warm dust,
crept across the gsrden.
Alix from the warm darkness inside the
smells utterly grand"
That's the chicken thing! !" Peter
shouted back. springing up to disappear
In the direction of the bathroom. Cherry
sat on, silent, wrapped still in the new
spell of the pleasant voice, the strangely
appealing and yet masterful personality.
me dinner struggled as all Peters 6
Ing Peter himself flashed in and out of
the tiny, hot kitchen a hundred times.
kow. in Immaculate linen, came back
and forth in leisurely table setting
crisp, smoking-hot French loaf the big,
brown jar of bubbling and odorous
chicken, the lettuce curled In It's bowl,
the long-necked bottles in their straw
cases, and cheeses and crackers and
marrons in futed paper that were a
part of all Peters dinners
After dinner they watched the moon
rise until Alix drifted In to the piano
came in, too, to sit beside the fire. AS
usual 1t was midnight before any one
thought OF ending one of Peters eve
nings.
And all through the pleasant, quiet
hours. and when he bundled them up
| In his own big loose coats to drive them
nome, Cherry was thinking Of him in
this new light; Peter loving woman,
| and denied. The knowledge seemed to
fling strange glamour about him: she
| saw new charm in him, or perhaps. as
she told herself, she say for the first
time how charming he really was. His
for the stammer at which they had all
laughed years ago the slight limp lent
it's own touch Of individuality, and the
mans blunt criticisms of books and mu:
| by his humor, his genuine humility. and
his eager hospitality.
Next day she took occasion 70 mention
Peter and his affairs, to Alix: Alix
"If he considers that an offer. he can
consider 1t a refusal, I guess" she said,
boyishly embarrassed. II like him
I'm crazy about him. But I don't want
any party in rnglets and crinolines TO
come floating from the dead past over
| my child's innocent cradle--
"Alix, you're awful" Cherry laughed:
You couldn't talk that way If you loved
him.
What way?" Alix demanded,
ooh, about his-well, his children !"
"I should think that would be just the
proof that I do love. him." Alix persisted
idly in her musical. mischievous voice:
II certainly wouldn't want to talk OF
the children of a man ] didn,t
IT suppose / do. I suppose I ought
to be a mass of bushes. The truth Is,
/ like kids, and l don't like husbands-'
you don't know anything about hus-
| bands - Cherry laughed.
II know lots of men I'd like to 60 of
with for few months" Alix pursued;
I don't see why that isn't perfectly rea-
S''TV "Well, it's not" Cherry declared al
most GROSSLY; That isn't nr,nG marriageGi !. age
you--you are always glad to be with
but suppose you get tired of him, like
job or SSaGs!ng hSssS' Gs any idy %
chsrrT mMS SAID. you feeSly Se" AK iet her have
the last word; 1t was only due 10 her
superior experience, she thougns H, %oss- Sr0ss-
ful, and thinking that she would mss mss
dear old Cherry tomorrow. she tancleu
she heard something like sob from
Cherry's bed. and her whole ole nesrs sester so''-
They came downstairs together tne
next day in midafternoon. both hattea
and wrapped for the trip, FOR feter "as iIs
to take Cherry as far as SaIsrr,o fSrtuOate re-
chonca was TO meet them there at the