Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-02

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eyes. might have been his. The old home
might have been their home, and per.
haps--.who knows, there might have
pee, Deen new Cherry and a new Peter bs.
through the screen OF The old rose vine!
a., 100 late now. A single instant OF
those lost years might have bought him
az THIS, but there was no going beck
ne ne pu. ms arm about her, and Kissed
God bless you, dear % she answered
gravely She watched the tall figure,
Win It's little limp, and with the dog
until the redwoods closed around him,
Then she took UP the broom again, and
slowly and thoughtfully crossed the old
poroh, and ahut the door. u
,,,rt,e r,e'er, walking with long strides, and
crossed the, village, and climbed once
more the old trail that led up TO the
cabin. His great boots made simple
work , OF the muddy roads, his hands
low. The rain had stopped, but every
branch that hung down over his path, or
stretched ar arm to stop him, was
charged with water the creeks were
tween orumbllns banks with fresh
rushing sound that mingled with the
creaklng Of wet boughs and the wild
sprns sp enant OF the wind high UP In the
tops OF the redwoodB
Coming out OF the forest. on the ridge,
wnere the dim road ran under the scat
terod oaks, he saw the last OF the bat
.,e OF tne dying storm raging over the
valley below. Great masses OF cloud
were IN travail when the sun was hid
den' the world was wrapped in shade
and chill; when It burst forth, every
wet tree ana spear glistened and twin
fea the IN the noor OF warmth and light,
Jewels, and the great roadside rain pools
mashed back the azure OF the sky. The
| mountain was partly obscured by rap
| idiy shifting masses Of mist the air was
punaent ana seemed TO hum with
thousand tiny, electric voices.
| Already there was new grass show
ing tmld film Of emerald under the
Drown growth OF last year. While Peter
climbed, the good earth giving soddenly
under his feet, and grassrs tangling In
the clasps of his walking shoes the sun
blight conquered. the sky cleared, and
the last OF the storm drifted and spread
ana vanished In a bath of dazzling blue
5irds began to circle in brief flights ,
| Gloud shadows fell clear-cut on the wet,
DARK Hank OF the mountain and In the
saturated marshy spots, where a scum
| my green growth already was spread
oyer the crystal pools of the little hill
The roof of rGss ss te Msfe sSSan sSSn ana the
outbuildings smoked up into the pure
warm air the Jersey. placidly awaiting
her hour. looked at him with soft, great
eyes and Alix's chickens picked and
squawked on the steamng mound near
the stable Kow was hanging out the
Dlue elass-towels, everything--every-
things was as he had found It a hun
dred, n thousand, happy times!
Peter spoke to the Chinese and went
into the cabin. II was busted. orderly,
complete he and Alix might have left
IL yesterday Kow had seen him com.
ing. he thought. and had had time to
light the fire. which was blazing freshly
up to the chimney's great throat. He
sat down, staring at the flames.
Buck nushed open the swinging dooi
between the pantry and the sitting room
and came In, question In his brigh
sves. his great plumy tail beating th'
floor as he lay down at Peters side
Presently the dog laid his nose OH Peter
knee and poured forth a faint sount
that was not quite a whine, not quite
aigh, and rose restlesslv. and went t
the closed door Of Alix's room, ant
paved. paved IT, his eager nose to tn
mot here, old fellow I" Peter said
stroking the silky head under his hand
He had not been In this room sine
, the day. Of her death. 1t struck him a
strangely changed. strangely and heart
, rendingly familiar. The windows wer
closed, as Alix had never had then
closed. winter or summer, rain or sun
shine. Her books stood in their old or
der. her students Shakespeare. and som
OF her sirlhood's books, Little Women.
and Uncle Max" In the closet, whic
, exhaled damp and woody smell. wer
one or two OF the boyish-looklng hats h
, had 20 often seen her crush carelessl
coat that was as plain as his own, an
the big boots she wore when sn
; tramped about the poultry yard sti
r spattered with pale dry mud: lie lie
, fathers worn little Bible lay on IN
table. and beside II another book. DUO
Raising for the Market" with the mark
, OF muddy and mealy hands still linger
Suddenly. evoked by these silent wit
nesses to her busy and happy life. n
/ whole woman seemed ito stand besid
, Peter. tho tall, eager, vital woman wn
had been at home here. who had rule
: the cabin with splendid and yitai per
! sonality. He seemed to feel her nea
, him again. TO see the interested eyes
the high cheekbones touched with scar
let, the wisp OF hair that would fa'
across her face sometimes when she wa
, deep in baking. or preserving. or pouIlr:
farming. and that she would brush ava:
; with the back Of an impatient hand, ohi.
TO have It slip loose again. :.
I One Of her kitchen aprons. caught II
the current of air from the opened door
blew about on Its hook
, He remembered her. on many "intr;
|
| apron, radiantly busy and brisk In ne
kitchen, stirring and chopping, movinl
J constantly between stove ana tapie
. with strong hands still showing trace
of -four she would come to sit beside hin
at the piano. to play duet with ne
, characteristic dash and finish. only I
, Jump up In sudden conjunction, with a
: exclamation: "Oh. my ducks-rd for
gotten them! oh. the poor litt'
wretches "
I And she would be gone. leaving
e streak OF wet. fresh air through IN
= warm house from the open door, an
7 he would perhaps glance from windo'
! 10 zee her. roughly coated and booted
. plowing about her duck yard. delvin
! into barrels of grain, turning
: faucets, WELDING a stubby old broom
!, She loved her life he unused, with
= bitter heartache. as he stood here In ne
= | empty room Sometimes he had ma
: yeled at the complete and unquestlonin
,: Joy she had brought to It, Books, pu'
: ales, music, and fires sufiiced her In IN
few hours that she ever spent in he
!, had the kitchen and the farmyard. an
Q the world out OF doors, the oaks and tn
grass, the great stretches of dim fores
= the muddy trails the blowing airs o
: the crest OF the ridge that made he
. shout and stagger In their wild OF
2 slaught. Peter reminded himself tha
! never In their years together had
|, , heard her complain about anything, o
= seem to feel bored or at loss,
We've always thought of Cherry a
4 the child !" he thought. But II wa
: she, Alx, who was the real child. Sh
a never grew up. She never entered int
r the time of moods and self-analysis an
n jealousies and desires She would hay
e played and picnicked all her life"