Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-12
SIS TER s
By KATHLEEN NORRIS
-u,s srAnrs THE STORY

tUs, Upe together IN the CdhVoTMd
Ansn,eeo,ods, and Peter joyce, meT
reiShoo, pc9sr Genes ,rop1%. @ms DGS &Ss smeartss
AlE aS scSoot books and sho,os them
Cherrys pntcy smiles at the old books
10 fesnaiIs cherry as chtld, "Ah-
ene an, ,,seonderjuI eyes even the~-he
muses.. sn HERE 1T CONTINUES
80, aa,e gave him moments shock.
hS ar,v eieht--only seven years ago
Ia oeen a schoolgirl! Cherry was
~. S vet twenty-three--
not ,,,h sbe had married q little DIFF
-" Alix said. thoughtfully.
ierens isn't exacting. But she does
"Cnel.s .,,v gowns and pretty rooms. and
nA' AZ things as other girls doE
10 .xou W. should have married the mining
u,neer" he told her. Red creek
enbm 's have had no terrors for you"
Wou, "r mould have loved 1t! she agreed,
carelessly. 80
she was smiling; but Immediately
.so smile faded. and she looked back al
.ss ere with puzzled eyes.
'rs loved q man, Peter. the place
.ho house and the money wouldn't
n.,,sr! much!' she answered after
wn,Is in a slightly strained voice.
"porbaps," he suggested. still think
g., ~ cherry, chats the trouble !"
she gave him q quick. almost fright
ened look.
"rbe-the troublef" she stammered
And with a little ashamed laugh she
aided. what trouble2"
For long time he looked at her In
.,ence. at first puzzled, gradually fitting
meaning and Interpretation to his words
and her own. Presently tnelr eyes met,
and with her little gruf boyish laugh she
came over to the low seat at his knee:
"you see that there is something just
little wrong, then?' she asked.
"Between you and me, Alix2" he ques-
,,oned In return, his fine hand tight
upon hers and his affectionate. brotherly
look searching her face.
well. don't you, Peter?' she coun-
3'TH q hadn't noticed anything. my dear,
except that you are making a lonely,
solitary man q very happy. one," he
answered, with his grave smile.
"But that" she contended, with
scarlet cheeks, but bravely that
what ought marriage be? he
smiled half humoring her, half con-
cerned.
For answer she looked keenly, almost
vistfully, into his face. He had noticed
this look more than once of late:
q while, with little discouraged shrug
Of her shoulders. II always thought
that when a man and a woman liked
each other-oh, thoroughly-liked. the
same things, had everything in COM
mon, that that was enough. And-fol
have been enough, Peter" she added in
a puzzled tone.
that's it." she agreed. I'm not the
same woman. couldn't. as a girl, esti.
mate what life was going to be as 9
wife"
perhaps no girl oan." he suggested
well, that's just what I'm thinking
Peter!" she smiled, a little ruefully. And
again she gave him the look that was
new, that was not all timid nor wistfu
nor MOI sSlsa appealing S, yet somehow partook o.
nothing can change you." she elucidatet
further, "and you are perfectly sure OF
yourself, from your old standpoint. Ant
then the-well the mental and spiri
tual and physical miracle OF marriage
does change you. and 1t is as II you had
entered into a contract for a totally
strange woman!'
She was so intent. SO bright ant
earnest, as she turned q flre-f1ushet
iace TO his, that he felt an odd moisture
pricking his eyes.
.vbsr0 Alis;n so he, he IS, said. affectionately
t3r moment she was silent, he,
bright eyes fixed on his. Gradually the
serious look on her face lightened' ant
ner customary smile twitched at the
corners OF her mouth.
sion, !" married ARR % you i under a misapprehen;
about 5000 a year! 1t appears Ha that YoS YoT
nave. nave more than that every month";
every week, for all I know-"
hou knew my mother had that old
1 raeinc avenue place - he answered with
coIEsefn. coIvsd II never for one second de.
On: you IDIOT" Alix laughed. ~
cont mind being rich at all, I like Il.
DON'T want to live in the city, or join
womens clubs. and all that, but like
haVing s my own checkbool<-truly, do
tas tor all the silver and portraits and
sosa. oss ana Nl, things, why, we may like them
He was not listening to her; there
was & sorry look in his eyes.
.voY you Know, Alix." he said, suddenly.
me- I never had any woman near me
pefore. and to hear your voice about the
house. and your piano, and your laugh
why, It's wonderful to me. I've been
o,,, sone mere so many. years. not knowing
you've brought it ali to me. Why, even ven
have Mrs Florence at the postoffice
ask me for Mrs. Joyce gives me a
warm, happy sort Of feelingI Il" he
sroked the smooth hand under his own
mere was real emotion in his voice, "I'd
70 a good deal to show you how CRATE
VI am, old girl" he finished. II wish
ou could tell me where I fall and ia
move ,yr, heaven and earth to please you !"
r,1dt The point is," Alix said, with her
a.sSneyous basSn N,Da smile: as she twisted the
NOV l don't flush with delight when
ou give me a smile, and tremble with
ear at your, frown! I know that the
mel Of my hair doesn't make you turn
ale' and the touch of my hand make
Nad vI ainzy' There's no fury, fire. and
ts,n she laughed, and he laughed. too, a
lttle reproachfully.
You never will be serious for more
nan two minutes, Alexandra, my child p
Alix did not answer. She sat staring
the fire for another minute or two,
no her eyes frightened childishly, had
put seen them. But she did not give
rotner look at him. With a great fling
ween two elbows for second. tousled
er hair, and yawned.
I'm going to bed !" she announced.
m so glad I married a man who is
ecustomed to banking the fire and
pening windows and putting out lamps
very niPht. YOU" she had reached the
oor OF their. room now. and already
ne silky braids were freed. and tumbled
bout her shoulders, you spoil me,
ete she said, between them "Our
arrlage may be different. but 1t has
good points I"
The familiar little answer came con-
uently. He heard her humming as she
naressed in a shaft of moonlight; she
as never serious long.
one May day they were picnicking In
le big forest 1t was day of spongy
tn breezes, blue of sky and still cold
The shade if Il wa o haa uanl.. ,ua nm