Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-13
"IIaven'tr Alix asked, in ouIck :,

nosseu ana crept between the cooi
sheets Of the bed that stood near Alix's
on the wide sleeping porch. Her last
thought was for the heavenly redwoods
50 close to her; :; she slept. indeed for
almost twelve unbroken hours.
She came wandering out to the porch |
at II o'clock, the old, smiling, apologetlc
Cherry, with her skin dewy from bath,
and her corn-colored hair freshly
brushed, and her linen gown as pink as
the Perkins rose that was blooming over
'.'oh. sis, do feel SO deliciously lazy
and happy and rested and---and every |
thing " said Cherry. as she settled her
self at the porch table where service for J
You remember everything" she added, |
with look all affectionate appreciation.
AK, painting from exertions In the gar
den, dropped, trowel In hand, upon the |
Alix said. cycling the white hands SO
busy with blue china, and the bright |
head dappled with shade and sunshine
coming through the green rose vine.
Am IT. Cherry said pleased. II
thought myself that looked nice this
morning" she added. innocently. But
X Is really because the air of this
place agrees with me, II makes my skin
feel right and my eyes feel right; 1t
somehow" And Cherry looked down at
the green and glitter of the valley
looked up past solemn files of redwoods
AT the mountain, cameo-cut this morning
great sigh Of content that seemed to go
from her heels to the crown of her head
nave never been really we'll and
really happy anywhere else !" she de-
ciared, out of deep peace and content.
like IL" Alix agreed, rubbing some
dried mud from the back of her hand
with the trowel. Peter and I are al
ways deciding to try New York, or to
MIA, but somehow we don't! IL Martin
continues to migrate every little while,
! ! wish you could have a little house
mere: mere Then for part of the time at least
we could be together"
| :, Inc old house." Cherry said, dream
| Well, why notT Alix echoed, eager
| y. Its In pretty bad shape. after be-
ing empty 80 long. but 1t would make
| object? ''''
The old spoiled Cherry. with the
pretty petulant frown and shrug of
years years age Martin knows what he
couid DO she drawled, naughtily.
| Martin would be here-some OF the
timer Alix asked, a little anxiousiy.
, Cherry hlled her coffee cup a second
time. gave Row an appreciative smile
and said indifferently
| Martin has a constitutional objec-
tlon alon TO whatever pleases me, and would
ma some objection to any plan that
gave me pleasure! Her tone was light,
iips @ as snerS sho was asa, bitter twitch to her
..0h, Cherry" Alix said, distressed.
NJ, However. I'm not going to talk about
Martin J" the younger sister decreed,
happy!" '"N "''o'o'e''
| There was worried little cloud on
hfii*s AZ forehead. but 1t lightened stead
10y; as the happy morning wore on, and
nan, ma,I an nour later. when she and Cherry
h,s', Mere ssaaiilng sauna frog on a shingle, on the
puy pmsy little stream that poured down the
MI near the cabin. both were Laughing
like children again. e"e
| ,t was here that Peter found Cherry.
h,S hjn, mad met him at the house. given
Kiss, questioned him about his trip and
garden. civ
And now come down to the creek"
sne an had said. mischievously. THE
Not Alice BatesT he had asked,
quickly, and at her apologetic nod he
added disgustedly: "oh. thunder!"
| on. don,t-sheIl hear you !" said the
as he crossed the porch. were gloomy
breath. '''
They followed a rough little trail past
stumps where nasturtiums and alyssum
mingled with the underbrush. and were
In the redwoods, and at brooksde Peter
saw a slender, girl in pink pushing
plank about with pole. She turned In
surprise to face him.
Cherry" he said. and as Alix laugh
and said. you liar!"
| Cherry came up to him. and he took
both her hands and after second Of
hesitation kissed her. She freed one
/ n nd 70 HI aHA
standing 30. she seriously returned his
kiss. For a moment his arm encircled
her waist; he had forgotten how blue
her eyes were. with Just a film of corn
what husky. exquisite. childish notes
We're In her voice.
| "Cherry-this is the incest thing that
has happened for long. long while"
"You and AIix are angels to let me
and with laughter and eager, Interrupted
| talking went back to the house.
And how do you think your big sis
"oh. Alix is wonderful! !" Cherry said
Indeed she had been looking at Alix
with secret surprise and admiration
| since her arrival. Alix had always been
different from Cherry. but in her ow,:
had but one expensive waist, but one
beautiful gown, but two or three elab-
crate sets of filmy lingerie. accumu-
| lated slowly and laundered by herself
| when she washed her silk stockings.
Alix., like child, changed her fresh,
| simple linen every day. jumped from one
crisp tub suit to another, wore untrtm-
| med straw hats that she bought in the
village for fifty cents apiece.
Alix apparently never considered the
relation of her clothing to her own per-
| sonality; she simply chose the simple
colors and styles she liked, and aspired
| only to be always fresh and trim.
So with her house. She did not have
| one or two priceless tablecloths to be
| used on occasions with satin underlaid.
and crystal and cutglass her china was
| all used every day, and her table linen
cheap and plentiful and lavish. Meals
| were always simple and hearty and de-
| licious but Alix had not time for fancy
| touches: hated, as she frankly admt-
ted. "all that stuffed celery and chob-
ped nut and halved cherry business II
| soup isn't good without whipped cream
and sherry in It, it's pretty poor soup"
Cherry had laughed at her. even years
ago, for her point of view. but some
times she had felt 1t to be almost an ad-
vantage. At all events, she had not
been twenty-four hours In Alix's house
without perceiving that her sister was
singularly free and unruffied. unlike the
| women of her generation. Alix. did not
put all the time she saved to good use,
| although she puttered away In the gar.
| den, spent an hour or two each day at
the piano. and was. as she confded to
| Cherry, writing a novel. But she was
always gay and always fresh. and en-
| joyed every moment of the day.
| Four years younger, yet Cherry felt
| older than she. Alix's nature was un-
| complicated by any CONSEQUENCES OF
self. Again like child. she only wanted
people to love each other and be happy,
| and that the sin should SHINE, She was