Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-23
-r,nra THE STORY

Joguv,y cherry, tnhdppy, ~. a., io,,e
COZ u1 ppct,r loves. her dna ~. N ne
ss ,sIts nm e"sa a., %@sn ss. &c consents. a Alter
o,cav ppncats ppn haze been made and
oil drTa"y,rs drTaay,o,ers are toditfn0, A We qMes-
pMls VIC .ister about her married NE,
tons n.,bsr ~, or not she really tntend8
ana Src Martin. her hnsodna. Che,Jp
n,s peter plan 20 e.opr .o,pr ryn ThsrrT ~, l.
but on ' Confronted by Martin. She
suade,"y ,i,,, thgt she cannot return toth
teHs III disaoreeir1, AliD noets them
MN awa, .ss fhe condition. Theu vtsit
ane ia house and AHn suggests mut
IN Tss,gT v and Martin oooupy u, o". nh ng.
dn0s,s" crydeiy declines saying, ~
Jonf IKE MN Udlley"
90" ,xp HERE 1T CONTINUES
,,,,y tasted despair. Small hope oil
"A nreserying this particular relation
a., He was. as Cherry had said. I'm
possible" 49,, III.
"Well we must try to make you like
um valley betterv' she said, with reso-
,n,s eood.nature. "Of course, 1t means
II, N Cherry and to me to be near
each other"
aThat may be true, too" Martin
,rroed. taking the front seat again for
,hs drive home. He told Cherry later
tns, he liked Alix, and Alix was inter-
.sted enough In keeping him happy to
ael,berately play upon his easily touched
.sif.conadence. She humored him,
laughed at his Jokes, asked him the
ousstIons that he was able to answer,
and loved to answer.
She was surprised at Cherry's passiv-
,ty and silence. but Cherry was wrapped
IN a sick and nervous dream, unable
either to interpret the present or face
the future with any courage. Before
luncheon he had followed her into her
room, and had put his arm about her.
But she had quietly shaken him off, with
the nervous murmur: "Please--no. don't
kiss me, Martini!
Stung, Martin had Immediately drop.
ped his arm, had shrugged his shoulders
indifferently, and laughed scornfully.
Now he remarked to Alix, with some
bravado:
you girls still sleeping out?"
"Oh always--we all dow Alix had
answered, readily. Peter has an extra
bunk on his porch, Cherry and I have
my porch But you can be out or in, as
you choose 7"
Martin ventured an answer that made
Cherry's eyes CLINT angrily. and brought
quick, embarrassed flush to Alix's
face. Alix did not enjoy a certain type
OF Joking, and she did not concede Mar
medlately sobered. and remarked that
he himself liked to be indoors at night.
His suitcase was accordingly taken into
the pleasant little wood-smelling room
next to Peters. where the autumn sun
light, scented with the dry sweetness
OF mountain shrubs. was streaming.
He began to play solitaire. on the
porch table, at s, and Kow had to dis.
turb him to set 1t for dinner at T. Alix
was watering the garden, Cherry was
dressing. 1t was an exquisite hour of
long shadows and brilliant lights; bees
from Alix's hives went to and fro, and
the air was full and fragrant, as II a
through II. ~
Kow had put a tureen of soup on
the table, and Alix had returned with
damp, clean hands and trinity brushed
hair for supper. when Peter came up
through the garden. Cherry had rambled
moments before, but Martin had fol-
lowed her and brought her back, re-
marking that she had no idea of the
time, and was idly watching Antoine
milking. She slipped into her place after
p'y were all eating and hardly raised
addressed her she fluttered the white
,ldS as II 1t were an absolute agony to
ook up; to Peter she did not speak at
gu. But to Martin she sent an occasion
answer. and when the conversation
Jagged, as It was apt to do In this COM
4
dom remarks infinitely less reassuring
than silence,
How long do we stay. here?" Martin
cautiously asked his wife. when after
dinner Peter could be heard in the
kitchen interrogatlng Kow. and when
s.ppuhdinE steadily from the other end of
Stay here?" she echoed. at loss.
Yes" he answered. decidedly. II can
stand little OF It, but I don't think
much of this sort of life thought
ner and the theatre tomorrow or Sat
beat It."
Monday" Cherry's heart bounded
MY idea was you to come up with
ne snt,. Martin continued. well see the
ioiks IN Portland"
w. Martin. isn't 1t a mistake to. go on
Ppretending-" she began bitterly But
,reters voice. in the drawing room. in.
!errupted her. "I'l let you know-we'll
.alk about it !" she had time to say, hur-
a,y' Haeu.y' before he came out to them. He
nn muns himself into chair. Martin at
%hic, VaTe opened general conversation, in
winch AK still diligently watering. was
p'sTnuehtly near enough to take part
Inc evening dragged Alix had sug-
ssested bridge. but Martin did not play
gr,uSe' gran so she presently scattered ana
grams over the table. reminding Peter
y, some OF their battles with word-mak-
t nau half-hearted game. in which Mar
Se,,hWed All showed no interest at all, and Peter
oen6Derately missed chances to score.
Ill, auX glanced furtively at her wrist
sIch II was twenty minutes of 10. AS
tha tShartan an hung himself into a chair beside
~ ttsars, she went to the piano. and began
10, tanole through various songs. hoping
. .mat somebody would start to sing, or
suggest favorite, or in some way help
atmosphere.
Cherry, and Peter. left at the table.
SSIu speak to each other; Peter leaned
nnaacK IN his chair. with a cigarette
IitmWeIry dreamily pushed to and fro the
'',1e wooden block letters.
r, nut presently her heart gave a great
b,unse, and although she did not alter
her different attitude. or raise her eyes,
n,L rer white hand moved with directed I'M
muo' wu,se' and Peters casual glance fell
upon the word Alone"
th Wnen he laid his finished cigarette in
sn,s uay, II was to finger the letters him
seiI, IN turn, and Cherry realized with
a great thrill OF relief that he was an
awerlng her Carelessly, and obliterating
1me word before he began another, he
morrow"
,roMIrtm MMartm always with me-" Cherry
spelled back She cid not glance at
trheter. but at Martin. who was watching
tn',a' ne nre' and at Alix, whose back was
po, come on. have another game ="
n,,icL, Cr asked. generally, while he spelled
possible day" " '"e0 '"''''s h's'
hlN, humming along with her song.