Graham guardian., 1921-11-18

YES, I'm Golno NoWl" rio SAID.
rubbed her two hands together, and
came to the top Of the steps to say
good-by. And standing there, under
the rose tree, she linked her arm about
1t, looking up through the branches
where the shabby foliage Of last year
fingered.
How fast It's grown since that
terrific pruning we gave It all that
long time agol" she said.
little more than six years ago,
Cherryl" he reminded her.
"Only six years" She was OBJ
viously amazed. ut doesn't seem pos.
sible that ali this has happened In six
years! she exclaimed.
He did not answer. He had her
hand now for farewells, and perhaps,
with the thought of those short six
years nad come also the thought that
this slender figure In the housewifely
blue linen. this exquisite little head.
so trim and demure despite all Its
rebel tendrils Of gold, this lovely face.
still the face OF child, with a child's
trusting, upllfted eyes. might have
been his. The old home might have
been their home, and perhaps--who
knows, there might have been a new
Cherry and new Peter beginning to
look eagerly out at life through the
screen Of the old rose vinel
Too late now. A single instant Of
those lost years might have brought
him all this, but there was no going
back. He put his arm about her, and
kissed her forehead, and said: "God
bless you, Cherry"
God bless you, dearr she an
swered gravely. She watched the tall
figure, with its little limp and with
the dog leaping and circllng about 1t
In ecstasy, until the redwoods closed
around him. Then she took up the
broom again, and slowly and thought
fully crossed the old porch, and shut
the door.
Peter, walking with long strides,
and with furrowed brow and absent
eyes, crossed the village, and climbed
once more the old trail that led up TO
the cabin.
II was busted, orderly, complete; he
and Alix might have left II yesterday.
kow bad seen him coming, 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 pushed open the swinging
door between the pantry and the sit. |
ting room, and came In, q question In |
his bright eyes, his great plumy tail |
beating the floor as he lay down at
Peters side. Presently the dog laid |
his nose on Peters knee and poured
torih n faint sound that was not quite 1
whine, not quite sigh, and rose
restlessly, and went to the closed door
of Alix's room, and paved 1t. his eager
nose to the threshold.
mot here, old fellowr Peter said,
'troklng the silky head under his
land
He had not been in this room since
he day OF her death. II struck him
rs strangely changed, strangely and
,eartrendIngly familiar. The windows
we're closed, as Alix had never had
hem closed, winter or summer, rain
" sunshine. Her books stood In their
Nd order, her students Shakespeare,
md some Of her girlhood's books,
Little Women" and Uncle Max" In
he closet, which exhaled a damp and
woody smell, were one or two OF the
hats he had so often
cen her crush carelessly on her dark
air, and the big belted coat that was
3 plain as his own, and the big boots
he wore when she tramped about the
'oultry yard, still spattered with pale,
ry mud. Her fathers worn little Bl.
lie lay on the table, and beside II an.
ther book, Duck Raising for the
larket," with the marks Of muddy
nd inealy hands still lingering on It's
over.
Suddenly, evoked by these silent
illnesses TO her busy and happy life,
be whole woman seemed to stand be-