The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-10-29

scious, knew his life, 1anguidly smiled at her, thanked the doctors for oc- ts caS1onal ease from pain
 N"Peter-Tm sorry. It's terrible for you-terribIei" he said in his new, hoarse, gentle voice, when he first saw Peter. They marveled among them selves that he knew that Alix was gone. But to Cherry. in one of the long hours that she spent sitting be- side him and holding his big, weak. strangly white hand, he explained one day 'I knew she killed" he said, out of a silence. ''I- thought we both were!"
 How did she ever happen to do it ?,' Cherry said. ''She was always so sure of hersef-even when she drove fast!'' "I don't know" he answered. "It was all like a flash, of course! never watched her drive-I had such ! confidence in her!" His interest dropped; she saw that the tide of pain was slowly rising | again, and glanced at the clock. It was two; he might not have relief | until four. In his own eyes she saw | reflected the apprehension of her own You might ask Peter to play some of that - that ranably stuff he was Cherry, only too happy to have him | want anything, to have him helped by | anything, flew to find Peter. Busy l with one of the trays that were really | beginning 10 interest and please the | | invalid now, she told herself that the | | house was a different place, now that
 one nurse was gone the doctors com | ing only for brief calls, and the dear, | familiar sound of the old piano echo l ing through the rooms. l Martin came from the fiery furnace
 changed in soul and body. It was a | thin, gentle, strangely patient man l who was propped in bed for his Thanksgiving dinner, and whose pain
 worn face turned with an appreciative | smile to the decorations and the gifts
 
 The heavy cloud frightened slowly | but steadily; Martin had a long talk,
 dreaded by Cherry from the first | clans. He bore the Ultinatum with | unexpected fortitude.
 Let me get this straight he said
 slowly. The arm is o. K and the
 leg. but the back
 Cherry, kneehng beside him, her hands on his, drew a wincing breath.
 Martin treasured her with an indul-
 gent nod.
 i've known it right along." he told her. He looked at the doctors. 'It's
 no go?"
 "T don't see why I shou uld deceive
 doctor, who had grown very fond Of
 him. You can still beat me sJ
 bridge, you know, you can read and
 write and come to the table, after
 awhile; you have your devoted wife to keep finding new things for you to do!
 Next summer nova chair out in the l garden-'
 Cherry was fearfully watching her
 husbands face.
 wen all do what we can to make it easy, Mart!" she whispered, in tears.
 ! He looked at her with a whimsical smile. Mind very much taking care of a helpless man all your life?" he asked, with hint of his old confident ma h. ner.
 ''oh, Mart, I nirid only for youn'
 she said. Peter, standing behind the doctors. slipped from the room unno- ticed.
 : Late that evening when Martin was :, asleep, Cherry came noiselessly from the sick room, to find Peter alone in . the dimly lighted sitting room. He glanced at her, feeling rather than hearing her presence, and called her.
 Come over here, will you, Cherry l want to speak to you" She came, with an inQuiring and yet rot wholly unconscious look to the 5 hreside, and he stood up to greet her. ! Tired?" he asked, in an unnatural a voice.
 , TT was just going to bed" she D answered, hesitatingly. But she sat . down, nevertheless; sank comforta bly . into the chair opposite his own, and ! stretcher her little feet. crossed at the
 ankle. before her, as if she were in- He knelt down beside her chair, and ; gathered her cold hands into one of 5 his own. What are you and I going 
 ! She looked at him in terror. But all that is changedi" she said.
 | quickly fearfully. e Why is it changed?" he countered U T love 'you-I have always loved you a 3 since the days long ago, in this very house! l can't stop 1t now, And you
 love me, Cherry!" "Yes. I shall always love you." she
 answered, agitatedly, after a pause in n which she looked at him with troubled Y eyes ''But-but-you must see that | now" she added with difficulty ''I
 couldn't fail Martin now. when he
 l needs me so!''
 ,, He needs you now" Peter conced-
 ed, and l don't ask you to do any > thing that must distress him now But . in few months, when his mother II comes down for visit you must tell . them honestly that you care for me '' q he said.
 1T Cherry was trembling violently |. But how could IT. she protested. V. Tell him that I am going away. de e . serting him when he most needs mel e Peter had grown very pale. l. Put" he stammered, his face B. chose to heTs-''but YOU cannot rnean that this is the end ?''
 She moved her lips as if she was about to speak; looked at him blankly . wrenched her hands free from his . and laid her arms about his neck Her II wet cheek was pressed to his own. and Ill he put his arms tightly about the lit
 shaken figure.
 "Peter!" she whispered. desolately I n And after a time, when the violence ,o of her sobs was lessened. and she was '. breathing more quietly. she said U again: Peter! We can never dream that dream again. 70 we shall dream it again." he cor
 rected her.
 II Cherry did not answer for a Ions . | while. Then she gently disengaged s5es herself from his arms. and sat erect Her tears were ended now, and hel
 voice firmer and surer. ie (Continued fnndaNl