The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-10-05
econtinued from Yesterday3


 The evening was cooler. with sud- den wind and a promise of storm. They grouped themselves about a fire in the old way; Anne and Justin sit ting close together on the settle, Martin and Cherry had done a year ago Cherry sat next her father, with her hand linked in his; neither hand moved for long. long time. Alix, sitting on the floor, with her lean cheeks painted by the fire, played with the dog and rallied Peter about made him laugh vexedly in spite of himself Cherry watched them, a little puzzled at the familiarity of Pe- ter beside this fire; had he been so She could almost envy him. feeling herself removed by so long and strange a twelvemonth.
 Be that as it may, my dear" said A1Tx, .'the fact renainS that you taught this FenAon woman to drive your car. didn't you? And you told her that she was the best woman dri- yer you ever knew, a better driver even than Miss Strickland didn't you ?.'
 IT did not.",'Peter said, unmovedly smoking and watching the fire. ''Whyy;;m Peter. you did! She said
 .'Weil, then, she said what is not true,"
 'she, distinctly, told me-, Alix re- marked, that dear MT. Joyce had said that she was the best woman driver he ever saw
 s.'Well, I may have said something like that" Peter growled, flushing, k Alix laughed exultingly q tell you I loathe herb he added.
 Daddy, we have a lovely homer Cherry said softly. her eyes moving from the shabby books and the shab- by rugs to AliX,s piano shining in the gfooom of the far corner. It was all homeEke and pleasant. and somehow the atmosphere was newly inspiring Q Q a 1f E dinner, the old eager controversy about books. and singers and politics perhaps, but worth while. She was beginning to think Peter extremely clever and only AliXs quick tongue match for him, and to feel that her father knew every book and had seen &every worthwhile play in the world
 Martin, whose deep dissatisfaction with conditions at the Emmy Young er Mine" Cherry well knew, had en- tered into a correspondence some months. before relative to position at another mine that seemed better to him, and instead of coming down for a day or two at the time of Anne's wedding. as Cherry had hoped he mighE wrote her that the authorities at tHe Red Greek plant had jumped at His'-'' and that he was closing up alY his affairs at the Emmy Young eE' and had arranged to ship all their Household effects direct to the new -7hpme Martin told his wife gener- 7 ously that he hoped she would stay with her father until the move was Accomplished, and Cherry. with a clear conscience, established herself in her old room. She wrote constant Y Iys to her husband and often spoke ap- preciatively of Mart's kindness. Anne'S marriage took place in mid |z September. It was a much more for maj and elaborate affair than Cher rvs had been, because. as Anne eN- plained "Frenny's people have been so generous about giving him up. you know After all. he's the last of the Idttles: all the others are Folsoms and Randails. And I want them to realize that he is marrying a gentle woman,'
 Cherry and A1ix went upstairs after the ceremony. as AliX and Anne had done a year ago. but there was deep relief and amusement in their mood today, and it was with real pleasure in the closer intimacy that the little group gathered about the fire that After that life went on serene1y and it was only occasionally that the girls were reminded that Cherry was a, married woman with husband ex- pecting her shortly to return to him November passed, and Christmas came. and there was some talk or Martins joining them for Christmas But he did not come. he was extreme Iy busy at the new mine and com fortable in a village boarding house It was in early March that AliH smoke to her father about it; spoke in her casual and vague fashion, bui gave him, food for serious thought Nevertheless.
 | Dad said Alix suddenly at the lunch table one day when Cherry hap pened to be shopping in the city sswere you and mother ever separated
 when you were married ??
 ssNo-'' the doctor, remembering shook his head. "Your mother never
 was happy away, from her home!"
 ttNot even to visit her own family ? persisted Alix.
 ssNot ever" he answered 'fWe al
 ways planned a long visit in the EaS
 but she never would go without me
 She went to your Uncle Vincent: house in Pale Alto once but she came
 home the next day-didn't feel com
 fortable away from homei"
 sHow long do you suppose Marti1
 will let us have Cherry? At1x asked
 Her father looked quickly at he