Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-12-06
CHAPTER H.

April evening, glanced curiousiy at the
door. Only eight o'clock, but the day
had been so long and so quiet that she
had fancied that the hour was much
later. and had wondered who Knocked
so late.
She crossed to the door and opened
1t to darkness and rain, and to man
in a raincoat who whipped off q spat-
tered cap and stood smiling in the
light of the Aamp she held Instantly,
with sort of gasp of surprise and
pleasure and some deeper emotion, she
set down the lamp, and held out her
hands gropingly and went into his
arms. He laughed joyously as he
kissed her. and for a minute they
clung together.
Peter" she said 'You angel
when did you arrive and what are you
doing, and tell me all about it!
"But Alix-you're thin" Peter said,
holding her at arms length. And
and" He gently touched the black
she wore, and fixed puzzled and
troubled ewes upon her face. "AliX-"
he asked, apprehensively.
For answer she tried to smile at
him, but her lips trembied and her
eyes brimmed. She had led the way
into the old sitting room.
"You heard-about Dad" AliX fall
tered, turning to face him at the man.
tel
"Your fatherw Peter said, shocked.
"But hadn't you heard, Peter?
"My dear-my dearest child, I'm
lust off the steamer II got in at six
O'Clock. I'd been thinking of you all
the time, and l suddenly decided to
cross the bay and come straight on to
the valley, before / even went to the
club or got my mail! Tell me-your
father"
She had knclt before the cold
hearth, and he knelt beside her, and
they busted themselves with logs ard
kindling in the old way. A blaze
crept up about the logs and Alix ac-
cepted Peters handkerchief and
wiped a streak of SCOT from her wrist.
quite as if, she was child again, as
she settled herself in her chair.
Peter took the doctors chair, keep
ing his concerned and sympathetic
eyes upon her.
"He was well one day." she said,
simply, land the ncXt-the next, he
didn't come downstairs, and Hong
waited and waited-and about nine
o'clock went up-and he had fallen
he had fallen"
She was in tears again and Peer
nut his hand out and covered hers and
held it,
ale must have been going to call
some one" said AliX, after a. while,
they said he never suffered ut all.
This was January, the' last day, and
Cherry got here the same night. He
knew us both toward morning. And
fhat-that was all. Cherry was here
for two weeks. Martin came anG
went"
"wherc Is Cherry nowT' Peter in.
terrupted.
"Back at Red Creek" Alix wiped
her eyes. "She hates it, but Martin
had good position there. Poor
Cherry, it made her ILL.,"
"Anne came?"
"Anne and Justin of course" Peter
could nst understand AliX'S express
sion. She fell silent, still holding his
hanl and looking at the fire.
He looked at her with Il great rush
of admiration and affection. She Was
not only IL pretty and clever Wom'
an; but, in her plain black, with this
new aspect of gravity and dignity, and
with new notes Of pathOS and appeal
in her exquisite voice, he realized that
she was an extremely charming WOn-
an.
Before lie said good-by to her, he
had asked her to marry him. He well
remembered her look of bright and in-
terested surprise.
"D'you mean to tell me you have
forgotten your lady love Of the hoop
skirts and ringletST she had de-
manded.
No" Peter had told her. frankly.
81 shall always love her, in a way
But she is married; she never thinks
of me. And | like you so much, AK
| like our music and cooking anu
trampS and reading-tOSelher. Ism |
that a pretty good basis for mar
riage:"
No" Alix had answered, decidedly.
"Perhaps if we're madly in love with
YOU | should say yes, and trust 10
little fingers to lead you gently, anu
50 OH"
He remembered ending the conver'
sotion in one of his quick moods OF
irritation against her. If she couldn
take anybody or anything seriously
he had said.
Poor AliX-She was taking life Serl'
ously enough tonight, Peter thought
as he watched her.
Tel me about Cherry" he said.
Cherry is well, but just little thin
and heartbroken now, Of course. Mar
lin never seems To stay at any one
place very long, so | keep hoping