The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-10-15


 fine hand propping his forehead as if it ached 'I'll stay at the club.''
 And as soon as can So,' Cherry added feverishly, "I shall join Martin. I'll wire him tomorrow-thi is Sun day-and I'll go on Wednesday,"
 Peter sprang over the porch rail and vanished, walking with swift en- ergy up the trail that led toward the mountain.
 For the rest of the day Cherry lived in a sort of daze of emotion; some times she seemed to be living two lives, side by side. In the one was her old happy relationship with AliX, and even with Peter, the old joking and talking and gathering for meals, the old hours in the garden or beside the fire, and in the other was the con- fused and troubled and ecstatic con sciousness of the new relationship be- tween Peter and herself, the knowl- edge that he did not merely admire her, did not merely feel for her an unusual affection, but that he was consumed by a burning adoration of her slightest motion, the turn of her wrist, the smile she gave Row at breakfast time, the motion she made when she stopped to tie her shoe or raised her arm to break an apple from the low, dusty branches. The glory of being so loved enVeloped her like great shining garment, and her cheeks glowed softly rosy, and there was a new and liquid softness, a sort of shining glitter in her blue eyes.
 Peter was quiet that evening, and was gone the next morning when the sisters came out to breakfast. He had left a, message to the effect that he would not be at home that night, and at o'clock telephOned cOnf1rming g the message. AliX chanced to answer the telephone, and Cherry, who was in he rroom, heard Peters name, and stood still, listening with a shock of disappointment.
 But at o'clock that evening, when she and Alix were sitting on the porch, when the last ebbing pink of the sunset had faded and great spid- CTS had Ventured forth into the dusk and the dews, there was a sudden hail at the gate, and Cherry knew rational happiness rose in her heart; she had been racked with hunger for | the sound of that voice; she had been restless and unsatisfied, almost fev- erish with longing and doubt; now peace came again, and content. | He came up to them, his glance resolutely averted from Cherry, ex- plaining that he was lonesome, assur- | and making them laugh with an ac- count of Justin Iittles reception ot | the new turn of affairs "He seemed absolutely dunfounded." Peter said | laughed and said-in that little ner- vous. smiling way of his-that he felt it to be by no means conclusive" "I can hear hint' giggled Alix. And I guess both you girls vii have to come in in a day or two,' Peter continued.
 "Cherry's going in to the dentist to- morrow said Alix.
 l "Oh, so I am!" Cherry said in { rather strained voice.
 She did not look at Peter, nor die he at her, but they felt each other: | thoughts like spoken word. | Had you forgotten ?" AliX asked | 'I don't think I'll go in, for I have about a weeks work here to do."
 Peter left them, without one wort
 or look for Cherry, who went back tf the house with her sister in a mos agitated aand wretched state of mind
 She had the telephone in her hand, t'
 cancel the engagement with her den tist, when Alix suddenly consented t' | accompany her into town. and a lunch time we'll take chance on tn St. Francis, Sis" Alix said, innocently
 flor Peter almost always lunches
 there!"
 tied yet restless and unsatisfied still
 Cherry dressed for town; they climb
 ed into the car; Alix's firm hands, il
 yellow chamois gloves, snatched a
 the wheel; the die was cast.
 Yet at the station another chang of plan occurred, for as Alix brough
 the car to the platform Anne cam
 toward them from the arriving tram
 a gloved and demure and smlllni
 Anne, anxious, she explained, to tall
 over this newest development, ant
 whether it proved to be of any valu
 or not" to try to find out what Uncl
 Lee had really wanted for them all
 and then agree to do that Tn a friend
 ly manner, out of court.
 "My first feeling, when F'renny toll
 me-" said Anne, chatting pleasantly |
 For I hadn't wanted all that none one bit" she confessedly gaily. .' i only wanted to dc what was fail , Only two or three nights ago l sal to F'renny that it really belonged t
 us all, and last night we talked an . talked about it, and the result wa that I said that I must see the girls we three are the only ones concerned after all. and"-Anne's old half-mer ry and half-pouting manner was un changed-"what we decided is wha
 really matters!" she finished. ; ''Why, there is no question that it. Daddy's handwriting, Cherry said with what, for her, was sharpnes: "and it seems to me-it seems to me Anne-' she added, hesitatingly. That you have a nerve!" Alix fin ished, not with any particular venom That document throws the case ou of court" she said fatly. Peter confident of that!'
 Anne's pale face flushed and he eyes narrowed.
 Cherry was flushed and uncomfort able. There was an awkward pause
 s'Board ?" shouted 8 trainnan. wit , rising infection. The sisters locke
 at each other in 8 panic of haste. . "I can't leave this car here" Ali
 exclaimed. i've got to park her an
 lock her and everything! Run; ge
 on board. Cherry. I don't have to g in, anyway-you'Ve got a rdate!" Cherry's heart 1eaped, sank coldlJ . and leaps again. with @. swift no of parting she hurried for her traiI ?,
 with forced interest as she clinbe on board and as the train slippe
 noiselesslys out of sight. It curve among the redwoods and was gon
 before either spoke again. Then. a her eyes met Anne's friendly, ques t1oning smile, Aiixz said awkwardly:
 q think the only thing to do Is fo
 you and Justin to take this up wit
 Peter. Anne, I nean-I mean tha you were the ones who proposed t bring t into court in the first place and-and I don't understand muc
 about it AS far as coming to ar