Graham guardian., 1921-09-30

6oiHS buShs ttett 4 III Vuiy tWtHty-
four |"
81 know you are" he said, with a
brief nod
"Why. every one has some alterna.
tive" Cherry pleaded. "lt can't be
that marriage is the only--the only
irrevocable thing II You had part
ner that YOU couldn't so on with, you
could come to some agreement
"You don't love himr' Peter said.
81 don't hate him." she answered
quickly. "Tndeed don't. And Il isn't
just the place and the life. Peteri
could be happy In two ro0ms--some-
where-anywhere-- But not-with
him. Oh. Peter. II hadn't done IT.
Her beauty. as she pushed her plate
aside and leaned toward him, was so
startling that Peter, n lighted match
half-raised TO fresh cigarette, put
the match down almlessly and looked
thoughtfully at the cigarette, and laid
that down, too. without the faintest
consciousness of what he was doing.
The day was warm, and there was a
little dampness on her white forehead,
where the gold hair clung to the brim
of the dropping hat. The soft curve
of her chin, the babylsh shortness OF
her upper lip, and the crimson sweet
ness Of the little earnest mouth had
never seemed more lovely than they
We're today. She was youth incnrnate,
palpitating, flushed, unspoiled.
For moment she looked down at
the table and the color flooded her
face; then size looked him straight in
the eyes and smiled. "Weli! Perhaps
II will all work out right. Peter" she
said with the childish. questioning look
that so wrung his heart. She imme-
tlIately gathered her possessions TO
gether to 60 but when they stepped
into sunshiny Geary street II was three
o'clock, and Peter suggested that they
walk down to the boat,
They met Alix on the boat, but she
did not ask any embarrassing ques-
tions; she sat between them on the
upper deck, blinking contentedly at
the blue satin bay, her eyes following
the wheeling guls or the passage of
ships, her mind evidently concerned
only with tie idle pleasantness Of the
moment. And always, for Peter. there
was The same joyous sense of some-
thing something significant
something ecStatic In life.
E
From thai hour he was never quite
at ease IN Cherry's company and
aynidcd h,ing alone with her even for
an instant, although her presence al
Ways caused him the new and tingling
delight He read her honest blue eyes
truly. and knew that although, like
himself she was conscious of the new
sweetness and brightness Of life. she
had never entertained for an instant
the Hitting ihonghi that II was Peters
feeling for her that mnde II so. She
thought perhaps. ibat II would be the
old childish happiness that she had
known In the valley, the freedom and
leisure and irresponsibilIty Of the old
days
The next day she talked In trou-
bled, uncertain way of going back to
Red Creek, and he knew why. But
Alix was so aghast at the Idea, and
Peter, who was closing DR.. Strick.
lands estate, was so careful to depart
early In the mornings and return only
late at night, that the little alarm, II
IL was that, died away,
The next time that Cherry went In.
TO town, Alix did not go, and Peter,
sitting on the deck of the carly boat
with her, asked her again to have
luncheon with him. Immediately a
cloud fell on her face and he saw her
breast rise quickly.
Peter" she asked him childishly,
looking straight into his eyes, "why
/ didn't we tell Alix about thatT
Peter tried to laugh and felt himself
begin to tremble again.
"About what2" he stammered,
"About our having been three hours
/ at lunch last weekg"
"Why--I don't knowp Peter said,
smiling nervously.
She was silent, and they parted
without any further reference to meet.
ing for lunch.
That night, when Alix had gone ia
bed he entered the sitting room sud.
I denly to find Cherry hunting for a
book She had dropped on one knee
the better to reach q low shelf, and
/ 81, ohgAplNnA In he VnltInnl
she had chanced to open.
When she heard the door open she
turned, md Immediately became very
pale. She did not speak as Petel
came 10 stand beside her.
Cherry" he said In whisper
his face close to hers. Neither spoke
again for while. Cherry was breath
! ing hard; Peter was conscious only o.
a Wild wh!rllng Of brain and senses.
They remained so, their eyes fixed
their breath coming as II they hat
been running, for endless seconds.
"You remember the question yo,
asked me this morning1' Peter said
'Do you rememberi Do yop remem
ber2"
Cherry, her cold fingers still holding
the place In the hook she had beef
reading. went bllndly to the fireplace
"What3" she said, In the meres
breath. "WhatT
Because" Peter said, following her
sort OF heady madness making hin
only conscious Of that need to hea
pran, har oUn lInq TINT eha knnV uhp