Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-12-30
CHAPTER K.

CHAPTER x.
Alexandra Strickland coming dowr
the stairway of the valley house on al
April evening, glanced curiously 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 a man
In raincoat who whipped off a spat-
tered cap and stood smiling in the
light of the lamp 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
chung together.
"peter!" she said. "You angel
when did you arrive and what are you
doing. and tell me all about 1t I"
"But Alix-you're thinl" Peter said,
holding her at arms length. And
and" He gently touched the black
she wore, and fixed puzzled and
troubled eyes upon her face. ak"
he asked, apprehensively.
For answer she tried to smile at
him, but her lips trembled and her
eyes brlmmed. 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 fatherl" Peter said, shocked.
"But hadn't you heard, Peter?"
my dear-my dearest child, I'm
just OFF the steamer. l got In at six
O'clock. I'd been thinking Of you all
the time, and | suddenly decided to
cross the bay and come straight on to
the valley, before 1 even went to the
club or got my mall Tell me-your
father"
She had knelt before the cold
hearth, and he knelt beside her, and
they busted themselves with logs and
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 II she was a 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 next-the next, he |
didn't come downstairs. and Hong |
waited and waited-and about nine |
O'Clock l went up-and he had fallen |
he had fallen"
She was In tears again and Peter |
put his hand out and covered hers and |
held 1t.
"He must have been going to call |
some one" said Alix. after a while. |
they said he never suffered at all. |
This was January. the last day, and |
Cherry got here the same night. He |
knew us both toward morning. And |
that--that was all. Cherry was here |
for two weeks. Martin came and |
went"
where is Cherry now?" Peter In
terrrpted.
Back nj Red Creek" Allx wiped |
her eyes. "She hates II. but Martin |
bad good position there. Poor
Cherry, IL made her H."
"Anne Gamer
"Anne and Justin. OF course" Peter |
could not understand Alix's express
sion. She fell silent, still holding bis
hand and looking al the IRE
he looked az her with great rush |
of admiration and affection, She was
not only pretty aud a clever WON
an bun, 20 her plain black, viii lkss
nes aspect Of grayiiy and dignity, and |
Win new notes " palbos and appeal |
Ia her exquisite voice, he realized fhaf
she Was an extremely charming WON
an.
hefore he said good.hy 10 her, he
had asked her ~ marry hlml 49, Yell
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