The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-10-25

zBzSzSaEzSzEzEaEzEzE3EaEzEl reference to their departure on Mon day. he deduced that she had come to her senses.
 Cherry, too, was less unhappy than she had been. By avoiding Peter, by refraining even in words and looks from the companionship for which | she so hungered, by devoting herself to Alix, she managed to hold her feelings in leash Even though Alix found that the knowledge of the se- cret they shared without even men | screen, the sisters. busy about the | house, had wonderful hours togeth- CT.
 CHAPTER XVIII. filled the little valley to the brim | with golden sunshine. Alix, driving l the morning freshness at the blue | overhead and said aloud, "Oh, what a | day of gold!' front seat, fiapped his tail in answer | to her voice, and she laughed at | him. But the laugh was quickly fol- | | lowed by a sharp sigh. tin expects Cherry to go with him on | Monday Expects her to go back | with him to life 9f misery for her, Cherry-my little sister!-there can be no happiness for you there! And Peteri Peter is left behind to me, | who cannot comfort him or still the ache that is tearing his heart! My two loved ones, and what can do to | help them!'
 She had come up to the cabin to do the usual last little daily fussing among the ducks and chickens and to | bring Peter, if Peter had not gone into town. back with her to Cherry's old Strickland house the night be fore, and because of a sudden rain fall had decided to spend the night there, too. The Chinese boy who their housekeeping had been per Studded to cook the dinner and get breakfast. and the evening about the poignantly sweet.
 But suddenly. at about ten o'clock,
 Peter had surprised them all by get to the cabin, he said-must go, in \ fact. He would rather walk, please,
 he told Alix. when she offered to
 drive him up in the car. Bewilder- him go- To Cherry, who seemed to feel suddenly sad and uneasy, A1ix | laughed about it, but she was secret | ly worried herself, and immediately
 decided to run up to the cabin in the car and assure herself that every
 thing was right there.
 Cherry, who had not slept and who
 was pale, had come out to the car,
 her distracted manner increasing
 Alix's sense that something was
 gravely amiss. She started on her
 trip with a heavy heart, but the half
 hours run soothed her in spite of
 herself. and now she reached the
 cabin in a much more cheerful mood | Peter was nowhere about, and
 she plunged into the work of house
 and farmyard she supposed, without
 giving the matter conscious thought
 that he had gone to the city. "Mfs' Peter not go train," Kow an- announced presently.
 All Alix's vague suspicious awak- ened.-
 Row made a large gesture, as indi- eating affairs disorganized;
 stated. Boss come late. He walk in on porch"
 He came in late and walked on the
 GrGh beAlnf AI echosS in Mr low etsn 5ens now?" she asked. ''He have some
 coffee?"
 .fNo eat" the boy answered. He and after while Alix. with an icy
 heart, went to the bridge and the pool where Peter had first found Cherry only few weeks ago. ) He was standing, staring vaguely at | the low and lisping stream, and Alix
 felt a great pang of pity when she } saw him. He came to her smiling 7 but as Cherry had smiled, with wan
 and ghastly face.
 Peter. you're not well?" Alix said. 'I think am a little upset" he
 answered They walked I edasssd back bn, to the ne l take a hot bath. and made him drfn k = some coffee, when, refreshed and
 grateful. he came out to the porGh = little meal that was her luncheon and n his breakfast
 He followed her to the. car and got = in the front seat beside her.
 "You're awfully good to me-" he n said, briefly, when they were going k down the long grade.
 tt Alix did not answer imm ed1ately
 and he thought that she had not Ie heard. She ran the big machine l. through the valley, stopped at the d postoff1ce, and still in silence begaI er the climb toward the old house. Int u roads were all narrow here. but sh' .o could have followed them in the dark g he knew, and he understood that
 was not her driving that made hel
 face so thoughtful and kept her eye at from meeting his.
 lg "You say I'm good to you. Psse. II q hope I am. For you've been yer! d. good to me. my dear. There's only on' ,r thing in life that I haven't got, ant
 want. And that you can't unfortun -e He had flushed darkiy. and he spok. a with little effort. ''Pd like to try!' d She ignored the invitation for fey al he thought he saw her lip tremble ar But when she turned to him, 1t wa ly with her usual smile.
 s, "It's only that I would like to hav' B. you-and-Martin- Cherry a E. happy as I amp she said quickly r. And a second later the mood wa h gone as she turned the car in at tn ,e home gate and exclaimed. 'There' B. Cherry now!" te Martins somewhere about" Cherr- h said as Peter joined her. and Ali a- stopped the car within conversations r. range,
 ly Alix remarking that she would tur1 B. the car so that she might later star p. on the grade. disappeared. and th' le two were together again, after wha n a highland what a day!-and tha d was all that mattered. They spokt ,r confusedly, in brief monosyllables, ant r. were silent. their eyes meeting onl.