The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-10-15

Cherry, do you believe itT' she
asked.
Cherry, reused from a moment of
brooding silence, shrugged her Shout
ders impatiently.
"Of course / believe It'll" she an
swered
But, darling, we don't even know
who wrote it. We have only this wom-
ans word for it,"
'Oh, look at it--look at it, Alix 70
Cherry burst forth. do decent men
have letters like that sent to their
wives? Is it probable that good man
would do anything to rouse some
busybody woman to write such a let
ter about him?''
'sWell, but who is she, and what do
you suppose she wrote it forY' Alix
wondered.
"Oh, don't know. She got mad at
him, perhaps. Or perhaps she is
champion of this Woods woman. They
had some quarrel-how do / know?
But you can see that she lis mad, and
this is the way she gets even I''
Cherry, at least do Martin the
justice TO ask him about it," Aiix
pleaded.
Her sister seemed not to hear her.
The misery in her beautiful eyes made
Alix's heart sink.
And that" Cherry said in a whis-
per, lis my husbandI' p
She paused, staring down at the
table, one hand supporting her fore
head, the other wandering idly among
the breakfast things. Her look was
sOmber and far away. Alix, standing,
watched her distressedly, through a
long minute of silence.
WELL" Cherry said lifelessly, look
Ing up at her sister with dulled eyes.
"What now? It's still for better or
worse suppose?n
Alix sat down, and for a moment
covered her face with a tight-pressed
hand. When she took it away there
was new serenity and resolution in her
tired face.
NO." she said, with great sigh, 81
think perhaps you're right He hasn't
he should have no claim on you
now!''
"Alfx." Cherry demanded. would
you forgive himf'
Perhaps / wouldn't" AIix said,
after thought
Perhaps you wouldn'tP' Cherry
echoed, incredulously.
well, I'm not very good" Alix said
hesitatingly. But VOW is vow, you
know. II it was limited. then my
my fulallment of it would be limited
suppose. OF course" she added,
honestly, I'm talking for myself
emily 70
And you would quietly forgive and
forget" demanded the little sister, in
bitter scorn
81 say I hope / wouldI" Alix cor
rected her. Even if this is true''-she
added, with a glance at the lavender
letter-"still, suppose the rule of for
giving seventy times seven times"
Cherry interrupted her with burst
OF bitter and rebellious weeping.
"0h, my God, what shall dor she
sobbed. with her bright head dropped
on her arm.
= y
said, her own tears trimming ever
She came to kneel beside her sister
and they locked their arms about eacf
other, and their wet cheeks touched
Don't cry, dearp size said. tenderly
It'll all come straight, somehow, an6
Wen wonder why we took it SO hard
Now listen TO me, Sis" as soon a:
Cherry had somewhat regained hel
compOsure. We'll ascertain abou
this letter; that's only fair If Martin
denies it"
"Of course he'll deny itr' Cherr!
interrupted, from the bitter knowledg,
she had of him.
Alix again felt daunted for a secont
by the sheer ugliness and sordidnes
Of the matter, but she returned to thl
charge braveIy.
Suppose we get Peter to ask him,
she suggested suddenly. peter has
wonderful way of getting the trutl
out Of people," Poor Cherry, the yer.
i mention of his name makes he
vince, Alfx thought. watching he
sister sorrowfully. IF Martin cal
convince Peter that it is not true
then that makes all the difference il
the world" she added. aloud. "Thel
you tell Martin frankly that you hay
the old house ready TO live in, and yol
want to live there He
Hell never agree to that :" Cherr
said, shaking her head. But if thi
Is trueg' she asked, again indication
the letter
saThen tell him that unless he agree