The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-10-18

ways together. Isn't there some way we, can get away, disappear as if we
 ''CherryI'' he said. kneeling before her in the wet grass. "1ou know what 1t means!"
 ''It means youi" she answered, af- hands softly about his neck, and her shining eyes were close to his.
 'Itis so beautifu1-it's so wonder fu1-to love this way she said. in her innocent, little-giri voice, that it seems to me the only thing in the world! I'd come to you, Peter, if it meant shame and death and horror. 1 It doesn't mean that, it only means 1 a man and woman settling down somewhere in the south of France, | a big quiet man who 1imps little, and little yellow headed woman in blue smocks and silly-1ooking hats
 "It means life, of courseG he in terrupted her. ''The hour that exquisite hour of my whole life!" They were silent for a while, and below them the white moonlight | deepened and brightened and swan
 There will be no coming back, Cherry
 "oh, know that.''
 ''There can't ever be- there he said. uncertainty. In the curious unreal light that flooded the world, he saw her turn, and caught the gleam of her surprised eyes. ''You mean chi1dren-a child ?'' she said, suprprisedly. why not, Peter?" she added tightening her fingers. | ''what could be more wonderful than that we should have a child? Can for a child than that little sunshiny. woodsy beach cottage; can't you see the little figure-the two or three l little figures!-scampering ahead of | thrnuph the country roads. | around the fire? Oh, I can,'' said Cherry, her extraordinary voice rich and sweet with longing, q can! That would be motherhood, Peter, that wouldn't be like having baby whose father one didn't-one couldn't love, marriage or no marriage!
 And as he watched amazed at the quiet. little inartculate Cherry, she added. earnestly1
 "Alix will forgive us; you'll see she sorry for me. She'll only think me mad to disgrace the good name of | Strickland: she'll think we're both crazy. Perhaps she'll plunge into go on here, gardening, playing with | Buck, raising ducks-she says her self that she has never known what love means it really meaning it, Ia weakness!'
 "I believe she will forgive us, for | sin eis the most generous woman In she is the most generous woman in stop now! There is the steamer line that goes to Los Angeles he unused. | ttYes~I believe that is the solution" he added. with brightening face. | it leaves daily at eleven, and gets into Los Angeles the following morn ing. From there we can get a drawing-roon to New Orleans; that's only a day and a half more; and we can keep to ourselves if by any un- lucky chance there should be any one we know on the train--
 (Which isn't Hkely!"
 which isn't likely! Then at New Orleans we go either to the Zone, or to South America, or to any one of the thousand places-New York: if you like, by water. By that time we will be lost as completely as if we had dropped into the sea. I'll see about reservations-the thing is, you're too pretty to go quite unnoticed"" he add ed ruefully.
 He saw a smile flicker on her face in the moonlight, but when she spoke, it was with almost fearful gravity
 Yqn 1, arrange it, Pet Peter, s, and 1I S0mg1 ell her that where she's sane, I'm mad. and where she's strong, I'm weak! we'll weather it, dear, and we'll find the golden, beautiful future before us. But, Peter, until this part of it's over we mustn't be alone again-you mustn't kiss me againi Will you
 As stirred as she was, he gathered her idle fingers together, and kissed | them.
 .sFll promise anythingi Only trust me for a few days more and we will be away from it all. And now you put it all out of your mind, and run in and go to bed. You're ss sxhaIstsd a!n3oo1; train she will he here in a few min uteS.
 "Good nighti" she breathed, and he saw the white gown flicker against the soft light on the lawn, and saw the black shadow creeping by it, be- fore she mounted the porch steps and was gone.
 Swept along by passionate excite ment that seemed actually to consume her, Cherry lived through the next and asked her more than once what caused it. Cherry would press hot cheek to hers, smile with eyes full of pain, and flutter away. She was well She She was quite all right. only she she was afraid Martin would summon her soon-and she didn't want to go to him!
 Alix tried to win her confidence re- gardins Martin. But briefly, quickly, and with a sort of affectionate and apologetic impatience, Cherry reIuseo to discuss him.
 ".I shall not go back to hirn! she said, breathing hard, and with the air of being more absorbed in what she was doing than what she was say ing.
 really going to leave him ?" the older sister questioned.
 7 ssI don't know what I'm going to dol" Cherry half sobped.
 "But dearest-dearest. you're only twenty-four; don't you think you mirhf feel better about it as time raaa nn9, Altx urged. "Now that