The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-10-17
o.
Sisters
BY
KATHLEEN
NORRIS
cspyEishs by KaeAssaa ssarzAs


that the inference she and Cherry had
drawn from the letter was true one.
Does Cherry know anything of
this7" Martin presently muttered.
DO you want her tor Alix asked,
pOintedIy.
He shrugged his shoulders with a
great assumption of indifference.
IF she wants to have it all dragged
to light, why. she can 90 ahead 2 he
remarked, carelessly. I'm not stop
ping herl'
AT least / think you ought TO let
Cherry lead her own life after this 7"
AIix countered with spirit.
Live In your old house, ehT' he
asked, resentfuIly, as he tipped the
pages Of his program with big thumb
and stirred at it with unseeing eyes.
what does she want to live there
for?"
'aThe fact remains that she does"
Alix persisted.
Yes, and have just as good time
as IL she never had been married at
all p he, said.
Lou KNOW
Alix was beginning the denial that
she had given him so confidently last
night. but she interrupted herself, and
stopped short. The conviction rushed
upon her in an overwhelming wave
that she had no right to repeat that
denial now that the last dreadful TWEEN
ty-four hours had changed the whole
situation, and that she herself had
better reason to suspect Cherry than
either Martin or his gossiping aunt.
She sat sick and silent.
Meanwhile, Cherry and Peter had
their first opportunity to speak to
each other alone. To both the thirst
and 1t was with an almost dizzy sense
OF relief that Cherry turned to him
with her first words.
"Peter, don't dare say muehl Can
yau hear met"
Perfectly he answered, looking
at his folded program.
"Peter, I've been thinking-abo
our plan, I mean! Martin plans to go
on Monday. But something has hap
pened since saw you this morning,
something that makes difference /
had letter, letter from some wom-
an connecting his name with another
woman, al Hatty Woods-she's notori-
Gus In Red Creek-and this Joe King
crowd that he went With don't know
who wrote the letter, or why she
wrote" she said, hastily. as Peter in
terpolated a question. And I don't
careI AS far as Martin goes, am
free now what is justice to Martin,
and kindness to Martin. will never
count with me any more!"
Peter wasted no words.
HE goes Monday" he said. I'VE
can go Sunday. This is Thursday
night. Your suitcase checked again
yesterday Was it only yesterday"
That's all!''
I'VE would have been on the train
tonight. Cherry, flying toward New
Her small hand gripped his in the
darkness.
eff we only were" he heard her
breathe.
He turned to her. so exquisite in her
distress. Her breast was rising and
falling quickly.
Patience, sweetheart he said.
Patience for only few days morei
Tomorrow I'll make the arrangements.
Sunday is only two days off"
Their eyes met in a wild rush of
triumph and hope.
This time we shall do it! Peter
said.
"oh, Peter-you'n never be sorryf"
she whispered.
"Sorry! My dearest child, when you
give your beauty and your youth to
a man almost twice your age, who has
loved you all your life-do you think
there is much chance of it?"
''Why shouldn't it be one of the hap
py-marriages? said Cherry after
silence
1T WILL he answered. confidently.
"As the weeks become months, and the
months become years. and the beauty
and miracle of it go on and on, we
will think that what we feel for each
other now is only the shadow-the
dreaml"
''ShalI 1 just let Martin think / am
quietly going away with him on Mon
day?" she asked, after silence in
which she was deeply thinking.
''Does he know you had that let
teri" Peter said
NO; Alix is going to speak to him
about it." Cherry outlined the talk
that she and her sister had had al
breakfast.
Then shouldn't bring up the ques-
ton at ALL" Peter decided. quickly
1T would only mean an ugly and I'M
necessary scene. It's much wiser to
let him continue to think that you
don't know anything about ii, and to
let Alix think that you are ignoring
the whole thing!"
until Sunday" she whispered.
until Sunday" Peter glanced at
Martin and Alix. who were talking to-