News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1921-11-23

AK was beginning the denial tnat
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 twen-
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
for speech was a burning necessity,
and 1t was with an almost dizzy sense
of relief that Cherry turned to him
with her first words.
''Peter don't dare say much Can
yau hear me?"
"Perfectlyw he answered, looking
at his folded program.
"Peter, I've been thinking-about
our plan, mean Martin plans to go
on Monday. But something has hap
pened since I saw you this morning.
something that makes a difference! I
had letter, a letter from some wom-
an connecting his name with an0,.:Hr
woman, 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 question. Sand I don't
care! AS far as Martin goes, 1 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. "We
can go Sunday. This is Thursday
night. Your suitcase I checked again
yesterday? Was it only yesterday"
"That's all !"
"We would have been on the train
tonight, Cherry, flying toward New
Orleans!"
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.
N'Patience, sweetheart !" he said.
Patience for only few days more!
Tomorrow Fll&make the arrangements.
Sunday is only two days Off"
Their eyes met in q wild rush of
triumph and hope.
"This time we shall do tt" Peter
said
"Oh, Peter-you'l never be sorry?"
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 a
silence.
ut WILL" he answered, confidently.
''As the weeks become months, and the
months become years, anu the beauty
and miracle of 1t 60 Oh and on, we
will think that what we feel for each
other now Is only the shadow-the
dream!"
"Shall just let Martin think I am
quietly going away with him ON Mon
day." she asked, after a silence In
which she was deeply thinking.
"Does he know you had that let
ter?" Peter said.
"No; AlIx is going to speak to him
about it," Cherry outlined the talk
that she and her sister had had at
breakfast.
'Then 1 shouldn't bring up the ques-
ion at ALL" Peter decided, quickly.
1T would only mean an ugly and IN
necessary scene. It's much wiser to
ct him continue to think that you
lOn't know anything about it, and to
ct Alix think that~you are ignoring
he whole thing"
Until Sunday" she whispered.
until Sunday" Peter glanced at
dartin and Alix, who were talking to-
etlrr abs0rbedly, In low tones. "My
title sweetheart, I'll make all this
Misery up to you" he whispered. Her
title hand was locked In his for the
est Of the evening.
Morning came, crystal autumn
forming, and life went on. IL there
'as any change at The cabin 1t was
hanGe for the better. Allx, who had
cen silent and troubled for a little
lille, was more serene now, as usual
for the comfort of her
eusehOld, and as usual busy all day
ng with her poultry and pigeons, her
se-keeping, stable, anG dogs. Peter
as his courteous, gentle, interested
If, more like the old Peter, who had
ways been occupied with his music
I'd his books, than like the passion
ely metamorphOsed Peter who had
en so changed by love for Cherry.
artin, satisfied with the general re-
ects and consideration with which =
found himself surrounded, accept
life placidly enough; perhaps he
d been disturbed by the advent of
e letter, perhaps he was willing to