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

it to darkness and rain, and to man in raincoat who whipped off spat- light of the lamp she held. Instantly. with a sort of gasp of surprise and pleasure and some deeper emotion, she set down the lamp, and held out his arms. He laughed joyously as he kissed her, and for minute they clung together.
 Peter she said. You angel you doing, and tell me all about it!
 But Alix-.youre thinl' SPeter said, holding her at arms length. "And-and-'' He gently touched the black she wore, and fixed puzzled and troubled eyes upon her face. ''Alix-" he asked, apprehensively.
 For answer she tried to smile al him, but her lips tremb1ed and hel eyes brimmed. She had led the way into the old sitting room. You heard-about Dad ?' A1ix fall tered. turning to face him at the mantel
 Your father Peter said. shocked.
 ..I5u "But h hadn't you heard. Peter" Peter just off the steamer I got in at six o'clock I'd been thinking of you all the time, and I suddenly decided to cross the bay and come straight on the club or got my mail Tell me your father
 She had knelt before the cold hearth, and he knelt beside her. and kindling in the old way. A blaze crept up about the logs and Alix ac- cepted Peters handkerchief and wrist, quite as if she was a child again, as she settled herself in her chair.
 Peter took the doctors chair, keep ing his concerned and sympathetic eyes upon her He was well one day. she said, simply. "and the next-the next. he didn't come downstairs. and Hong waited and waited-and about nine | o'clock I went up-and he had fallen i-he had fallen-' She was in tears again and Peter put his hand out and covered hers and held it. He must have been going to call some one,'' said Alix. after a while, ''they said he never suffered at all. Cherry got here the same night. He knew us both toward morning. And that-that was all. Cherry was here for two weeks Martin came and
 Where is Cherry now?" Peter in. l terrupted.
 Back at Red Creek" Ahx wiped her eyes She hates it, but Martin had a good position there. Poor Cherry. it made her ill., Anne came?'
 Anne and Justin, of course.'' sPe- ter could not understand Alix's ex- l presSion- She fell silent, still hold ing his hand and looking at the fire. ! He looked at her with a great rush of admiration and affection. She was not only a pretty and a clever woman but, in her plain black, with this new l aspect of gravity and dignity, and with new notes of pathos and appeal in her exquisite voice. he realized that she was an extremely charming ! woman.
 Before he said good-by to her, he had asked her to marry him. He well remembered her look of bright and interested surprise. "Dyou mean to tell me you have | forgotten your lady, love of the hoop skirts and ringlets?" she had de manded.
 "No," Peter had told her. frankly 'I shall always love her, in a way But she is married; she never thinks of me. And I like you so much AliX; I like our music and cooking ard tramps and reading together
 "No." A1ix had answered, decidedly Perhaps if I were madly in love witf you I should say yes. and trust to lit tie fingers to lead you gently, and SC I on-s ,-s--.--- He remembered ending the conver sation in one of his quick moods O irritation against her If she couldn'
 
 Il he had said.
 Poor AIix-she was taking life seri
 ously enough tonight, Peter thought as he watched her.
 Tell me about Cherry" he said Cherry is well. but just a littl thin. and heartbroken now of course
 Martin never seems to stay at an. < one place very long, so I keep hop ing"
 Doesn't make good!" Peter said
 shaking his head.
 Doesn't seem toi It's partl | Cherry. I think AliX said honestly
 "She was too young, really. Sh never quite settles down. or takes If in earnest. But he's got a contrac now for three years, and so she seen ] to be resigDing herself, and she has maid. I believe
 "She must love hing Peter sub
 mitted. Alix looked surprised. (Continued Tomorrow.)