Graham guardian., 1921-09-23

"Oh, far too youngp she agreed
quickly. "The thing IL can't think
Of" she said. SIS how young I was
only little girl. / knew nothing !;
wasn't ready to be anybody's wife,
Something in the poignant sorrow of
her tone went straight to their hearts.
| and for the first time Peter had an.
idea Of the real suffering she had
| borne.
IF had child, even, or II Martin
needed me-" Cherry said, "then II
might he dIfferenti But I'm only
| burden to him"
"His letter doesn't sound as II he
Thought of you as a burden" Allx sug-
gested mildly. ps
"Ah well, the minute I leave him
he has different tone" Cherry ex-
planned. and Peter said, with u glance
almost of surprise at his wife:
ITS an awfully difficult position for
woman Of any pride. dear"'
Alix. kneelIng TO adjust the fire, as
she was constantly tempted to do, met
his look and laid soot.streaked hand
on his knee.
"Pete, dearest, of course II isl
But" and Allx looked doubtfully from
one to the other hut divorce Is
hateful thing" she added, shaking her
head "It--it never seems to me Jus
tifiable!'
"Divorce Is an institution Peter
said. "You may not like II any more
than you like prisons or madhouses;
It has its usfs," ~
''People get divorces every dayw
Cherry added. "Isn't divorce better
than living along In Neutrality-suspicious.
lover"
"Oh, lover Alix said scornfully.
Love is just another name for pas
sion and selflshness and laxiness, half
the time!"
"You can say that, because yaurs
is one of the happy marriages" Cher-
ry said, "It mlsht he very different
n Peter weren't Peterr
As she said his name she sent him
her trusting smile; her blue eyes shone
with affection. rrd tho exquisite curve
OF her mont, tloepcned. Peter smiled
back, and looked away in a little CON
fusion. t
IN can't imagine the circumstances
under which | shouldn't love you and
Peter!" Alix summarized II, triumph
antly.
"And Martini peiRF sssed
,,Ahp we'll; didn't marry Martin J"
his wife reminded him quickly. II
didn't promise to love and henor Mar
tin in sickpess and health: for richer
f,,s poprer; Tor better. for worse-by
Gcorgen AK interrupted herself, IA
her boyish way, 'thGse are terrific
words, yOp spaw. And a promise IS
a promise ~ i
sand even Tor inndelity you don't
believe people ought to seperatef"
Cherry asked
"Nonsense!" Peter said
but you std-ths' ;isrti9 never"
nowW "'
"Well wouldn't that Gems VndeF
'worserT AllE asked,
"Rut, my child" Peter expostuiated
kindly. "My dear benighted wife
there is such thing MS soul--s mind
Ia personality! To be tied to a.
well, to coarsenlng influence dsy SEtes
day is living de6tNI u y worse than
any bodily discomfort"
"'~I don't see lt!t Alix persisted. 81
think there's Il lot of nonseBsa taxed
about the fanMF pnc9lnpFeezy--bu II
seeps 70 me that II you have home
apd meals and books and friends and
the country to walk IN, you=="
"Qh, heayens, Alix, you don't know
what you're talking abOutr Cherry
Interrupted her lmpatiently. "Some-
times think your marriage is as
as queer as my own"
q
Nothing more WRS aN'a taf several
ahSg rE2h the subject 0f possible
aiy9rce One afternoon Peter crossed
the porch, tired and hot, and faund
everything apparently deserted, Ho
| drpEpea ipFQ 2 chair, and was still
Breathless from the ranid climb IN,
bill, when stray notes from the piano