The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1921-09-29
CHAPTER XI.

Cnerry a q nat now In Red Creek
Park" 1t differed from an apart
ment because it had no elevator, no
~janitOr, no steam heat. These things
were neither known nor needed in the
crude mining town; the fiat building
itself was considered a rather ques-
tionable innovation. 1t was a wooden
building, three stories high, with bay
windows. Cherry had watched this
building going up, and had thought it
everything desirable. She liked the
clean kitchen, all fresh white wood
work, tiles, and nickelplate, and she
liked the big closets and the gas-log.
She had worried herself almost sick
with fear that she would not get this
wonderful place, and finally paid
twenty-five dollars for the first
months rent with a f%ast-beating
heart. She had the enter floor.
But after the excitement of moving
in died away, she hated the place.
She had enough money t o hire a maid
now, and she had a succession of slat-
ternly, independent young women in
her kitchen, but she found her freedom
strangely fiat.
Now and then a play, straight from
"a triumphant year on Broadway
came TO town for one night; then
Martin took his wife, and they bowed
to half the men and women in the
house, lamenting as they streamed
out into the sharp night air that Red
Greek did not see more such produc-
tons.
The effect of these plays was to
make Cherry long vaguely for the
stage; she really did not enjoy them
for themselves. But they helped her
to visualize Eastern cities, lighted
streets, restaurants full of lights and
music, beautiful women fifty gowned.
After one of these performances she
would not leave her fiat for several
days, but would sit dreaming over the
thought of herself in the heroine's
role.
One day she had a letter from AliY;
it gave her a heartache, she hardly
knew why. She began TO dream of her
own home, of the warm, sweet little
valley whose breezes were like wine,
of Tamalpais wreathed in fog, and of
the ridges where buttercups and pop
pies powdered q child's shoes with
gold and silver dust. She began to
hunger for home. Nothing that Red
Creek could offer shook her yearning
for the remembered sweetness and
beauty of the redw0ods, and the
great shade of the mountain. She
to spend a whole summer with
Alix.
She vas athirst for home, for old
scenes and old friends and old emo
She had only TO hint to Alix
to receive a love letter containing a
invitation. SO it was settled.
With a sort of feverish brevity Cherry
completed her arrangements; Martin
was TO use his own judgment in the
of boarding or keeping the fiat.
Some of their household goods were
Cherry told him that she
would come down in September and
manage all the details of settling
lfresh, but she knew hat her secret
lope was that she might never see
Red Creek again.
Alix met her sister at the ferry in
Francisco ON a soft May morning.
was an oddly developed Alix,
rim and tall, PRETTY gowned and
eiled, laughing and crying with joy
I seeing Cherry again. Peter, she
Explained between kisses, had had to
0 to Los Angeles three days ago, had
cen expected home last night, and /
as not even aware yet that Cherry
as definitely arriving. ]
vi course, he knew that you were /
)ming, but not exactly when,'' Alix
as she guided the newcomer n
ong the familiar ferry place on to
le big bay steamer for Mill Valley. o
Merry drew back to exclaim, to mar $
Il, TO exuit, at all the well-remem- +
red sights and sounds and smells.
"Oh, Alix-Market street, she ex- Il
aimed. And that smell of leather Fl
ming, and that smell Of bay water 6