The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-10-06

days.
The next day she talked in trou-
bled, uncertain way Of going back TO
Red Greek, and he knew why But
Alix was 80 aghast at the idea, and
Peter, who was closing DR.. Strick-
lands estate, was so careful TO depart
early I'm the mornings and return only
late at night, that the little alarm, II
il was that, died away.
The next time that Cherry vert in
TO town. Alix did not go, and Peter.
sitting on the deck of the early boat
with her. asked her again to have
luncheon with him. Immediately
cloud fell on her face and he saw her
breast rise quickly.
Peter" she asked him childishy,
looking straight into his eyes, why
didn't we tell Alix about that7"
Peter tried TO laugh and felt himself
begin TO tremble again.
About whatT' he stammered-
about our having been three hours
at lunch last Weekr'
"Why-I. don't know Peter said.
smiling nerVously.
She was silent. and they parted
without any further reference to meet
ing for lunch.
That night, when Alix had gone to
bed. he entered the sitting room sud
denly to find Cherry hunting for
book. She had dropped on one knee,
the better 70 reach a low shelf, and
was wholly absorbed In the volume
she had CHANGED to open.
When she heard the door open she
turned, and Immediately became very
pale. She did not speak as Peter
came to stand beside her.
CHERRY" he said I'm a whisper,
his face close to hers. Neither spoke
again for while. Cherry was breath
ing hard; Peter was conscious only Of
a wild whirling of brain and senses.
They remained so. their eyes fixed,
their breath coming as If they had
been running, for endless seconds.
"You remember the question you
asked me this mornings? Peter said.
do you remember? Do you remem-
ber?'
Cherry, her cold fingers still holding
the place in the book she had been
reading, went blindly to the fireplace
"what?" she said, in the meresi
breath. "what?"
Because" Peter said, following her
a sort of heady madness making him
only conscious OF that need TO heal
from her own lips that she knew, "be
cause / didn't answer that question
honestly!"
1t mattered not what he said, Oh
what he was trying TO express; botf
were enveloped in the flame OF thetl
new relationship; surprise and terror
were eclipsing even the strange Joy
of their discovery.
81 must go home-I must go bach
to Mart tomorrow 20 Cherry said, in &
| whispered undertOne, as If half to her
| self. ST must go home TO Mart to
| morrow! let's not-let's not talk =
/ she broke off In quick interruption. a,
he would have spoken. "Let's-P'
/ rather not where is my book
What was doing? Peter-Peter-'
Just a minute!" Peter proteste'
/ thickly. "Cherry-I want to speak Il
you-wilI you wait minute?"
She was halfway to the door; nov
she paused. and looked back at hin
with frightened eyes. Peter did no
speak at once: there was a momen
of absolute silence.
:"
And in that moment Alix came in
]. She had said goodnight half an hou
| before; she was in her wrapper AM
her hair fell over one shoulder in
rumpled braid Cherry, sick wit
fright. faced her in sort of horror
unable to realize at that moment tina
there was nothing betraying in he
attitude or Peters, and nothing in he
sisters unsuspicious soul to give signi
ficance to what she saw, in any cas-
Peter. more quickly recovering sell
control, went toward his wife.
peter she said. Cherry Loo
at this Look at this!"
She held the paper out TO them, bu
it was rather at her that they looked
as all three gathered near the heart
. again.
st happened to finish my novel,
AIix said, land | reached for Dad
old Bible-it's been there on the shel
: near my bed ever since | was married
and I've even read il. too! But loo
what was in it-there all this time
| It's Uncle Vincent's receipt TO Da
: for that three thousand that is maxim
/ all the troublei' Alix exulted to the sti
J bewildered Cherry. ITS been ther
: all this time-and Cherry" she adde
: in a voice rich with love and memoir!
: that's what he meant by saying
was in Matthew. don't you remember
Doesn't It mean that. Pete? Isn't
perfectly clear?''
SIT means only about fifty thousan
for you and Cherry" Peter answers
Yes sir, by George-it's perfect
: clear He paid it back-every cent
1t, and got his receipt H'm-th
1 nathan N avir1y1 in TiTslafS r1lanS-