Graham guardian., 1921-10-28

she was so arrestingly lovely that AliX
was well aware of the admiring
glanecs from all sides to which she
was so supcrhly Indifferent.
"Mnrtin," SIZE hegan, 81 read let
ter intended rGr Cherry this morn,
Ing. lIopen all the mailw
She had to repeat II twice before he
realized that there was something he.
hind her earnest and significant tone,
Then she saw him stop twisting his
program, and vCer about toward her,
She murmurcd 4 question.
"Do what?" re asked, In an under
tone Instantly lowered.
EDO you know girl named Hatty
woode?" 'Allx repeated, cautiously.
All hope died when she saw his
face. "WEat about her?" he asked,
almost lnaudibly
somebody wrote this letter about
her" AlIx started, quickly.
"WhO wrote you about her? What'd
she say?" heSdemanded quickly.
"Just--rll let you see It," she said.
~ don't know who wrote it-it wasn't
signed. Do yOu-do you know her?
Do you know Hatty WoodsH She said
The letter said"
'Oh, sure, know what she'd say" /"
Martin conceded furious at Alix's In.
reference, trembling with anger and
resentment, and only anxious to close
the conversation. 81 know all about
her and her kind. ] think know who
wrote that letter, too. You give II to
me tomorrow and I'll manage II. There
won't be any moreI
MARTIN" Alix whispered, gravely,
III you have given Cherry any cause
-" Her voice fell, and there was n
silence.
"There are n great many things In
life that you don't understand. my
dear sisterin-law.r Martin said re.
luctantly, nettled "a mans life Is not
woman's~-isu't intended to bel If
this woman says she has anything on
me- Well, now, I'll tell you some
thing and you can tell your sister-if
this Is a. frame-up, that I'll fght Hatty
Woods and fifty Hatty Woods L"
"Martln-fOr heavens sakew AllX
warned him, as she pressed her vio-
let's against her face.
"Well," he said. surlily, nov you
know how feel about it,
Martin" AllX pleaded, feeling that
her last hope was sinking away from
her. "can you deny her storyf
"you get Cherry to deny that she's
never lost chance to beat II away
from home ever since she was mar
ried.". he said. "You get her to deny
that she has said over and over again
that she never wanted children, that
her marriage was mistake! You
ask her to show you the letters I've
written her, asking her to come back,
and then I'll show you the answers
gotp
"Mart," Aliy said, sharply, there's
no use in your taking that tone with
me That will do no good II TINS
poor girl, this FATTY"
~ tell you to leave Hatty out OF 1t !!
Martin SAID 'The best thing you can
do is to let the whole thing alone ]"
But Lshe saw thal. he was both ntr>'
Gus and apprehensive, and she knew
that the inference she and Cherry had
drawn from the letter was true one
docs Cherry know anything OF
this?" Martin presently muttered.
''Do you want her toG" Alix asked
poinIedly, ~
lie shrugged his shoulders with a
great assumption of indifference.
"lf she waits to have it all dragged
to light, wig, She can 90 ahead! he
reypegkssl, ega.r;elessly, I'm not stop
| ping her."
"Ai least ! think you ought to lei
Cherry lead her own life after this !
Alix couhiered with spirit.
Live in your old house, ehi" he
| asked, resentfully, MS he fiipped the
pages of his program with hlg thuml
and stared at It with unseeing eyes
What does she want to live there
for7"'
'The fact remains that she does,
Alix persisted.
"Yes, and have Just as good tint
| as II she never had been married u
all Z he said,
| "You know"
Alix was beginning the denial tha
she had given him so confidently las
night hut she interrupted herself, ant
stopped short Tile conviction rushed
upon her in an Overwhelming war'
that she had no right to repeat tina
denial now that the ast dreadful twen
ty-four hours had changed the who'll
situation, andg that sSe herself has
better reason to suspect Cherry thar
either Martin or his gossiping aunt
She sat sick and silent.
Meanwhile, Cherry and Peter ha'
their first opportunity to speak +
each other aloae. To both the thirs
for speech was q burning necessity
and Il wdswlth an almost dizzy sens
Of relief that Cherry turned to hiI
with her FIRST words. .-a.
"peter,I don't dare say much Ca
yNu hearsme2"
"Perfectiy" he answered, lookln
at his folded program.
'Peter. I've been thinking-abou
our plan. mean! Martin plans TO &
on Monday, But something has haT
pened since / saw you this mornin!