Graham guardian., 1921-10-21

ing for him. A situation bordering on
hidden guilt is created In the doctors
Bible AliX finds a receipt for the money
he had borrowed. Anne's claim falls to
the ground and Allx and Cherry are
financially Independent. Heartbrolten over
their tragic position, Peter yainly seeks
solution which shall make for the mu-
tual happiness of Cherry and himself, but
there seems no way.
CHAPTER XIII.-Mrs. North, Martin
LlOyd's aunt, has her suspicious concern
ing Peter and Cherry and the lovers feel
the danger OF the situation.
CHAPTER XIV.-Joyce urges Cherry
70 leave Martin and go away with him
to some remote part of the world where
they can live their lives together. She
finally consents, feeling that AliN will for
give. and Peter makes arrangements for
their journey.
CHAPTER XV.-The day OF their de-
parture arrives Peter had gone into San
Francisco, where Cherry was to meet him
on the steamer. Actually on her way to
the boat Cherry meets Martin, who has
left his situation at Red Creek and Is on
his way to her. Terrorstrcken, she MAN.
ages to get word TO Peter and goes back
TO AliX's home with Martin, On the way
she musters courage sufficient TO tell him
the truth about her feeling for him. Mar
tin processes himself unable to under
stand her grievances.
CHAPTER XVI.-Apprising Alix Of tho
situation between himself and Cherry,
Martin insinuates that someone has been
making love to Cherry. Alix Indignantly
conception of the real truth Later, some
observations made by Martin, and her
own intuition, force Alix to a realization
of the love existing between Peter and
Cherry. Heartbroken, she passes ths
night wandering in the woods, unable to
make up her mind as to the course she
will pursue.
CHAPTER XVII. GERRY gets an anon
ymous letter from Red Creek coupling
Martins name with that of a woman
named Hatty Woods. She shows the let
ter to Alix, and the latter questioning
Martin he practically admits the truth
of the accusation. Divorce is now openly
talked of. Peter and Cherry arrange to go
away together Sunday, two days distant,
CHAPTER XVIII,-saturday morning
Peter realizes from AliX's manner and
ambiguous remarks that she is aware Of
the situation. He does not tell Cherry
Alix and Martin depart for Peters cabin in
the automobile, leaving Peter and Cherry
to follow them on foot On the way they
are met by woman who, on the verge
Of Mysteries, informs them the car, with
AliX and Martin, has gone over a preci-
pice They find AliX dead and Martin so
badly injured that II Is felt death would
be a happy release,
CHAPTER XIX.-Although hopelessly
crippled the doctors announce that Mar
tin will live. Cherry tells Peter she feels
she must devote her life to caring for her
husband and she and Peter part.
CHAPTER XX.--In his cabin Peter
finds a note written to him by Allx on the
morning of her death. In the note she
tells him of her intention to commit sui
eide and take Martin with her. Feeling
that for him life is ended, Peter, with
Alix's dog, Buck, her constant companion,
sets out on "a journey which has 70 desti-
nation and Cherry takes up her martvr.
Som with her crippled husband
After few seconds he gave Cher
ry an ObIiQue glance, expecting her
resentment. But she was thinking TOO
deeply even TO have heard him. Her
mind was working as desperately as
Gagged animal, her thoughts circling
f1antically, trying windows, walls, and
doors In the prison In which she
found herself, mad for escape.
She blamed herself bitterly now for
allowing him, In the surprise aud fear
she felt In the shock OF their unex-
pected meeting, to arrange this do
mestic and apparently reconciled re-
turn to the valley house, But it was
TOO late now! Too late for anything
but bald and brave and cruel half
hour that Should al any cost, sunder
them.
Quick upon the thought came an.
other: what should she and Peter plan
now9 For to suppose that their lives
were to be guided back into the old
hateful channel by this mere mis-.
chance was preposterous. Within
few days their interrupted trip must
be resumed, perhaps tOmorTow--per-
haps this very night they would man.
age 1t successfully Meanwhile, un.
til she could see Peter alone, there
was Martin to deal with, Martin who
was leaning forward vapgloriously re.
citing to her long speeches he had
made to this superior or that.
Martin she said, impetuousIy In
terrupting him, I've got to talk to
you I've meant to write it--so many
times, I've had 1t In mind ever since
| left Red Greek !"
"Shootg" Martin said, with his fav.
orite look of induIgent amusement.
There are marriages that without |
any fault on either side are q mistake" |
Cherry began, "any cOntrbutory fault,
| mean--"
Talk United Statesw Martin
gr0wIed, smiling, but on guard.
"Weli, think our marriage was one
of those I" Cherry said,
"What have you got to kick about2" |
Martin asked, after pause.
I'm not kickingw Cherry answered, |
with quick resentment. But | wish
! had words to make you realize how
| feel about itw
Martin looked gloomly up at her,
and shrugged.
This Is sweet welcome from your
wife" he observed. But as she re-
garded him with troubled and earnest
eyes, perhaps her half-fOrgotten beau-
ty made an unexpected appeal to him,
for he turned toward her and eyed |
her with a large tolerance. whats
the matter, Cherry2" he asked. ut
doesn't seem to me that you've got
much to kick about. Haven't | always
taken pretty good care of your Didn't
| take the house and move the things
in; didn't leave you Il whole month,
while | ate at that rotten boarding
house, when your father died haven't
| let you haye--how long is lt2--seven
weeks, by George, with your sister1"
Cherry recognized the tones Of.his