The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-09-30

BY
KATHLEEN
NORRIS

have the responsibility OF IT all for
a whiiels
His tone was humorously reproving
rather than unkindi But such a
speech would I'LL Clnerry's eyes with
tears and cause her to go about the
house all morning with a heavy
heart.
She would find herself looking
thoughtfiIly at Martin in these days,
studying him as If ne were an utter
stranger. IT beWtIdered her to feel
that he actually WAS no more than
that, after two years Of marriage. She
not only did not knew him, but she
had a baffied sense, that the very
nearness of their union prevented her
from seeing him fairly. She knew thai
she did him injustice in her thoughts.
II must be Injustice decided Cherry.
FOR Martin seemed TO her less clever.
less Just, less intelligent, and less
generous than the average man of her
acquaintance. And yet he did not
seem TO impress other people In the
way lie impressed her.
He was extraordina rily healthy. ana
had small sympathy for Illness. weak
ness for the nDfort innate. and the
complaining. He whlstIed over his
dressing, read the paper at breakfast.
and was gone AT noon he rushed In,
always late, devoured his lunch APP
preciativeIy, and was gone again. at
night he was usually tired, inclined to
quarrel about small matters, inclined
to disapprove of the new positions of
the bedroom furniture, or the way
Cherry's hair was dressed.
He loved to play poker and was hes
pitabie to certain extent He would
whistle and joke over the prepare
lions for rarebit after a game, and
would willingly walk five blocks for
beer IL Cherry had forgotten to get 1t.
On Sunday he liked to see her prettily
g0Wned; now and tItrn they motored
with his friends from the mine; more
often walked, ate a hearty chicken
dinner, and went to cold supper In
the neighborhood. With Five Hun
dred" to follow. AT Ten their hostess
would fiutter into her kitchen; there
would be lemonade aud beer and rich
layer cake. Then the men would be-
gin to match poker hands. and the
women TO discuss babies In low tones.
Cherry never sa4 her husband so
animated or SO interested as when
men he had known Lefore CHANGED to
drift into town, mining men from Ne
vada or from Ell MIDI or men he had
known In college They would dis
cuss personalities. would shout over
recoIlected good times, would slap
each other on the back and laugh
tirelessly.
She thought him ain extremely diff
cult man to live with, and was angered
when her hints to this effect led him
to remark that she was the 'Iimit."
They had a serious quarrel one day.
when he told her that she was the
most selfish and spoiled woman he
had ever known. He called her at
tention to the other women of the
town. busy. contenteCl women, sending
children on to school, settling babies
down for maps In sunny dooryards,
cooking and laughing and hurrying to
and fro.
Yes, and look at theml" Cherry
said with ready tears shabby. thin,
tired all the time II
1.-THE trouble with you is" Martin
said, departing, you've been told that
you're pretty and sweet all your life
aud you're spoiled You are pretty
yes" he added, more mildly. But
by George, you sulk so much, and you
crab so much, that I'm darned if
see IT any more! All / see is trouble T
With this he left her. Left her to
a burst of angry tears. at first, when
che dropped her lovely little head on
the blue Bingham of her apron sleeve
and cried bitterly.
The kettle began TO sing on the
stove, bee came In and wandered
about the hot kitchen; the grocer
knocked, and Cherry LET the big loui
OF boy stare at her red eyes IN
caring.
Then she went swiftly into the bed
room and began to pack and change
She'd show Martin Lloyd-she'd show
Martin Lloyd She was going straight
to DaJ-she'd take the-take the
She drowned She had missed tht
nine O'Clock train; she must walt fol
the train at half-past two. Wal
where1 Well. she could only wal
here Very well. she would walt here
She would not get Martin any lunch
and when he. ragged a,he would explain
She finished her packing and put tn.
house In order Then, In unaccustomet
mid-morning leisure, she sank into /,
deep rocker and began to read. Quie
and shade and order reigned In tn,
little house.
Steps came bounding up to Cherry
door; her heart began to beat; knocl
sounded. She got to her feet, puzzled
Martin did not knock.
Il was Joe Robinson, his closes
friend at the mine.
Say. listen. Mrs. Lloyd: Mart can
get home to dinner" said joe H
dan't feel extra well-he was I'm RI