News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1921-11-16

"If you don't believe 1t you had bet
ter ask him about some Of the par'le
he had with Joe Kings crowd, am
where they were on the night Of Aur
rs. and If he knows anybody name
Hatty Woods, and see what he says
Ask him If he ever heard Of Bopps
hotel and when he was in Sacrament,
last. If he denies 1t, you can SHOW
him this letter"
There was no signature.
Alix, who had read it first with ,
hewidered and suspicious look, real
it again, and flushed deeply at thu
sordid shame of it. She laid 1t dow
and looked in stunned conviction a
her sister
Cherry, who WAS breathing hard
raised her head, rested her chin on
her hands. elbows on the table, and
stared at Alix defiantly.
There" she said almost with tri-
umph. There Now, is that so easy?
Now, am I to just smile and agree to
say Certainly, Martin, OF course,
Martin, dearr Now you see-now you
see Now, am to bear that" she
rushed on, her words suddenly violent.
"And go On with him--as his wife
when common woman like that"
Cherry, dear!' Alix said, distress
eddy.
"Ah, well, you can't realize it; no
body but the woman to whom it hap
pens can" Cherry interrupted her,
bnr 70 wit han
But let him say what he pleases
now" she added, passionately, "let
him do what he pleases-I'll follow my
own course from today onw
Alix, watching her fearfully, was
amazed at the change in her. Cher
rvs eyes were blazing, her cheeks
pale. Her voice was dry and feverish,
and there was a sort of frenzy in her
manner that Alix had never seen be-
fore. To bring sunny little Cherry to
this-to change the radiant, innocent
child that had been Cherry into this
bitter and disillusioned woman-Alix
felt as if the whole world were going
mad, and as if life would never be
sane and serene again for any one of
them.
Cherry, do you believe it?" she
asked.
Cherry, reused from a moment of
brooding silence, shrugged her Shout
ders impatiently.
"Of course l believe itl' she an
swered.
But, darling, we don't even know
who wrote it. We have only this wom-
ans word for it"
"Oh, look at it--look at it, AliX!"
Cherry burst forth. do decent men
have letters like that sent to their
wives? Is it probable that good man
would do anything to rouse some
busybody woman to write such let
ter about him."
well, but who is she, and what do
you suppose she wrote it for?" Alix
wondered.
"Oh, l don't know. She got mad at
him, perhaps. Or perhaps she is
champion Of this Woods woman. They
had some quarrel-how do l know?
But you can see that she is mad, and
this is the way she gets even"
Cherry, at least do Martin the
justice to ask him about it !" AIix
pleaded.
Her sister seemed not to hear her
The misery in her beautiful eyes made
Alix's heart sink.
"And that" Cherry said in a whis-
per, sis my husband!"
She paused, staring down at the
table, one hand supporting her fore
head, the other wandering idly among
the breakfast things. Her look was
somber and far away. Alix, standing,
watched her distressedly, through a
long minute of silence.
"WellW Cherry said lifelessly, look
ing up at her sister with dulled eyes
what now? It's still for better or
worse 1 suppose?"
Alix sat down, and for a moment
covered her face with a tight-pressed
hand. When she took it away there
was new serenity and resolution in her
tired face.
NO" she said, with a great sigh, II
think perhaps you're right He hasn't |
he should have no claim on you'll
now!"
"Alix," Cherry demanded, would |
you forgive himT'
Perhaps l wouldn't" Alix said,
after thought.
perhaps you wouldn't" Cherry J
echoed, incredulously.
well, Pm not very good" Alix said, |
hesitatingly. But vow is VOW, you !
know. If it was limited, then my
my fulfillment of it would be limited, |
/ suppose. OF course" she added
honestly, I'm talking for myself
onlyw
And you would quietly forgive and
forget!" demanded the little sister, in
bitter scorn.
II say / hope l would" Alix cor
rected her. Even If this is true"-she
added, with a glance at the lavender
letter-"still, suppose the rule of for,
giving seventy times seven times"
Cherry interruDted her with a hurst |