News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1921-10-19

| idter, anu Huu WonueTeu WIN hnOchco
so late.
She crossed to the door and opened
It to darkness and rain, and to man
in raincoat who whipped off spat'
tered cap and stood smiling in the
light of the lamp she held. Instantly,
with sort of gasp of surprise and
| pleasure and some deeper emotion, she
set down the lamp, and held out her
hands gropingly and went into his
arms. He laughed joyousy as he
kissed her. and for minute they
chung together.
"Peter!" she said. you angel
when did you arrive and what are you
doing, and tell me all about Il"
But Alix-youre thin !" Peter said,
holding her at arms length. And
and" He gently touched the black
she wore, and fixed puzzled and
troubled eyes upon her face. "Alix--"
he asked, apprehensively.
For answer she tried to smile at
him, but her lips trembled and her
eyes brimmed, She had led the way
iiilS tiiS oiu SitlihS ippihs
You heard-about Dad?" Alix fall
tered, turning to face him at the man.
tel.
"Your father!" Peter said, shocked.
But hadn't you heard, Peter?"
my dear-my dearest child, I'm
just off the steamer. | got in at six
o'clock. I'd been thinking of you all
the time, and suddenly decided to
cross the bay and come straight on to
the valley, before l even went to the
club or got my mail! Tell me-your
father"
She had knelt before the cold
hearth, and he knelt beside her, and
they busted themselves with logs and
kindling in the old way. A blaze
crept up about the logs and Alix ac-
cepted Peters handkerchief and
wiped streak of SCOT from her wrist.
quite as if she was child again, as
she settled herself in her chair.
Peter took the doctors chair, keep
ing his concerned and sympathetic
eyes upon her.
"He was well one day." she said,
simply, land the neXt-the next, he
didn't come downstairs, and Hong
waited and waited-And about nine
O'Clock l went up-and he had fallen
he had fallen
She was in tears again and Peter
put his hand out and covered hers and
held it,
"He must have been going to call
some one said Alix, after a while,
they said he never suffered at all.
This was January, the last day, and
Cherry got here the same night He
knew us both toward morning And
that-that was all. Cherry was here
for two weeks. Martin came and
'Where is Cherry now?" Peter in
terrupted.
Back ut Red Creek" Alix wiped |
her eyes. "She hates it, but Martin
had a good position there. Poor !
Cherry, it made her ILL.,"
"Anne cameY'
ANNE and Justin. of course" Peter |
could not understand AliX's express
sion, She fell silent, still holding his
nan1 and looking at the fire.
He looked at her with great rush
f admiration and affection. She was
ot only a pretty and clever wom-
n; but, in her plain black, with this
ew aspect of gravity and dignity, and
-itt nf rnthnc and onnpn1
n her exquisite voice, he realized that
he was an extremely charming wom-
n.
Before he said good-by TO her, he
ad asked her to marry him. He well
her look of bright and in
crested surprise.
"D'you mean to tell me you have
Orgotten your lady love of the hoop !
kirts and ringlets?" she had de-
landed.
NO" Peter had told her, frankly.
I shall always love her, in a way.
tut she is married; she never thinks
me. And like you so much, Alix;
like our music and cooking and
amps and reading-together. Isn't
lat a pretty good basis for mar
age?"
NO" Alix had answered, decidedly.
if we're madly in love with
on l should say yes, and trust to
tile fingers to lead you gently, and
} on"
He remembered ending the CONVEX
ltion in one of his quick moods of
ritation against her. Ii she couldn't
Ike anybody or anything seriously
e had said.
Poor Allx-she was taking life seri-
lsly enough tonight, Peter thought,
5 he watched her.
Tell me about Cherry" he said.
Cherry is well, but just little thin,
nd heartbroken now, of course. Mar
n never seems to stay at any one
ace very long, so | keep hoping"
Doesn't make good" Peter said,
laking his head.
Doesn't seem to! It's partly Cher
Z, think" Alix said honestly. "She
as too young, really. She never
lite settles down, or takes life in
lrnest. But he's got contract now
nd che 4