The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-10-25
(Continued From Yesterday


 me! That will do no good! If this | poor girl, this Hatty-" '1 tell you to leave Hatty out of l iti' Martin said. "The best thing you can do is to let the whole thing
 But she saw that he was both nerv- our and apprehensive, and she knew that the differences she and Cherry one.
 "Does Cherry know anything of this?" Martin presently muttered. "Do you want her to?' Alix asked, pointedly.
 He shrugged his shoulders with great assumption of indifference. eff she wants to have It all dragged | to light, why, she can go ahead! he remarked. carelessly. "Pm not stop
 ssAt least think you ought to Ter Cherry lead her own life after this! Alix countered with spirit. Live in your old house, eh?" he asked, resentfu1ly, as he Tipped the pages of his program with a big eyes. What does she want to live
 '~The fact remains that she does.'' "Yes. and have just as good a time as if she never had been married at i alli' he said.
 You know"
 Alix was beginning the denial that she had given him so confidently last l night, but she interrupted herself, | and stopped short. The conviction rushed upon her in an overwhelming | wave that she had no right to repeat that denial now that the last dread | full twenty-four hours had changed the whole situation and that she her 1 self had better reason to suspect Cherry than either Martin or his gos- | siping aunt. She sat sick and silent. | Meanwhile, Cherry and Peter had their first opportunity to speak to for speech was a pruning necessity, and it was with an almost dizzy sense 1 of relief that Cherry turned to him | with her first words. 1 Peter, I don't dare say much, Can you hear me?"
 | Perfectly" he answered, looking l at his folded program.
 Peter, I've been thinking-about our plan. mean! Martin plans to go on Monday But something has hap pened since I saw you this morning, something that makes a difference! I had letter, a letter from some wo- | man connecting his name with an- | other woman, a Hatty Woods-she' S notorious in Red 'Creek-and this Joe King crowd that he went with | don't know who wrote the letter, or why she wrote" she said. hastily as 1 Peter interpolated a question. :And I | don't carei As far as Martin goes. I am free now; what is justice to Mar tin, and kindness to Martin, will never count with me any more!" ! Peter wasted no words.
 He, goes Monday" he said. "We checked again yesterday? Was it only l yesterday?''
 That's all."
 We would have been on the train tonight. Cherry, flying toward New Orleans.'
 Her small hand gripped his in the darkness.
 .Tf we only were!" he heard her breathe.
 He turned to her, so exquisite in her distress. Her breast was rising and falling quickly.
 Patience, sweetheart!"- he said Patience for only a few days more! Tomorrow I'll make the arrange ments. Sunday is only two days off '
 Their eyes met in a wild rush ot triumph and hope.
 This time we shall do it," Peter said.
 "oh, Peter-yeun never be sorry?' she whispered.
 Sorry! My dearest child. when you give your beauty and your youth to a man almost twice your age, who has loved you all your life-do you think there is much chance of it?''
 Why shouldn't it be one of the : happy-marriage ?' said Cherry after a silence.
 Ut will,' he answered confidently As the weeks become months. and the months become years, and the ! | beauty and miracle of it go on and l on. we will think that what we fee :; for each other now is only the shad q ow-the dreami'
 = Shall just let Martin think I an
 quietly gong away with him on Mon day?" she asked. after a silence il d which she was deeply thinking a Does he know you had that let It ter?" Peter said.
 n No; Alix is going to speak to hir n about it." Cherry outlined the tai
 that she and her sister had had a
 Then I shouldn't bring up tn
 question at an." Peter decided, quick IF ly. Tt would only mean an ugly an unnecessary scene. It's much wise , to let him continue to think that yo don't know anything about it, and
 let Alix think that you are ignorin
 the whole thing"
 Until Sunday" she whispered.
 Until Sunday" Peter glanced
 Martin and Alix, who were talkir
 together historically. in low tone a this misery up to you!" he whispere, Her little hand was locked in his fc
 the rest of the evening.
 Morning came. a crystal autumn
 morning. and life went on. If the1
 was any change at the cabin 1t was
 change for the better. Alix. who ha
 been silent and troubled for a Httl
 while. was more serene now, usus
 concerned for the comfort of he
 household. and as usual busy all da
 long with her poultry and pigeon
 her bookkeeping. stable, and doga. Pt
 ter was his courteous. gentle. intei
 ested self. more like the old Pete
 who had always been occupied wit le his music and his books. than Iik 10 the passIonately metamorphosed Ps 7- ter who had been so changed by loy d for Cherry. Martin satisfied wit .o the general respects and considers IS ton with which he found himself SUI Ip rounded. accepted life placidi ,S enough: perhaps he had been dii Ill turbed by the advent of the iette l. perhaps he was willing to let th h question of an adjustment betwee o- Cherry and himself rest. It amuse $. him to help get the house ready fe
 a tenant. and from the fact that Cher