Graham guardian., 1921-11-18

'uleu lhe CdOln WIN a splendid ant
vital personality. He seemed to fee
her near him again, to see the inter
ested eyes, the high cheek bones
touched with scarlet. the wisp of hall
I that would fall across her face some
times when she was deep In baking
or preserving, or poultry-farming, anc
that she would brush away with the
back Of an impatient hand, only &c
have II slip loose again.
One Of her kitchen aprons, caught In
the current Of air from the opened
door, blew about on its hook. He re-
membered her, on many a wintry day
buttoned into Just such a crisp apron
radinntly busy and brisk in her kitch.
en-, stirring and chopping moving con,
stantly between stove and table. With
strong hands still showing traces OF
Hour she would come to sit beside him
at the piano, to play duet with her
Characteristic dash and finish, only to
jump up In sudden conjunction, with
an exclamation: "Oh, my ducks-Td
forgotten them! Oh, the poor little
wretchesw
And she would be gone, leaving a
streak Of wet, fresh air through the
warm house from the open door, and
no would perhaps glance from a win
dow to see her, roughly coated and
booted, ploughing about her duck yard,
delving into barrels Of grain, turning
on faucets. welding a stubby old
broom.
She loved her life, he unused, with
a bitter heartache as he stood here
In her empty room. Sometimes he had
marveled at the complete and unques.
toning Joy she had brought to II. Pc
ter reminded himself that never In
their years together had he heard her
complain about anything. or seem to
feel bored or at loss.
"We've always thought Of Cherry as
the childl' he thought. "But II was
she. Alix, who was the real child. She
never grew up. She never entered into
the time Of moods and self-analysis
and jealousies and desires She would
have played and pIcnicked all her
life"
His heart pressed like a dull pain
In his chest. Duly, quietly, he went
out to the fire again. and DULY and
quietly moved through the day. Her
books and music might stand as they
were, her potted ferns and her scat
tered small possessions-the sewing
basket that she always handled with
a boys awkwardness, and the camera
she used so well-should keep their
places. But he went to her desk,
thinking In this long, solitary evening,
to destroy various papers that she
might wish destroyed before the cabin
was deserted. And here he found her
letter.
He found II only after he had some
what explored the different small
drawers and pigeonholes Of the desk,
drawers and plgeonholes which were,
to his surprise, all In astonishing or
der for Allx. Everything was marked,
tied, pocketed; her accounts were bal,
anced, and II she had anywhere left
private papers. they were at least no.
where TO be found.
Seeing In all this dread contirma.
tion of his first suspicion, of her death,
Peter nevertheless experienced shock
when he found her 3pttpr
II had been placed In an empty
drawer, face up, and was sealed, and
addressed simply with his name.
He sat holding II In his hand, and
passed before he could open
[.
SO II had been true, then, the fear
hat he had tried all these weeks TO
.ruSh2 He had been weighing meas
lring, remembering. until his very
oul was sick with the uncertainty.
His mind had been a confused web of
memories, Of this casual word and
hat look, Of what she had possibly
eard, had probably seen, had suspect
Now he would know. He tore open |
he envelope, and the dozen written
Ines were before his eyes. The let
er was dated, most unusual thing
or Allx to do, and Saturday, one !
clock" was written under the date.
was the day Of her death.
He read:
Peter, Dear-Dont feel too badly II
find stupid way out. I've been
linking for several days about II.
ou've done so much for me, aud after
ou, Of course, there's no one but
herry. She could be free now, he
Duldn't prevent It. When | saw your
ice a few minutes ago knew we
ouldnt fight II. Remember. this Is
lr secret. And always remember that
want you to be happy because love
ou sol"
II was unsigned.
Peter sat staring at It for while
ithout moving. without the stir OF n
hanging expression on his face. Then
e folded 1t up, and put Il In the pock-
Of his coat, and went out TO the
ack yard, where Kow was feeding the
lickens. The wet, dark day was end
g brilliantly in wash Of red sun
i light that sent long shadows from
re young fruit trees, and touched
'ery twig with dull glow.
"kow," Peter said. after an effort
speak that was unsuccessful. The
hnese boy looked at him sollotous.