The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-10-06

WITH IL
And in That Moment AIix Came In.
only ten -ocI0ck- Let's talk. aren't
you simply wild with joy, Cherry?"
But she told Peter later that she had
been surprised at Cherry's quietness;
Cherry had looked pale and distracted
and had not seemed half enthusiastic
enough.
1t was a Sunday, foggy and overcast,
but not cold. The vines about the
porch were covered with tiny beads
of moisture; among the bushes in the
garden little scarfs and wells of fog
were caught, and from far across the
ridge the droning warning of the fog
horn penetrated, at regular, brief in
teryals Alix was away.
Cherry" Peter said suddenly, when
the silent meal was almost over, will
you talk about it,"
Talk she faItered. Her voice
thickened and stopped. "oh, l would
rather not = she. whispered, with a
frightened glance about.
Listen, Cherry!" he said, following
her TO the wide porch rail and stand
ing behind her as she sat down upon
it. I'm sorry I'm just as sorry as
l can be- But 1 can't help it, Cherry.
I'm as surprised as you are-I can't
tell you when tit all happened
But it" Peter folded his arms across
his chest, and with a grimly squared
jaw looked off into the misty dis
tance-''it Isl there he finished.
ooh, I'm so sorryT' Cherry whis-
pered on a breath of utter distress
I'm so sorry! Oh, Peter, we never
should have let it happen-our caring
for each other We never should have
allowed ourselves TO think-to dream
of such a thing Oh, Peter, I'm so
sick about it" Cherry added, incO-
herently, with filling eyes. "Pm just
sick about ii I know know that
Alix would never have permitted her
self to- know she wouIdn'tI"
He was close to her, and now he
laid his hand over hers.
ST care he said, quite involun-
tarily, 81 have always cared for
you! I know it's Madness know
| it's too late-but 1 love every hair of
your beautiful headl Cherry-Cher-
ry-i"
| They had both gotten to their feet,
| and now she esSayed to pass him, her
! face white. her cheeks blazing. He
/ stopped her and held her close in his
arms. and after few seconds he felt
her resisting muscles relax and they
kissed each other
For a full dizzy minute they chung
together, arms locked, hearts beating
madly and close and lips meeting
again and again Breathless, Cherry
wrenehed herself free and turned TO
drop into chair, and breathless, Pc
ter stood looking down upon her.
About them was the silence of the
dripping garlen all the sounds of the
world came mufied and dull' through
the thick mist
Then Peter knelt down beside heI
chair and gathered her hands together
in his own. and she rested her fore
head on his. and spent and silent
| leaned against his shoulder. And SC
they remained. not speaking. for {
long while. Presently Cherry broke
the brooding, misty silence.
! "What shall we dog" she asked il
a small tired voice.
Peter abruptly got to his feet, tool
a chair three feet away, and with {
quick gesture of his hand and toss o.
his head. flung back his hair.
There is only one thing TO do, o.
course. :" he said decidedly, in vOic'
unrecognizably grim. "We mustn't sc,
! each other-we mustn't see each 9th
err, Now-now | must think how bes
10 manage thatp'
Her eyes. heavy with pain, wer'
raised to meet his, and she saw hi
mouth weaken with a sudden misgiv
ing. and she saw him try to steady i
and look down
At CAM shall tell Alix that thi
new business needs me in town TO
two or three nights" he said, foreini
himself TO quiet speech, but with on
fine hand propping his forehead as
it ached I'll stay at the club.
"And as soon as l can 60, Cherr
added feverishIy, Il shall join Martin
I'll wire him tomorrow-this is Sun
day-and I'll go ON Wednesday :"
Peter sprang over the porch IA
and vanished, walking with swift enc
" up the trail that led toward ii
mountain.
For the rest of the day Cherry live
in a sort of daze of emotion; SOM
times she seemed TO be living w
lives. side by side In the one wa
: her old happy relationship with Ali,
and even with Peter. the old joking an
I talking and gathering for meals, Il
old hours in the garden or beside II
, fire and in the other was the confuse