Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-05-13
4APTER xlI-continued.

rniIId be happy In two f0OmS-some-
..gesa -anywhere- But not-with
h,m oh. Peter, If l hadn't done TT"
fler beauty as she pushed her plate
assde and leaned toward him, was so
ssafhing that Peter, a lighted match
kslf.faised TO a fresh cigarette, put
~ match down aimlessly and looked
tha1ehtfully at the cigarette, and laid
4haf down. too. without the faintest
eonsflousness of what he was doing
Tnp dav was warm, and there was
ufffa dampness on her white forehead,
where the gold hair chung to the brim
~ fhe dropping hat The soft curve
of her chin, the babyish shOrtness of
her npper lip and the crimson sweet
ness Of the little earnest mouth had
newell seemed more lovely than they
we're today. She was youth incarnate,
ualnitating, flushed, unspoiled.
For a moment she looked down at
me table and the color flooded her
face. then she looked him straigh. in
he eyes and smiled well! Perhaps
IN all work out right, Peter" she
sasa with the childish. questioning look
That so wrung his heart. She imme-
alakly gathered her possessions to-
getHler to go, but when they stepped
fnt0 sunshlny Geary street 1t was three
o'cleck, and Peter suggested that they
wall down to the boat
Ihey met Alix on the boat, but she
did not ask any embarrassing ques-
lions she sat between them on the
upper deck, blinking contentedly at
tie blue satin bay, her eyes following
the wheeling gulls or the passage Of
ships, her mind evidently concerned
only with the idle pleasantness of the
monent And always, for Peter, there
was the same joyous sense Of some
thing new-something significant
aoinething ecstatic in life.
IRON that hour he was never quite
It ease in Cherry's company and
avoided being alone with her even for
IN instant, although her presence al
ways caused him the new and tingling
delight. He read her honest blue eyes
truly, and knew that although, ike
nliBself, she was conscious of the new
sweetness and brightness of life, she
had never entertained for an instant
the fitting thought that 1t was Peters
feelng for her that made It so. She
thoOght perhaps, that it would be the
old childish happiness that she had
know in the valley, the freedom and
leisure and responsibility of the old
DAYS.
TIE next day she talked In a trou-
bled, uncertain way of going back to
RED Creek, and he knew why. But
ALI was so aghast at the idea, and
Peter, who was closing DIR. Strick-
lands estate, was so careful to depart
early in the mornings and return only
late at night, that the little alarm, If
q was that, died away,
Tie next time that Cherry went In
81 town, Alix did not go and Peter,
A:@%lng on the deck Of the early boat
Nlth her, asked her again to have
lupcheon with him. Immediately
elond fell on her face and he saw her
hseast rise quickly.
Peter" she asked him childishIy.
iooking straight into his eyes, why
aI8nt we tell AlIx about that?"
Peter tried to laugh and felt himself
Aegin to tremble again.
About what?" he stammered.
about our having been three hours
81 lunch last week?"
ST EWhy-I don't know" Peter said,
aEall.ng nervously.
She was silent, and they parted
wHhout any further reference to meet
sng for lunch.
That night, when Alix had gone to
Del he entered the sitting room sud
Norly to find Cherry hunting for a
Dol. She had dropped on one knee,
nc better TO reach a low shelf, and
Was wholly absorbed in the volume
Mne had CHANGED to open.
When she heard the door open she
fNfned. and Immediately became very
Pee, She did not speak as Peter
esane to stand beside her.
Cherry" he said in a whisper,
Aik face close to hers. Neither spoke
ngain for while Cherry was breath
rs hard; Peter was conscious only Of
wild whirling of brain and senses.
They remained so. their eyes fixed,
kaeir breath coming as If they had
heen running, for endless seconds.
You remember the question you
Sc me this morning?7 Peter said.
20 you remember? Do you remem-
berY
Cherry, her cold fingers still holding
&c place in the book she had been
Esading, went bllndly to the fireplace.
"What?" she said, in the merest
Nreath. "WhatT"
Because" Peter said. following her.
sort Of heady madness making him
ly conscious Of that need to hear
- her own Fps that she knew, he
use 7 didn't answer that question
Aynezt1ve'
II mattered not what he said, or
"a he vas trying TO express; both
90 enveioped in the Fame q their
relationships surprise and terror
&c eclipsing even the strange JOY
81 their discovers.