The Holly chieftain., 1922-05-04
CopyriEht by Kathise. Morris

uring, remembering. until his very
soul was sick with the uncertainty.
His mind had been confused web Of
memories. Of this casual word and
that look. of what she had possibly
heard. had probably seen. had suspect
ed-known-
Now he would know. He tore open
the envelope, and the dozen written
lines were before his eyes. The let
ter was dated, most unusual thing
for Alix to do, and Saturday. one
O'clock" was written under the date.
1t was the day of her death.
He read:
Peter, Dear-Don't feel too badly IL
1 find stupid way out. I've been
thinking for several days about 1t.
You've done SO much for me. and after
you, of course, there's no one but
Cherry. She could be free now, he
couldn't prevent 1t. When saw your
face few minutes ago l knew we
couldn't light It. Remember, this Is
our secret. And always remember that
want you to be happy because love
you sol
1t was unsigned.
Peter sat staring at 1t for while
without moving. without the stir of
changing expression on his face. Then
he folded 1t up, and put 1t in the pock-
ct of his coat, and went out to the
back yard, where Kow was feeding the
chickens. The wet, dark day was end
ing brilliantly In wash Of red sun
set light that sent long shadows from
the young fruit trees. and touched
every twig with dull glow.
"Kow," Peter said. after an effort
to speak that was unsuccessful. The
Chinese boy looked at him solicitous-
ly; for Peters face was ashen, and
about his mouth were drawn lines
"Kow," he said, II go now!
go now other house?" Kow nodded,
glancing toward the valley.
But Peter jerked his head instead
toward the bare ridge.
"No, go now-not come backW he
said, briefly: "Tonight-maybe Bo-
linas-tomorrow, Inverness. l don't
know. By and by the big mountains
Kow-by and by forget!"
Tears glittered in the Chinese boys
eyes, but he smiled with great air
Of cheer.
II keep housed" he promised.
The dog came fawning and spring
ing from the stables, and Peter whis-
tied to him.
"Come on Buck! We're going now ~
He opened the farmyard gate where
her hand had so often rested, crossed
the muddy corral. opened another
gate. and struck Off across the darken-
ing world toward the ridge. The last
sunlight fingered on crest and tree-top,
tangled itself redly in the uppermost
branches Of a few tall redw00ds, and
was gone. Twilight-a long twilight
that had In 1t some hint of spring-lay
softly over the valley; the mountain
loomed high in the clear shadow.
Gaining the top of the first ridge, he
paused and looked back at the cabin,
the little brown house that he had
built almost fifteen years ago. He re-
membered that 1t was In the beginning
sort Of experiment: his mother and
he were too much alone in their big
city house, and she had suggested,
with rare wisdom, that as he did not
care for society, and as his travels al
ways meant great loneliness for her.
he should have a little eyrie of his
own. to which he might retreat when
ever. the fancy touched him.
She liked Del Monte and Tahoe, her
| hut rh ho1 IN Mil 20
now and then in the days of his first
wild delight In Its freedom and beau
ty, silk-gowned and white-gloved and
very much disliking dust. She had
sent him plants. roses, and fruit trees,
and she had told him one day that he
had neighbor In the valley who was
an old friend of hers. Doctor Strick-
land, widower. with children.
He remembered sauntering up the
opposite canyon to duly call upon this
inventor-physician one day, and his
delight upon finding well-read, mu.
: sic-loving, philosophic, erratic man,
who had at once recognized kindred
spirit, and who had made the younger
man warmly welcome.
lSStilly, VII lhC Iull, eli,
chanting little girl In shabby smock
had come ina little girl all dimples
occurrences and untouched boyish
beauty. She had said that "Anne wath
mad wlv her, and that Alix-" she
managed to lisp the name, "wath up
In the madrone"
A somewhat older child, named Alix,
freckled, leggy little person with
enormous front teeth, had proved the
claim by falling out Of the madrone,
and had received no sympathy for a
bump, but ito him-rather surpris-
ing censure. He had yet to realize
that nothing ever hurt Alix, but that
she always ruined her clothes, and
frequently hurt other persons and 9TH
er things. He found her a spirited en-
thusiastic little person, extremely ar
| ticulate and quite unSelf conscious