Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-02-21

the childI' he thought. "But II Vas
she, Allx, 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 dull pain
in his chest. Duly, quietly, he went
out to the fire again, aud 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
q 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
lettay.
He found II only after he had some
whae explored the different small
drawers and plgeonholes of the DESK
drawers and pigeonhoies which were,
to his surprise, all in astonishing or;
der for Alix. Everything was marked,
tied, pocketed; her accounts were bal
anced, and IL she had anywhere left
private papers, they were at least no
where to be found.
Seeing In, all this dread confrma-
ton of his first suspicion Of her death,
Peter nevertheless experienced shock
when he found her letter.
1t had been placed In an empty
drawer, face up, and was sealed, anu
addressed simply with his name,
He sat holding 1t in his hand, and
moments passed before he could open
it.
So it had been true, then, the fear
that he had tried oil these weeks to
crush? He had been weighing, meas.
uring, remembering. until his very
soul was sick with the uncertainty.
His mind had been a confused web OF
memories, of this casual word ana
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 If
l find u 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 it. When l saw your
face a few minutes ago knew we
couldn't fight 1t. Remember, this Is
our secret. And always remember that
want you to be happy because love
you so"
1t was unsigned.
Peter sat staring at 1t for while
without moving, without the stir OF n
changing expression on his face. Then
he folded it up, and put it In the pock-
ct of his coat, AID went out TO the
back yard, where Kow was feeding the
chickens. The wet, dark day was end
ing brilliantly in a 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, Il 60 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 back!" he
said, briefly. TOnight-maybe Bo-
hnas--tomorrow, Inverness. l dent
know. BY and by. the big mountains,
Kow-by and by l forget"
Tears glittered in the Chinese boys
eyes, but he smiled with great air
Of cheer.
81 keep house" he promised.
The dog came fawning and spring
ing from the stables, and Peter Wills
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 OH crest and tree-top,
tangled itself rcdly in the uppermOst
branches Of few tall redwoOds, and
was gone. Twilight-a long twilight
that had in it 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. lie re-
memhcred that it was in the beginning
q scrt Of experiment; his mother and
he were too much alone in their big
city house, and she had suggested,