The Dolores star., 1922-05-19
By
KATHLEEN
NORRIS


her husbands side. amusing him as
Stllfuly as mother. He was get
ting So popular that she had TO ne
ready for callers every day. Would he
like her to keep George Sewail Tor
dinner, when they could play dominoes
nrninf Would he like the table with
the picture puzzle? He would like
lust to talk? Very well; they would
talk
Martins day was so filed and
divided with small pleasures that II
was apt TO amaze him by passing too
quickly. He had special breakfasts,
he had his paper, his hair was brushed
and his bed remade dozen times a
day. Cherry shared her mail, which
was always heavy now, with him; she
fitted into the slck-rOom every few
minutes with small messages or gifts.
with her bare. bright head. her busy
white hands, her voice all motherly
amusement and sympathy and sweet
ness. she had never seemed so much
wife. She had the plenSantcst laugh
in the world, and she often laughed.
The sick-room was kept with exquisite
simplicity, with such freshness, bare
ness, and order as made il a place of
delight. one day Cherry brought home
great Vikory bowl OF silvery glass,
and dozen drifting goldfish. and Mar
tin never tired of watching them Idly
while he listened to her reading.
CHERRY Peter said on a wet Janu-
airy day, when he came upon her In the
dining ROOM contentedly arranging a
fragrant mass Of wet vIolets. 81 think
Martins out of the woods now be-
lieve I'll be moving along"
"Oh, but we want you always, Pc
ter" she said, innocently regretful.
The ghost Of panied smile fitted
across his face.
THANK you" he said, gently. But
think | will GO" he added, mildly.
She made no further protest.
But where?' she asked, sympa-
thetically.
81 don't know. shall tako Buck
start off toward the big mountains
I'll write YOU now and then, of course
In. going home, first"
Just now" Cherry mused, sadly
perhaps it is best-for yOu--to ge,
away! Now that Martin is so much
better" she added, in little burst. 81
do feel so sorry for you, Peter!
know how you feel. / shall miss hel
always, of course" said Cherry. but
| have him"
81 try not to think Of her." Petel
said, tlDglng up his head.
when you do" Cherry said, earn
estly. giving him more of her attention
than had been usual, Of late, Here /:
something to think, Peter. It's this
we have so much to be thankful for
because she never-knew 1t wa.
madness" Cherry went on, eagerly
sheer mndness-that is clear now.
don't try to explain it, because it's al
been washed away by the frightfu
thing that happened. Tn differen
now; you're different-I don't know
how we ever thought We could"
There was a silence during whicl
she looked at him anxiously, but til,
expression on his face did not alter
and lie did not speak.
"And what / think we ought to b.
thankful for" she resumed. "is tina
Alix would rather-she would rathe
have it this way. She told me tha
she would be heart-broken If there ha,
been any actual separation betweel
me and Martin, and how much wors
that would have been-what w
| planned, | mean. She was spare,
that. and we We're spared-I see |
now-what would have ruined both ou
lives. We were brought to our senses
and the awakening only came littl
| sooner than it would have come any
waym
Peter had walked TO the window
and was looking out at the shabb,
winter trees that We're dripping rain
and ut the beaten garden, where th
drenched chrysanthemums had beef
bowed to the soaked earth.
Here, in Dads home" Cherry said
coming to stand beside him, 81 Sc,
how wicked and how mad was. Ii
another twenty-four hours it woul,
nave been too late-you don't know
now often l wake up in the night an,
shlver, thinking that. And as it is
L am here in the dear old house: an,
Martin-well, you can see that evel
Martins life is going to be far happie
than 1t ever was, It's such Joy t
me- she added, with the radiant lool
she often wore when her husband
comfort was under consideration, st
feel that we need never worry abou
the money end of things-there'
enough for what we need foreverw
tTo BE CoNTINUEDJ
The Sage Of Monticello"
| The nSapa of AIontinolIan -