The Raymer enterprise., 1922-02-09
CHAPTER TX.
g..

In January, however, he came home
one noon to find her hated and
wrapped to 80. -
"Oh, Mart-it's Daddy!" she said.
"He's ul-Tve got to see him! He's
awfully ILL.,"
Telegram" asked Martin, not par
ticularly pleased, but not unsympa-
thetlc. either.
For answer she gave him the yellow
paper that was wet with her tears.
dad ILL.," he read. Don't worry.
Come II you can. Alix."
"I'll bet it's a put-up job between
you and Alix--" Martin said In indul.
gent suspicion.
Her indignant glance sobered him !;
he hastily arranged money matters and
that night she got off the train In the
dark wetness Of the valley, and was
met by a rush of cool and fragrant
air. Cherry got a driver, ratified and
jerked up to the house In surrey,
and jumped out, her heart almost suf-
locating her.
AlIx came flying to the door; the
old lamplight and the odor Of wood
smoke poured through. There was
no need for words: they burst into
tears and clung together.
An hour later Cherry, feeling us II
she was not the same woman who
walked In Red Greek this same morn
Ing and got Martins eggs and coffee
ready, crept into her fathers room.
Alix had warned her to be quiet, but
at the sight Of the majestic old gray
head and the fine old hands clasped
together on the sheet her self-control
f0rsook her entirely and she fell to
her knees and began to cry again.
The nurse looked At her disapprov.
ingly, but after all, It made little dif.
ference. DIR. Strickland reused only
once again and that was many hours
later. Cherry and AlIx were still
keeping their vigil; Cherry. worn out,
had been dozing: the nurse was rest.
Ing on q couch In the next room.
Suddenly both daughters were wide
awake at the sound Of the hoarse yet
familiar voice. Alix fell on her knees
and caught the cold and wandering
hand.
"What Is It, darling?" The old, half.
Joking maternal manner was all In
earnest now.
"Peter?" he said thlckly.
"Peter's in China, dear. You remem,
Der that Peter was to so around the
worldl You remember that, Dad?"
mo" he said musingly. They
thought he slept again, but he present
~ added: Somewhere In Matthew
no. In Mark-Mark is the human one
Mark was as human as his Mas
ter"
"Shall I read you from Mark" Ali1
asked, as his voice sank again. A
shabby old Bible always stood at her
fathers bedside; she reached for 1t
and making desperate effort to
steady her voice. began to read. The
place was marked by an old letter
and opened at the chapter he seemed
to desire, for as she read he seemed
to be drinking in the words. Once
they heard him whisper, "WOnderful !!
Cherry got up on the bed and took
the splendid dying head In her arms
the murky winter dawn crept In and
the lamp burned slckly In the daylight
Hong could be heard stirring. Alix
closed the book and extlngulshed the
lamp. Cherry did not move.
Charity" the old man said pres.
emily, in simple, childish tone. Later
with bursts Of tears, in all the utter
desolation of the days that followed
Cherry loved to remember that his
last utterance was her name. But
Allx knew, though she never said It,
that 1t was to another Charity he
spoke.
Subdued, looking younger and thin.
ner in their new black, the sisters
came downstairs, ten days later, for
business talk. Peter had been named
a. one executor; but Peter was far
awayy md 1t was pleasant family
friend, a kindly old surgeon Of DIR.
Strickland's own age, or near It, and
the lawyer. George Sewall, the other
executor, who told them about their
affairs. Anne. as co-heiress, was pres.
ent at this talk, with Justin sitting
close beside her. Martin, too, who
had come down for the funeral, was
there.
The house went to the daughters
there were books and portraits for
Anne, box, or two In storage for
Anne, and Arne was mentioned In the
only 'will az equally inherlting with
Alexandra and Charity. For some
legal reason that the lawyer and DR..
Younger mads clear. Anne could mt