The Raymer enterprise., 1922-03-02

IHoTTuW! let 3 nOt-iet not tatk!
she broke of In quick interruption, a.
he would have spoken. "Lets-rd
rather not! where Is my book
What was I doing7 Peter-Peter-"
Just a mlnute." Peter protested
thickly. Cherry want to speak ia
you-will you wait a minute?"
She was halfway to the. door: now
she paused. and looked back at him
with frightened eyes. Peter did not
speak at once; there was moment
OF absolute silence.
.
And In that moment Alix came In.
She had said goodnight half an hour
before; she was In her wrapper and
her hair fell over one shoulder In a
rumpled braid. Cherry, sick with
fright, faced her In sort Of horror,
unable to realize at that moment that
there was nothing betraylng In her
attitude or Peters. and nothing In her
sisters unsuspiciOus soul to give signi.
fcance to what she saw, In any case
Peter. more quickly recovering self
control. went toward his wife.
"Pete!" she said. "Cherry! Look
at this Look at thls!'
She held the paper out to them. but
II was rather at her that they looked,
as all three gathered near the hearth
again.
~ happened to finish my novel"
Allx said, land I reached for Dads
old B!ble-it's been there on the shelf
near my bed ever since was married,
and I've even read II, too! But look
what was In lt-there oil this time !.
It's Uncle vlncent's receipt to Dad
for that three thousand that Is making
all the trouble" Alix exulted to the still
bewildered Cherry. ITS been there
all this tIme-and Cherry" she added
In voice rich with love and memory.
that's what he meant by saying It
was in Matthew, don't you remember?
Doesn't II mean that, Pete? Isn't II
perfectly clearf'
1T means only about fifty thousand
for you and Cherry" Peter answered.
"Yes sir, by George-lts perfectly
clear! He paid It back-eyery cent Of
It, and got his receipt! H'm-thls
puts rather a crimp In Little's plans
I'll see him tomorrow. This calls of
his suit"
Really, PeterY' AlIx asked, with
dancing eyes. "And II means that you
can keep the old house, Cerise." She
exclaimed triumphantly, "and we can
be together part Of the year, anyway
oh, come on, everybody, and sit down.
and let's talk and talk about II! Let
me see 1t again-'ln recognition of all
claims against the patent extlngulsher
aforementioned'-slt down, Pete; It's
only ten o'clock! Let's talk. Aren't
you simply wild with 10y, Cherryr
But she told Peter later that she had
been surprised at Cherry's quietness
Cherry had looked pale and distracted
and had not seemed half enthusiastic
enough.
1t was Sunday, fOggy and overcast,
but not cold. The vines about the
porch were covered with tiny beads
Of moisture; among the bushes In the
garden little scarfs and wells OF fog
were caught, and from far across the
ridge the droning warning OF the fog.
horn penetrated, at regular, brief In.
tervals. AllY was away.
Cherry" Peter said suddenly, when
the silent meal was almost over, will
you talk about IT.
"Talk-T' she faltered. Her voice
thlckened and stopped. "Oh, I would
rather mott" she whispered, with q
frightened glance about.
Listen. Cherry!' he said, following
her TO the wide porch rail- and stand
Ing behind her us she sat down upon
1t. I'm sorry! I'm JUST as sorry as
l can be. But l cant help It, Cherry.
I'm as surprised rs you are-I can't
tell you when lit all happened
But It" Peter folded his arms across
his chest, and with a grimly squared
jaw looked of into the misty dis.
tance-"it Is there" he finished.
"Oh, I'm so soryw Cherry whls.
pered on breath Of utter distress.
Pm so sorry! Oh, Peter, we never
should have let 1t happen--our caring
for each other! We never should have
allowed ourselves to think-to dream
of such thlng Oh, Peter, I'm SO
sick about It," Cherry added, inc0.
herently, with filling eyes. I'm Just
sick about II. I know-I know that
Alix would never have permitted her.
self to- know she wouldn't"
He was close to her. and now he
laid his hand over hers.
Il care" he said, quite involun.
tarily, Il have always cared fol-
you! l know It's Madness know
It's too late-but love every hair Of
your beautiful head! Cherry-Cher
ry-"
They had both gotten to their feet
and now she essayed to pass him, hel
face white, her cheeks blazing. He
stopped her and held her close In his
arms, and after few seconds he fell
her resisting muscles relax and they
kissed each other.
For full dizzy minute they clunl
together, arms locked, hearts beatinl