Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-06-03
SISTERS
BY KATHLEEN NoRR1s.

Then she put her hand to her
threat. and Looked with a sort of ter
ror at the silent figure of Cherry.
Nobody must know-that was Alix s
first clear thought. She was breath
ms hard, her breast rising and falling
painfully, and the blood in her tenn
pies began to pound; her mouth was
dry.
With a blind instinct for solitude
she vent quickly and silently from
the sleeping porch, and into tho warm
sitting room. For u few minutes .Alix
stood, with one foot on the chain thai
linked the old brass fire dogs, her ell
bow on the mantel. and her cheek
resting against her arm.
b,v Me- SnoI .He c Whispered PEI 3D., a'g.'st audi Ii.
my God. It has been that. all the time,
that, all the time-and l. never knew
it Y dreamed it!
ITS Peter and Cherry! They have
come to arc for each other-they
havs come to care for each other"
she said to herself. her Thoughts
rushing and tumbling in mad confus-
ion as she tested and tried the nev.
1T must be 20. But it can't be
ror. for what shall we do-what shall
we do! Cherry in love with Peter. But
Peter is my husband-he is my hus-
band" And in . spasm of pain she
shut her eyes, and flung her head as
II sufocating. The beating of her
heart frightened her. 81 shall be sick
II I go on this way!" she reminded
herself. And then they will know.
They mustn't know. But Peter
s has ~ s'%ay. tses sSda dc Eooo Peter Pc m.v who
generous to me~and It vas Cherry ry all
the t1me!- Even those a ago,
when we used to tease him about the
lady with the crinolines and rinxlets.
It was she. But why didn't he ask her
instead Of mel" wondered Alix, and
with an aching head and a frowninE
brow she began to piece it all to-
gether.
The terrible truth rose triumphant
from all her memories. Sometimes Tor
a second hope would flood her with
aim ost painful Joy, but Inevitably the
truth shut down upon her again. and
hope died. and she realized afresh
that sorrow, stronger than before, was
waiting to seize her again.
"Well--T ant stand it in herc!"
Ahx said, suddenly. She crossed to
the doo-. n opened it, and slipped
no!selessiy out into the night, catch
ing a coat from the rack as she
passed. S~
MThe night was wrapped in an ocean,
o.. there was no moon and NO Ia IA
but the air was soft and>warm. With
no goal in view. Alix climbed upward.
walking rapidly. breathing hard, and
frequently speaking aloud, dis some
poignant thought smote her, or stand.
ing still, too sick with pain. under an
unexpected rush of emotion, to move,
would have told me about IT.
Whv A3AnSf Mat htr,s NJ,
thoughts. Il thought of Some older
woman, I don't know why-anyway, /
didn't care 40 much then. But I care
now! Peter, l care now! can't give
you up, Y e to Cherry. 1t is hon
ense to talk of giving hins up Alix
told herself, sitting down in the tnky
dark. on a log against which her wild
walk had suddenly brought her, N.for
We are al married people, and We ali
love saeh other. But oh, ! an % .
pared, aAif she were speaking 10 him.
You couldn't help 1t. / know that.
She is SO pretty and so sweet. Cherry
and she turns to you as If you were
her big bFother!"
She got to her feet and. vent on.
What am I thinking about-rs
absurd!' Can't people like each other.
in this world, just because they han.
peI " De ulAtEl&u. REFER W0uIQ be the
first to laugh ut me. And Is II fair 1o
Cherry ever to think tina she would
"Oh, but it's true!" the. honester
impulse interrupted. mercjlessly. 1T
Is true. Whether it's right Or wrong
or sensible or absurd. they do love
each other; that's what hae chinEcd
them both"
And she began to remember I hun.
dredE thousand-trtflss. that INSIDE
moods subtler than either. came back
to her. Cherry's confusion at late,
when the question of her return to
Martin was raised, hsF iHdinerenoa 70
her inheritance, her release talk DIR
Ing n hour of immediate departure.
'aFd duriHS the next Of an a~pparantiy
t9Fmless visit; all these wsfe 4gnl1i
fam desperately unhsppy!. cher:
ry had said. And imDsediateiy after
that, Alix recalled wretchedty, had
come Z brtsf ana apparently aimiSss
talk about Airs rights, and her Gag
ernees to ShAre them with her saistAr.
Poor Cherry" the sldsF st0tSI 6il6
aloud. Standing still for HSmebt;
Aid pressing both hands dv<r htff fhof
sya4.S "lRer little Sd ChsrtJ-Nfe
hAbH't been very Mind 10 h1Ep 6ht
and Peter must " 10 sorry Nd
ashaWs4 Aabout thii! And naA Saudi
F..