The Crittenden press., 1922-05-12
CHAPTER xnl.
-f2


ointment and nt noon looked az a
flushed and lovely vision IN the den
lists mirror.
She went ont into the blazing street
u was one of the hot noontides Of the
year AZ two O'Clock a wud yind
would spring up and send papers aud
dust iying bat iust now the heat vas
dry and clear and stilL
She was carrying a parusol n1i she
opened Il now and walked slowly %.
ward Geary street She could not even
fume IN her thoughts the utter blank.
ness of the feeling that swept over
her AZ missing an opportunity 20 see
Peter. She turned and went slowly
20 past the big shop windows that ~.
fected the burning Plaza, and so cnme
20 the cool. great doorway of the s.
Francis Inside was tempered llrhi
and much noiseless coming and going.
meeting and parting.
Cherry driftcf into the BIC. deep
capetsd waiting room; there werc
ether women there. sunk into the biz
leather chairs. watching the doors and
eiancing at the clock. When a man
came hastily IN the door. one woman
rose. there was a significant smile. o
murmured grccting. before the two
vanished.
IN q luxurious chair Cherry waited.
Peter certainly would not come IN IN.
al half.pasi twelve. perhaps not then.
Suddenly. with a spring Of her heart
against her rihs. she saw Peters dark
head with a. touches of Iron gray.
Oroomed and brushed scrupIously
a. always with he little limp yet a.
always dlrnihed and erect. he came 10
stand before her. and she stood NJ
and their hands met Flushed and a
little confused. she followed him %
On inconsplcuous table IN a corner of
The dining room. Then the drcamlike
unrcality and beauty of their hours
togsther heran arain.
"nid you expect me % meet your
fhe smiled For answer be- looked a.
her ihourhffuily a minute before hls
own face lighted with a bright smile.
7 don't think thought of your not
being thsre.- he confessed. 4 vns
simply moving an morning toward the
instant of meeting lie watched her.
almost with anxiety. FOR a moment.
then turned his attention 10 the hlll
q fare. But Cherry was no, hungry.
and she paid small attention 20 the
order. o. % ths food when Il came.
I Presently they were talking again,
m that hunger for seifanalysis that
81 part Of new love. They thrilled
Al eyery word, Cherry missing her
eyes shining with eagerness. 10 hlS
Or Peter watching the little down.
fropped face IN an arouy oi alteration.
An hour rasscd, two h0urs. after
awhile they wcre walking SIN with
that strange sense OF oneness and Of
solitude and silll a. easily as II they
had been floating 90 the ferry.
Alix met them m Mnl Valley with
vivid accounts Of the day; abe had
been pondcring the brief talk with
Anne and was anxious 20 have Peters
yieg of n. Peter was of the oplnlon
that Anne's conduct indicated very
clearly that abe and Justin realized
that their cuse vas Lost.
Then you're axed for life. Cherry"
was Allx's nrst remark. -Oh, LAY !
che added. ln a burst. Let's 80 down
10 the old house tomorrow, VIII youi
Let's soo what Il ueeds. and hos much
would have % b. douc 20 make u ~
20 live ln~
Cherry flushed. staring steadily a.
her sister. aud Peter. too, was cuu'
fused bui AilK saw nothing. The
uczi day she carried her point. and
toos them with her down to the old
huusc. therg VAS pale and tghilng
tears. as thry crossed thc porch. and
nurl tlc tgy n the door, inside ihe
lulsg ihr aif was close and stale.
uiorous of dry Pine wallis and Of un.
alrgd rooma Peter nuug up d window,
tho girls walked a.mlcssiy about.
hrough thc familiar. set shockingly
strange. chalrs and tables that wcrc ali
coaicd thiCkly with dust
1t needs evegthlngr Alix said,
after q lrst quick tour o. inspection,
eyelng a grcatcr weather streak On
the raw plaster of The dlnlng'room
wall IL needs air. cleaning. straight
snlng. nowers- Oosh. how u does
heed peoplei-
III can't bear iti- Cherry said
softly, In = sick undertone.
Alix. Who was rapidly recovering
her equilibrium. sprung upstairs with.
out hearing her. but Cherry dld not
follow. She went 20 the open ffuui
doorway and stvod there. leaning
against the an, aud gazing sadly out
at the shabby. tangled garden that
had sheltered ali the safety and Joy
and innocvnce of her llltlegiri days
Peter" shs said as be- came 10
stand beside her. I'm 90 unhappy e
Cherry. wii you end itr' he ssked
her. hekily.
80 snvr kIm a startled iook.
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