, 1922-03-01

eaehS- Int ocatiuB VI ASot
frightened her. Il shall be sick II II
go on this way she reminded her
self. And then they VIII know. They
mustn't knew. But Peter she
whispered suddenly. Peter. who has
always been so good to me-so gen
erous Ia me-and it was Cherry all
the time, Even those years ago..
when We - to tease him about the
lady with the crinollnes n ringlets.
1t was she. But why didn't task her
instead OF me?- wondered AIix. and
with an aching head and a frowning
brow she began TO piece 1t all to-
gether.
The terrible truth rose triumphant
from all her memories. Sometimes for
a second hope would flood her with
almost painful JOY, but inevitably the
truth shut down upon her again. and
hope died, and she realized afresh that
sorrow. stronger than before, was
lwaiting to seize her again.
Wei cant stand 1t in here !.
Alix said. suddenly. She crossed TO
the door. and opened 1t. and slipped
noiselessiy out into the night. catch
ing a coat from the rack as she
passed
Tha ,,,o,. ~ =, coma,
fo. ,hare was 10 r,aon ana No stars
but the air was soft and YARN wifi
no yoal N v,ax AIix c,,,,had inward
wa,king ranid,y hraatbing hard and
freoren,tx sneaLing aIoud as some
no;enant ,bou.bt sn,ota ber ar stand
ing still. TOO slck with main under an
unexpected rush of emotion. to move.
.ua would have to,d mo aho,,t H.
why didn't 7 LEI him >, ran AlIx,s
| Thoughts 81 tbo,pbt- OF some Older
,vo,non 5or,t l-no,r vhr~anrwav
didn't care so much then. Rut / care
now, Peter. / care now, I can't give
Won I'M. even TO Cherry If l. non
sense "a talk of giving him mn Alix
told herself. sitting down in the inky
dark. on d log against which her wild
walk had suddenly brought her. "for
we are ali married people. and we ali
love ZACH other. But oh. I am so sor-
rys i am so sorry. Peter" She whis-
pered. as If She were speaking to him.
You couldn't helm r. know that
She is so pretty and so sweet. Cherry
and she Turns TO Won as n vou were
her big brother,,
She got to her feet and went on.
.What am | thinking about-it,s abb
surd, Can't people ike each other in
this world. lust because they happen
to be married Peter would he the
first to laugh at me. And is II fpir 10
Cherry even to think that she would
"Oh. but IFS true :, tho honeste,. i'm
pulse lpterru6tpd. mercilessIv .It Is
true. Whether tt's right or wrong ar
sensible or absurd. they do love zach
other; that's what has changed them
BOTH
And she hogan 70 reme,nhar a undra
"a thousand-trides. that made n al
~hideously clear, Words. chances.
moods subtler than either. came hack
to her. Cherry's confusion Of late
when fhe question of her return m
Mart,r vv.s ,s,sed mar I,d,rarcnaa =
her inheritance. her restless talk DIR
ing one hour of immediate depa rture
and during the next of an apnarentlv
iermIess visit all these we're siepIa-
cant now.
Il am desperately unhappvf ~ Cherry
had said. And mmediateI after that.
AK recalled ~wretchedly. had come a
brief and apparently almless talk
about Allx's rights, and her eagerness
to share them with her sister.
Poor Cherry - the older sister said
aloud, standing still for a moment.
and pressing both hands over her hot
eyes. Poor little old Cherry-l.re
hasn't been very kind to herr She
and Peter must be so sorry and
ashamed about thisl And Dad would
be so sorry of all things he wanted
most that Cherry should be happyl
Perhaps thought Alix, "he realized
that she was that sort of a nature. she
must love and be loved, or she cannot