Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-01-17

he said; he was taking q couple or
days holiday, and everything went.
EOw was choppinG wood after lunch,
and he sauntered out to the block with
suggestions, Alix. laying fire fOr the
evening. simply because she liked to
do that sort of work. was favored with
directions. Finally Martin pushed her
aside.
"Here, let me do that" he said.
"You'd have fine fire here, at that
rate!"
Later he went down to the old house
with them, to spend there an hour
that was trying TO both women. II
was almost In order now; Cherry had
pleased her simple fancy In the matter
of haugings aud papering, and the
effect wac fresh and good. =.
"Girls going to rent this2" Martin
asked.
"Unltss you and Cherry come lise
here" Ali1 said boldly. He smiled
t0lerently. 1'
why should WeF
"Well. why shouldn't your"
'Loafing, eh?" Z
mo, not loafing. But you could
transfer your work to San Francisco,
couldn't your" s.
Martin smiled deep, wise, long
enduring smile,
h"Oh, you'd get me Job, l supposeT
ne asked. II love the way you women
try TO run things" he added, "but ]
guess I'll paddle my own canoe for a
while longer"
There Is no earthly reason why you
shouldn't live here" Alix said pleas
antly. F
There is no earthly reason why we
should" Martin returned. He was
annoyed by suspicion that Allx and
Cherry had arranged between them 10
make this plan the alternative TO a
divorce. "ro tell you the honest truth,
] don't like Mil valley!"'
Alix tasted despair. Small hope OF
preserving this particular relationship.
He was, as Cherry had said, "impos-
sible."
''Well, we must try to make you like
Mil Valley better!" she said with
resolute good-pature. "Of course, 1t
means lot to Cherry and tome to be
near each otherr
"That may be true, too," Martin
agreed, taking the front seat again
for the drive home.
Alix was surprised at Cherry's pas
sivity and silence, but Cherry was
wrapped in sick and nervous dream,
unable either to interpret the present
or face the future with any courage.
Before luncheon he had followed ner
into her room and had put his arm
about her. But she had quietly shaken
him off, with the nervous murmur :
"Please-no, don't kiss me, Martin I"
Stung, Martin had Immediately
dropped his arm, had shrugged his
shoulders indifferently and laughed
scornfully. Now he remarked to AliX,
with some bravado:
"You girls still sleeping out?"
"0h, always-we aIl do" Alix had
answered readily. "peter has an eA-
ira bunk on his porch; Cherry and /
huve my porch. But you can be out
or in, as you choose!"
Martin ventured an answer that
made Cherry's eyes CLINT angrily and
brought quick, embarrassed flush to
Alix'S face. Alix did not enjoy a
certain type OF Joking, and she did not
concede Martin even the ghost of a
smile. He Immediately sObered and
remarked that he himself liked to be
indoors at night. His suitcase was
accordingly taken into the pleasant
little wood smelling room next to Pc
ter's, where the autumn sunlight,
scented with the dry sweetness OF
mountain shrubs, was streaming.
He began TO play solitaire, on the
porch table, at five, and Kow had to
disturb him to set it for dinner at
seven. Aliy was watering the gar.
den, Cherry was dressing. 1t was I'm
exquisite hour of long shadows and
brilliant lights.
Row had put tureen Of soup on
the table, and Alix had returned with
damp, clean hands and trinity brushed
hair, for supper, when Peter came up
through the garden. Cherry had ram
bled off in the direction Of the barn q
few moments before, but Martin had
followed her and brought her back,
remarking that she had had no idea
Of the time and was idly watching
Antoine milking. She slipped into her
place after they were all eating, and
hardly raised her eyes throughout the
meal. II AliX addressed her she fut-
tered the white lids as IL 1t were all
absolute agony to look up; to Peter
she did not speak at all. But TO Mar.
tin size sent an occasional answer
and when the conversation Jagged, as
1t was apt TO do In this company, she
nerYouSly filed it with random re-
marks infinitely less reassurlng than
silence.
'How long do We stay here?" Martin
cautiously asked his wife after dinner
"Stay here?" she echoed, at a loss