Judsonia weekly advance., 1922-01-12

rather not! l--Wnere IS my DOOk! What was I doing? Peter-Peter-"
 Just a minute" Peter protested thicl1ly. "Cherry-I want to speak to 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 a moment of absolute silence.
 
 And in that moment Alix came t>t She had said goodnight half an gar before; she was in her wrapperyand her hair fell over one shoulff in rumpled braid. Cherry, sick with fright, faced her in sort of horror, unable to realize at thatlmoment that there was nothing betraying in her attitude or Peters, and nothing in her sisters unsuspicfous soul to give signi- Peter, more quickly recovering self control ,yent toward his wife. "PelP.' she said. Cherry! Look at fffs! Look at this ]"
 She held the paper out to them, but it was rather at her that they looked, as all tlfree gathered near the hearth again.
 "T happened to finish my novel," Alix said, land I reached for Dads old Bible-it's been there on the shelf near my bed ever since was married, and I've even read it, too! But look lo+ .II + It's Uncle Vincent's receipt to Dad for that three thousand u t is making all the trouble p Alix exuted to the still bewildered Cherry. It's been there all this time-and Cherry" she added in a voice rich with love and memory, that's what he meant by saying it was in Matthew, don't you remember? Doesn't it mean that, Pete? Isn't 1t perfectly clear?"
 Tt means only about fifty thousand for you and Cherry" Peter answered. "Yes sir, by George-it's perfectly clear He paid it back-every cent of it, and got his receipt! Hm-this puts rather crimp in Little's plans I'll see him tomorrow This calls off his suit"
 Really, Peter?' Alix asked, with dancing eyes. And it 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 it Let me see it again-'in recognition of all claims against the patent extinguisher aforementioned'-sit down, Pete it's only ten o'clock! Let's talk. Aren't you simply wild with joy, Cherry?"
 But she told Peter later that she had been surprised at Cherry's quietness; ; Cherry had looked pale and abstracted and had not seemed half enthusiastic enough.
 It 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. Alix was away.
 Cherry" Peter said suddenly, when the silent meal was almost over, twill you talk about it?"
 "Talk-?" she faltered. Her voice thickened and stopped. "Oh, I would rather notr' she whispered, with a frightened glance about
 Listen, Cherry!' he said, following her to the wide porch rail and stand ing behind her as she sat down upon it. I'm sorryl I'm just as sorry as 1 can be. But I can't help 1t, Cherry. I'm as surprised as you are-I can't tell you when it-it all happened ! But it." Peter folded his arms across his chest, and with grimly squared jaw looked off into the misty dis tance-"it is there" he finished "Oh, Pm so sorry!" Cherry whis- pered on breath of utter distress. 'I'm 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
 Ol ouNh o tiifAS Nii, CtCit I III oo sick about it," Cherry added, inco- herently, with filling eyes. I'm just sick about it I know-I know that Alix would never have permitted her. self to-I know she wouldn'tI'
 He was close to her, and now he laid his hand over hers.
 "I care" he said, quite involun- tarily, q have always cared for you! I know it's madness-I know it's too late-but I love every hair of your beautiful head Cherry-Cher- ry-W
 They had both gotten to their feet, and now she essayed to pass him, her face white, her cheeks blazing He stopped her and held her close in his arms, and after a few seconds he felt her resisting muscles relax and they kissed each other.
 For a full dizzy minute they clung together, arms locked, hearts beating <3l.- and oJooa and lipc meeting