, 1922-03-29

think I Will go" he added. mildly
She made no further protest.
But whereY' she asked, sympa.
thetically.
81 don't know. I shall take Buck
start off toward the big mountains
I'll write yon now and then. of course!
I'm going home, first !"
Just now" Cherry unused, sadly
perhaps 1t is best-for you--to gel
away! Now that Martin is SO much
better" she added, In a little burst. 81
do feel so sorry for you. Peterl |
know how you feel. l shall miss bel
always. Of course" said Cherry. 'huI
/ have him."
Il try not to think of her." Petes
said. hinging up his head.
"When you do Cherry said. earn
estly, giving him more of her attention
than had beer usual, of late, Here IL
something to think, Peter. It's this:
we have so much to be thankful for.
because she never-knewi 1t was
madness" Cherry went on. eagerly.
sheer madness-that Is clear now. 1
don't try to explain it. because It's all
been washed away by the frightfui
thing that happened. I'm different
now; you're different-l don't know
how we ever thought we could"
There was a silence during which
she looked at him a%nxiously. but the
expression on his face did not alter.
and he did not speak.
"And what l think we ought to he
thankful for" she resumed. sis that
Alix would rather-she would rather
have 1t this way. She told me thar
she would be heart-broken If there hau
been any actual separation between
me II Martin, and how muc worse
that would have been-what we
planned, l mean. She was spared
that. and we were spared-I see IT
now-what would have ruined both our
lives. VIZ were brought to our senses,
and the awakening only came a little
sooner than 1t would have come any
way"
Peter had walked to the window
and was looking out at the shabby
winter trees that were dripping rain.
and at the beaten garden. where she
drenched chrysanthemums had been
bowed to the soaked earth.
Here, In Dads homc," Cherry said.
coming to stand beside him, II see
how wicked and how mad 1 was. In
another t~wenty-four hours 1t would
have been too late-you don't know
how often l wake up in the night and
shiver. thinking thati And as It is.
/ am here In the dear old house. and
Martin-weH. you can see that rel
Martins life is going to be far happier
than 1t ever wasl It's such a joy to
me-" she added. with the radiant look
she often wore when her husbands
comfort was under consideration, ITO
feel that we need never worry about
he money end Of things-there's
enough for what we need f~oreveri"
you u never worry about mon
ey." he told her. "And II ever you
need tiff 1t is a question of a long
trip. or of more operations-if there Ia
any chance"
II shall remember that I have q big
brother !" she said. ,
The room was scented by the sweet,
damp flowers. and by the good odor
Of lazily burning logs; yet to Peter
there was chill and d~esoiateness in the
air. Cherry took up h glass BOWL In
both careful hands. and went sway In
the direction Of the study. but he stood
at the window for a long time staring
DULY u at the battered chrysanthe-
NUNS and the swishing branches, and
the steadily falling rain.
A few days later. on a day of un-
certain sunshine and showers, Peter
left them. To Cherry Peters going
was a relief; 1t burned one more
bridge behind her. II confirmed her
In the path she had chosen; 1t was to
her spirit like the cap that marks the
accepted student nurse, or like the
black Golf that replaces the postnlant's
white veil Of probation.
He had been in the downstairs bed
room, talking with Martin. for per.
haps an hour; he mad drawn them a
rough sketch Of the little addition to
the house that Cherry meant some day
to build next to the study. and he and
Martin had been discussing the de-
tails. Cherry was sweeping the wet.
d~un-colored leaves from the old porch
when q sudden step in the doorway be.
hind her made her look up.
Peter had come of the house.
with Buck beside him. he wore his
old corduroy clothes and his shabby
cap. but there was something in his
aspect that made her ask:
mot goingT"
Eyes. I'm going nowi" he said
She rested her broom against the
| thick trunk OF the old banksfa. and