Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-05-20
CHAPTER XIV.

never happy, any more. unless my
arms are about you. VIII you let me
take you somewhere, where We can be
happy togetneT?"
Cherry turned her confident, child
ish face toward him; her lashes gilt
tered, but she smiled
Il love you, Peter !" she said. And
the words, sounding softly through the
silence of the garden, died away on
the warm night air like music.
In the two weeks since the day at
the old house they had not CHANGED To
be often alone, and tonight, for the
first time, Cherry admitted that she
could fight no longer. They talked as
lovers, his arm about the soft little
clinsing figure, her small firm fingers
tight in his own. He had squared
about on the great log that was their
seat so that his ardent eyes were
closer to her; the world held nothing
but themselves. 1t was eight o'clock.
80 this is the thing that was wait
ing for US all these years. Cherry, ever
since the time you and Alix used to
dam my brook and climb my oak
trees"
81 never dreamed of it !" Cherry
said, with wonder in her tone.
If we had dreamed of it" Peter
began, and stopped.
'Ah, if we had it would all be diff
ferent," Cherry said, with d look Of
pain. That's the one thing l can't
bear to think Of l cannot 90 back to
Martin. can't leave you'll can't leave
you'll"
shall We go away?" Peter asked,
simply.
"Go where?" she asked.
"Go anywhcre' he answered 1--WE
have money enough; we can leave
AliX rich-she viii still have her cabin
and her dogs and the life she loves.
But there are other tiny places. Cher
Ty; there are little cabins in Hawaii.
there are Canadian ages-Cherry.
there are thousands Of places in the
south of France where we might live
for years and never be questioned, and
never be annoyed"
"Francer She whispered, and the
downcast face he was watching SO
eagerly was thoughtful. "How could
we 60" she breathed. "You first, and
then l? To meet somewhere?"
eve would have to go together"
he decided swiftly. Every one must
know dear; you realize thatY
Wide-eyed she was staring at him
as If speIl-bound by some new hope !;
now she shrugged her shoulders in
careless disdain.
THAT isn't of any consequence
'YOu don't feel 1t sou He sat down
beside her, and again they locked
hands.
Not that part" she answered. sim
ply. Il mind-Allx," she added,
thoughtfully.
Eyes, | mind Alix!" he admitted.
''But the injury is done to Alix now"
Cherry said slowly. "Now it Is too late
to 60 back You and I couldn't-we
couldn't deceive Alix here, Peter"
Cherry added, and as she turned to
him he saw her thin white blouse move
suddenly with the quick rising Of her
heart. "That-that would be too hor-
rible! But ! could take this love Of
ours away, leave everything else be-
hind, simply-simply recognize" STAIN
mered Cherry, her lips beginning to
tremble, that it Is bigger than our
selves, that we can't help It, Peter.
I'd fight 1t II l could" she added, pite-
Csn g.
that no power on earth could keep me
from coming backl"
She buried her head on his shoulder.
and he put his arm about her. and
there was utter silence over the great
brooding mountain, and in the valley
brimming with soft moonShlne. ana in
the garden.
u believe that even Alix VIII under
stNd," Peter said after awhile. she
lovAs you and me better than any one
else in the world; she is not only ev-
erything that is generous, but she isn't
selfish, she is the busiest and the most
sensible person ] ever knew. l know
of course know It's rotten" he broke
off In sudden despair, 'but SHAT I'm
trying to say Is that Alix, of an poo-
pie | know, is the ore that will make
the least fuss about it"
Cherry was staring raptly before
her; now she grasped his hand and
said breathlessly:
ooh, Peter, are we talking about itf
Are we talking about our going away,
and belonging to each othery7
"What else?" he said, quick tears
in his eyes
"oh, but I've been so unhappy. I've
been so starved" she whispered. 81
thought wanted people-citiez--I
thought I wanted to 20 on the stage.
But it was only sou ! wanted. Oh
Peter what a life it will be! The lit
test cottage, the simplest life. and
perhaps a beach or woods 10 ualk 3d.
and. always talking, reading. always
together. Isn't the&e sofoe way u-
can get away, disappear az if we had
never Beenf"
Cherry " he said, kneeluy before
her In the vet grass. "You know what
il means :"
or ruaa-a --or, o. .i,o ,.-....-4 q.