Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-01-27


sordid shame of 1t. She laid 1t down
and ,o>Sed In stunned conviction at
her siHter.
Cherry. who wss breathing hard.
raised her head, rested her rlAn on
her hands, elbows on the table, and
stared at Allx defiantly.
'There!" she said, almost with tri-
umph. There Now, is that so easy?
: Now, am to just smile and, agree to
say Certainly, Martini OF course,
Martin, dearr Now you see-now you
see! Now, am l to bear that she
rushed on, her words suddenly violent.
"And 60 on with him--as his wife
when common woman like that"
Cherry, dearp Alix said, distress
edly.
"Ah, we'll, you emit realize 1t; no.
body but the woman to whom 1t hap
pens can!" Cherry interrupted her,
covering her face with her hands.
"But let him say what he pleases
now." she added, passionatelS "let
him do what he pleases-rll follow my
own course from today on"
Alix, watching her fearfully, was
amazed at the change in her. Cher
rvs eyes were blazing. her cheeks
pale. Her voice was dry and feverish,
and there was sort of frenzy in her
manner that Alix had never seen be-
fore. To bring sunny little Cherry to
this-to change the radiant; innocent
child that had been Cherry into this
bitter and disillusloned woman-Alix
felt as if the whole world were going
mad, and as If life would never be
sane and serene again for any one of
them.
Cherry, do you believe it" she
asked.
Cherry, reused from a moment Of
brooding silence, shrugged her shoul-
ders impatlently.
"Of course / believe lt!"t, she an
swered.
"But, darling, we don't even know
who wrote it. We have only this wom-
ans word for it" ~.
"Oh, look at it-look at 1t, Alixw W
Cherry burst forth. "Do decent men
have letters like that sent to their
wives? Is it probable that good man
would do anything to rouse some
busybody woman to write such let
ter about him."
"Well, but who Is she, and what do
you suppose she wrote it fori' AliX
wondered.
''Oh, don't know. She got mad at
him, perhaps. Or perhaps she is
champion Of this Woods woman, They
had some quarrel-how do i know?
But you can see that she is mad, and
this is the way she gets event."
Cherry. at least do Martin the
justice to ask him about it!" Alix
pleaded.
Her sister seemed not to hear her.
The misery'in. her beautiful eyes made
AliX's heart sink.
"And that" Cherry said in a whis-
per, "is my husband" - g,
She paused, staring down at the
table, one hand supporting her fore
head, the other wandering idly among
the breakfast things. Her look was
somber and far away. Alix, standing,
watched her dlStressedly, through a
long minute Of silence.
Well" Cherry said lifeleSsly, look
ing up at her sister with dulled eyes.
"What now? It's still for better or
worse 1 suppose?"
Alix sat down, and for moment
covered her face with tlght-pressed
hand. When she took 1t away there
was new serenity and resolution in her
tired face.
"NO," she said, with q great sigh, 81
think perhaps you're right! He hasn't
he should have no claim on you
now"
"Alix," Cherry demanded, would
you forgive hlm?"
Perhaps l wouldn't" Allx said,
after thought.
perhaps you wouldn't" Cherry
echoed, .incredulously.
"Well, I'm not very good" Alix said,
heSitatingly. "But VOW is VOW, you
know. If it was limited, then my
my fulfillment of it would be limited,
I suppose. OF course" she added,
honestly, "I'm talking for myself
only"
"And you would quietly forgive and
forget" demanded the little sister, in
bitter scorn.
II say l hope would" Alix cor
rected her. Even If this Is true"-she
added, with a glance at the lavender
letter-"still, suppose the rule of for
giving seventy times seven times"
Cherry interrupted her with burst
of bitter and rebellious weeping.
"Oh, my God, what shall l dor she
sOObed, with her bright head dropped
on her arm.
Don't cry, Cherry, Cherry" Alix
said, her own tears brimming over.
She came TO kneel beside her sister,
and they locked their arms about each
other, and their wet cheeks touched.
"DOn't cry, dearr she said tenderly.
It'll all come straight, somehow. and
We'll wonder why we took it so hard
Now listen TO me, Sis" as soon as