The Crittenden press., 1922-05-05
CHAPTER xll-contnusd.

II don't hate him." she answered
quickly. Indeed ] don't And % isn't
iusi me place and the ne, Peter. ]
could b. happy ln two rooms-sUme.
where anywhcre-- nnf nof--w.ih
him. on. Peter. n hadn't done It,"
Her beauty. as shc pushed her plate
ts.de and leaned toward h.m. was so
startling that Peter "a lighted match
halfmlsel 90 fresh clmmfte pui
no match down aim'ess'y and looked
ihouehifui'y nt the cigarette. and laii
hat down. to0. without the fa.nicsf
consciousness OF uhuf ho was do.ng
The day was warn. ani There was o.
lfi'o damunrss 0n hcr white forehead.
where the gold ha'r oluns to the hrlm
of ihe dropping hnt Tie a1ft curve
n hcr chin. the hahyish shoriness OF
her upper lip, end che crimson sweet.
ness OF the little earnest mouth bad
never SEEMED more lovely than they
we're today She was youth inumaie.
paln'iaiine flushed. unsro'cd.
For o. momcnf sho looked down ai
ihe table and the coior flooded her
face: then she looked him stm.ghi ln
the eyes and smiled "Wc.l' Perhaps
lt viii nll work oui right. Peter" she
said with the childish qnosilonlur book
that 20 wrunr his heart She Imme
dlnteiy gathered her possessions 20.
Feihsf % go. hui when they stepped
into suushlny Gouy street % was thrce
t'c'eck. and Peter suggested that they
Walk down 90 ihe beat
They met Alix on the boat. bat she
iId not ask any embarrassing ques
ions; she sat between them on he
upper deck. blinking conionicl'y 10
me blue satin bay. hcr eyes following
the wheeling Tuils or che passage Of
thips. her mind evidently concerned
sniy with the idie pioasanincss of the
moment And always. for Peter. there
sas the same joyous sense ~ some.
thing ncW-somoihlug siru.hmni-
something ecsiatlc o. ilfe
Prom that hour be- was never quite
a. ease Ia Chery's company and
tvoided being alone with her even for
On instant. although her prrsencp a..
ways caused him he new and iinFllnr
delight ne read her honest blue eyes
truly. and knew that although. IKE
himself. she vas conscious Of the new
sweetness and brightness % ne, che
Bad never entertained fof An Instant
ihe fIttlug thought that q was roior's
feeling for her that made lt so. She
thought perhaps thar ii would b. the
old childish happiness that she had
known In the valley. the fruedom and
leisure and irresrouslblliiy of the Ola
days
The next day abe talked IN a tron.
tlcd. unoeriain way of rolng hack %
Red Greek. and be knew WHY. but
Allx was so arhasi at the Idea. and
Peter. who was closing nf strlck.
lands estate. was so careful 90 depart
safiy IN the mornings and return only
late nt uIrhi. that The little alarm. n
q was that died away.
Tho nefi zine thar cherry vent IN.
20 town. Ai'r fli not So and Peter
sitting ou tte fcck ~ ihe early boat
with her. asked her asa'n io have
luncheon with tim Immediately a
cloud frl on her face and he saW her
breast r.sr quickly.
-rcicr" she asked him ch.iisNy.
ioo.lnr straight lnio hls eyes. "aty
didn't We ifn Ai.x ahaui ihatf
Peter tried 90 LAUGH and fcii himself
BEGIN o. tremhlr Healn.
-Ahoui whntf he sinmmered.
-Ahoui our having BEEN ihree hours
20 lunch last woetf
-why-l don't tnowT Peter said.
smiling nervorsiy.
she was SILENT ard thcy parted
without auy further reference 90 meet.
inF fof lunch.
That night when Aiix had zone io
bel be- entered ne sitting nom sui.
denly o. fnf Cherry hunting for o.
boot. she bad dropped on one knee.
tte better 90 reach a bow shelf end
wus uholiy nhsorilel IN ne volume
fhe had rharcrd tn oQrn.
When 40 heard the doof oreu shc
tunnel aui sn,oiiaisiy houme very
pale she fIi nni fpfak as reirf
cane o. stand beside hrf.
-Chruy tr said n r. whisper
hls facs Gloss o. trrs Neither spoke
arnin fafa while Chrrry vas bfraii.
inr hsri. retrf was conscious only %
wlii vhlrlInr of brain and senses
They remained 81. their eyes nrcd
their breath coming as n they had
been running. for endless srcuuds.
"You remember the question you
ssked me this mouinrf Peter sald
DO you rcmembcri 10 you rcmem.
herY'
ChcrrT. her cold fingers siiil holding
The place IN the hook she had ben
rradlnF. went biindly 10 the fireplace
-whatf shs said. IN the msrusi
breath -whatf
"necausr" Peter sali following her
q sort If heaiy madness mailing BIN
only cuusr'ons ~ that nc,d % hear
from her own ilrs ihni she knew. "ho
casss didn't ansusf that question
hunssfivf-
n maiterrd rni What he aid. ~
what te was i1'nr 20 expires. boih
vrv su,eiorei in che name n theii
rrw relationships surprise ani torrn'