, 1922-01-18


putting back the hinged cover. And a
moment later her hands, WITH the as
surance and ease of the adept, drifted
into one of the songs of the old days.
do you remember the day we put
the rose tree back, Peter?n she asked.
when Martin was almost d stran-
ger? And do you remember the day
we made biscuits, over by the ocean?y
Il remember all the days." he an
swered, deeply stirred.
"We didn't see all this, them" Alix
unused. still playing softly. "Anne
claiming everything for her husband,
you and l here talking OF Dads death,
and Cherry married. She sighed.
She's not happy?" he questioned
quickly. z.
shes not unhappy" she told him,
with a troubled smile. Its just one
of those marriages hat don't ever get
anywhere, and don't ever STOP" she
added. Martin has faults, he's I'M
reasonable, and he makes enemies.
But those aren't faults for which a
woman can leave her husband. Oh,
Peter" h added, laying a smooth,
warm hand on his, and looking into
his eyes with her honest eyes, don't
go away again! Stay here in the
valley for a week or two, and help me
get everything worked out and
thought out-Tve been so much
alone !"
Dear old AlixI" he said, sitting
down on the bench beside her and
putting his arm about her. She
dropped her head OIL his shoulder, and
SO they sat, very still, for a long min
ute. Alix's hand went to her own
shoulder, and her fingers frightened Oh
his, and h breathed deep, c~ontented
breaths, like a child.
Somebody ought to wire Mrs.
Grundy. collect" she said. after
awhile.
I'VE win defy Mrs. Grundy, my
dear..SS Peter said, kissing the top of
a SOFT brown braid, ''by trotting off
han in hand tomorrow and getting
ourselves married. Why, Alix, he gave
us his consent years ago-don't you
remember"
He did wish It'll" she said, and
burst into tears.
Il seem to be doing things in a
slightly irregular manner" she said
to him the next day, when they had
gotten breakfast together, and were
basking in the sunlight of the upper
deck of the ferlyboat, on their way to
the city. Il spend the night before
my marriage alone-in a small coun-
try house hidden in the woods-with
my betrothed, and propose to buy my
rousseau Immediately after the cere-
monyi"
Her voice fell to a dreamy note, and
she watched the gulls, wheeling in the
sunshine. with thoughtful, smiling
eyes. The man glanced at her once
or twice. in the slence that followed,
with something like hesitation, or COM
junction, in his look.
Look, here, Alix-let's talk. /
want to ask you something. There's
never been anything-anything to tell
you-or your father, if he was here"
Peter said, flushed and a trile awk-
ward. I'm not that kind of a man.
But there has been that one thing
that one woman"
Flushed, too, she was looking at
him with bright, intelligent eyes.
But l thought she never even
knew"
No, she never did,
Alix looked back at the gulls.
"Oh, well, then. she said, indif-
ferently.
"Alix, would you like to know about
her?' Peter said bravely. Her name
and e~verything?"
"Oh, no. please, I'd much rather
not" she Intercepted him hastily, and
after a pause she added, Our mar
riage isn't the usual marriage, in that
way. l mean I'm not jealous, and I'm
not going to cry my eyes out because
there was another woman-is another
woman, who meant more to you, or
might have! I'm going into 1t with
my eyes open, Peter. l know you love
me, and / love you, and we both like
the same things, and that's enough"
Three weeks later he remembered
h moment, and asked her again.
They were in the valley house now,
and a bitter storm was whirling over
the mountain. Peters little cabin
rocked to the gale, but they were warm
and comfortable beside the fire; the
room was lamp-lightsd, scented by
Alix's sweet single v~io,ets. white and
purple, splitting themselves from a
glass bowl, and by Peters pipe, and
by the good scent of green bay burn
Ing. The Joyces had had a happy
day, had climbed the hills under a
lowering sky, had come home to dry
clothes and do cooking, for Kow was
away, and had finally shared an cpl
curean meal beside the FIRE.
l. Peter was wrapped in deep content;
the companionship of this normal,
pretty woman, her quick words and