The Holly chieftain., 1922-03-30

And In spasm Of pain she shut her
eyes, and flung her head as II sufro-
eating. The beating Of her heart
frightened her. II shall be sick II i
go on this way!" she reminded her
self. "And then they will know. They
mustn't know. But Peter" she
whispered suddenly. "Peter. who has
always been SO good to me-so gen.
erous to me-and II was Cherry all
the time! Even those years ago,
when we used to tease him about the
lady with the crinolines and ringlets,
1t was she. But why didn't he ask her
instead of meT wondered Alix. and
with an aching head and frowning
brow she began to piece 1t all to-
gether.
The terrible truth rose triumphant
from all her memories. Sometimes for
a second hope would flood her with
almost painful JOY, but inevitably the
truth shut down upon her again, and
hope died, and she realized afresh that
sorrow, stronger than before. was
waiting to seize her again.
"Well-I can't stand 1t in here I"
Ali1 said, suddenly. She crossed to
the door, and opened 1t, and slipped
nOiselessly out into the night, catch
ing coat from the rack as she
passed.
The night was wrapped in an ocean
fog, there was no moon and no stars,
but the air was soft and warm. With
no goal in view, Alix climbed upward,
walking rapidly, breathing hard, and
frequently speaking aloud, as some
poignant thought smOte her, or stand
Ing still, too sick with pain, under an
unexpected rush of emotion, to move.
HE would have told me about it
why didn't let him!" ran Ali1's
thoughts. II thought of some older
woman, l don't know why-anyway, I
didn't care so much then. But / care
now! Peter. care now! I can't give
you up, even to Cherry. 1t is nom
sense to talk Of giving him up" Alix
told herself, sitting down in the inky
dark, on a log against which her wild
walk had suddenly brought her, "for
we are all married people, and we all
love each other. But oh. / am SO sor-
ry! l am so sorry, Peter" she whis-
pered, as If she were speaking to him.
"You couldn't help 1t, / know that.
She Is so pretty and so sweet, Cherry
and she turns to you as II you were
her big brother"
She got to her feet and went on.
What am thinking about-it's alb
surd! Can't people like each other, in
this world, just because they happen
to be married! Peter would be the
first to laugh at me. And is it fair to
Cherry even to think that she would
"Oh, but it's true!' the honester i'm
pulse interrupted, mercilessly. ut is
true. Whether it's right or wrong, or
sensible or absurd, they do love each
other; that's what has changed them
both"
And she began to remember hundred
"a thousand-triHes, that made it all
hideously clear. Words, glances,
moods subtler than either, came back
to her. Cherry's confusion Of late,
when the question Of her return to
Martin was raised, her Indifference to
her Inheritance, her restless talk dur
ing one hour of immediate departure,
and during the next of an apparently
termless visit; all these were signifi-
cant now.
Il am desperately unhappy I" Cherry
had said. And Immediately after that,
Ali1 recalled wretchedly. had come a
brief and apparently aimless talk
about Alix's rights, and her eagerness
to share them with her sister.
Poor Cherry!" the older sister said
aloud, standing still for moment,
and pressing both hands over her hot
eyes. Poor little old Cherry-life
hasn't been very kind to herl She
and Peter must be SO sorry and
ashamed about this! And Dad would
be so sorry; Of all things he wanted
most that Cherry should be happy !!
Perhaps" thought Alix, "he realized
that she was that sort of a nature, she
must love and be loved, or she cannot
live! But why did he let her marry
Martin, and why wasn't he here to
keep me from marrying Peter7 What
a observation-disclosures we've made of 1t
ALI"
AS she used the term, she realized
that Cherry had used 1t, too, this same
evening, and fresh conviction was
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