The Holly chieftain., 1922-03-02

he would have spoken. "Let's-Pd
rather notl where is my book?
What was I doing7 Peter-Peter-"
"Just a minute!" Peter protested
thickly. "Cherry-I want to speak to
you-will you wait a minute?"
She was halfway to the door; now
she paused, and looked back at him
with frightened eyes. Peter did not
speak at once; there was moment
of absolute silence.
.
And in that moment Alix came in.
She had said goodnight half an hour
before: she was in her wrapper and
her hair fell over one shoulder in a
rumpled braid. Cherry. sick with
fright, faced her In a sort Of horror,
unable to realize at that moment that
there was nothing betraying in her
attitude or Peters, and nothing In her
sisters unsuspicious soul to give signl-
ficance to what she saw, in any case.
Peter, more quickly recovering self
control, went toward his wife.
"Pete!" she said. "Cherryl Look
at THIS LOOK at this
She held the paper out to them, but
1t was rather at her that they looked,
as all three gathered near the hearth
again.,
II happened to finish my novel,"
Alix said. "and reached for Dads
old Bible-it's been there on the shelf
near my bed ever since I was married,
and I've even read 1t, too! But look
what was In it-there all this time!
It's Uncle Vincent's receipt to Dad
for that three thousand that is making
all the trouble!' Alix exulted to the still
bewildered Cherry. tits been there
all this time-a Cherry" she added
In voice rich with love and memory,
"that's what he meant by saying 1t
was in Matthew. don't you remember2
Doesn't 1t mean that, Peter Isn't 1t
perfectly clearT
ut means only about fifty thousand
for you and Cherry" Peter answered.
"Yes sir. by George-it's perfectly
clear! He paid 1t back-every cent Of
1t, and got his receipt H'm-this
puts rather crimp in Little's plans
I'll see him tomorrow. This calls off
his suit"
Really, PeterY' Alix asked, with
dancing eyes. "And it means that you
can keep the old house, Cerise." she
exclaimed triumphantly. land we can
be together part Of the year, anyway!
oh, come on, everybody, and sit down,
and let's talk and talk about It'll Let
me see 1t again-'in recognition Of all
claims against the patent extinguisher
aforementioned'-sit down, Pete; it's
only ten o'clock! Let's talk. Aren't
you simply wild with Joy, Cherry?"
But she told Peter later that she had
been surprised at Cherry's quietness;
Cherry had looked pale and abstracted
and had not seemed half enthusiastic
enough.
1t was Sunday, foggy and overcast,
but not cold. The vines about the
porch were covered with tiny beads
Of moisture; among the bushes In the
garden little scarfs and wells of fog
were caught, and from far across the
ridge the droning warning of the fog
horn penetrated. at regular, brief in
tervals. Alix was away.
Cherry" Peter said suddenly, when
the silent meal was almost over, twill
you talk about itf"
'Talk-?" she faltered. Her voice
thickened and stopped. "Oh, would
rather not!" she whispered, with q
frightened glance about.
Listen. Cherry" he said, following
her to the wide porch rail and stand
ing behind her as she sat down upon
1t. "I'm sorryi I'm just as sorry as
1 can be. But can't help 1t, Cherry.
I'm as surprised as you are-I can't
tell you when tit all happened!
But tt" Peter folded his arms across
his chest. and with a grimly squared
jaw looked Off into the misty dis
tance-"it Is there" he finished.
''Oh, I'm 80 sorry!" Cherry whis-
pered on a breath of utter distress.
"rm so sorry! Oh, Peter, we never
should have let 1t happen-our caring
for each other! We never should have
allowed ourselves to think-to dream
of such thing! Oh, Peter, I'm so
sick about It," Cherry added, inco-
herently, with filling eyes. "I'm just
sick about It.! know-I know that
Alix would never have permitted her.
self to- know she wouldn't"
He was close to her, and now he
laid his hand over hers.
II care" he said, quite involun-
tarily, II have always cared for
you! I know it's madness-I know
It's too late-but I love every hair Of
your beautiful headi Cherry-Cher.
ry-T
They had both gotten to their feet,
and now she essayed to pass him, her
face white, her cheeks blazing. He
stopped her and held her close In his
arms. and after a few seconds he felt
her resisting muscles relax and they
kissed each other.
fall