The Crittenden press., 1922-03-24
CHAPTER x.

Alexandra strickland. coming down
the stairway or thr VALLEY house ou 90
April evening glanced cuuously at ihe
door Only EIGHT oclo,k bot the day
had been so ions aud so quiet that she
had faur.ei that ihe hour was much
later and bad wondered uho knoelei
10 late
She crossed 90 ihe door and openei
% to darkness and rain. and 10 a man
To- mincolt who whipped o. spat
tered cap and stood smiling in thr
lirhi of no lamp she held Instantly
with q sori of gasp os surprise nud
pleasure and some deeper emotion shs
80 down the lamp and held ouf hcr
hands rrup.ngly and went into BIZ
arms. le laughed ioyously a. be-
kissed her and Tor minute they
chung together
Peter" she said "You angel
when did you arrive and what ars sou
doing and tell me aii about lt'-
"hnt AiiK-you're fh'n~ peier snid
holding her at arms length And
and" ile Fenily touched ne hiack
she Won. and hxrd puzzled and
troubled eyes upon her face. "Alix-~
be- asked nuprehenavsly
For ansuer she tried % smile 81
him. hut her llps trrmh'cd and hsr
eyes hr.mmci She had ied me wa
into the oid sitting room.
"You heaui-ahout nadf- Air fal
tered. turning 10 face him a. ihs man.
tsl
-iour fitherw Peter saId. shocked
"hut hadn't you heard. peirrr
"My dear-my dearest child. I'm
Just ~ the steamer goi ln a. ain
O'Clock ia been thinking o. yon al
ne time. and ! suddenly decided o.
cruss he bay and come straight on o.
the valley before I even sent 10 the
club o. rot my maiii Tell me-your
father"
She had knolt before ne coid
hearth. and he kneii beside hef. and
they hus.ci themselves Wlih logs and
klndllng in ne old uay A blanc
ercpt up about he logs and Al.r ac.
cepiet Peters handkerchief and
wiped a streak % sooi from boz wrist.
quite as n she was a child again. a.
she settled herself In her chair
Peter took che doctors chair keep
ing hls GOVERNED and sympathetic
eyes upon her
-iie was well one day" she saii
simply. "nnd the uext-the next BE-
didn't come downstairs and Hong
waited and vulicd-nud about nine
O'Clock ] went up-and be- bad fallen
he had fallen"
She vas iu tears again and Peter
put his hand ogt and covered hers aud
held o..
"ile must have been rolnr b. call
some one' aId Alix. after a while
-they sa.d he never suffered 10 an
This was January the iasi day and
Cherry 600 here ihe same night IIe
knew us both toward morning And
ihat-thut was hll Chery was herr
for two week, Martin came and
went"
"where ls Cherry nouT Peter in.
terupicd
'nacs rt Red Crcck" Aur uirsi
hcr e1rs "she hates o. hui Marlin
bod u Ee1i poliIon there poor
CHERRY % made hrf uI"
"AnHr wmrf
'Anre anl Justin NJ c0ursr" Peter
uu.i no, understand AHxs etrrs
..ou. She fe'l SILENT siul toIlne hIs
hand aud hooking at ne Orc
ilr looked no hcr with O srent rush |
of admiration and Affection She was
bot only pretty and clever aum.
ani hui in hor plain black. with thls |
neU aspect ~ gravity nnd dignity. and
With noN NOTES Of plihus aud appeal |
loo hcr exquisite yoloD. hs realized that |
'ho wus un extremely charming WON.
ln
liofore he said ruodhy 10 her. b. |
bad asked her 20 marry h.m. Ile well |
remembered hcr look of bright and ln. |
.c,rsici surprise
'bFuu mean 10 trli mo yuu have /
forgotten your lady lo,c of ihe hoop |
skirts and unrleisT she had de |
"No" Peter had told her frankly |
. ball always love her 10 way |
Dot shc ls married she never thinks |
'f ne. And : llke you 10 much. Allx !
ukc our music aud cVokiug and !