, 1922-02-08
CHAPTER XIII.

Ter of spirits that had become familiar
60 her of late, kept her dentist APP
pointment, and Mt noon looked at a
flushed and lovely vision in the den
lists mirror.
She wen out into the blazing street;
II was one of the hot noontides of thu
yea AT two o'clock a wild wind
yEonsd spring up and send papers and
sfust flying, but just now the heat was
dry and clear and still.
She was carrying a parasol and she
opened it now and walked slowly to-
ward Geary street. She could not even
frame in her thoughts the utter blank
ness of the feeling that swept over
her at missing an opportunity to see
Peter. She turned and went slowly
UP past the big shop windows that re-
Gected the burning Plaza, and so came
se the cool, great doorway of the st.
Francis. Inside was tempered light
and much noiseless coming and going,
meeting and parting.
Cherry drifted into the big, deep
carpeted waiting room; there were
other women there, sunk into the big
leather chairs, watching the doors and
CHANGING at the clock. When a man
came hastily in the door, one woman
rose, there was a significant smile, a
murmured greeting, before the
vanished.
In a luxurious chair Cherry waited,
Peter certainly would not come in un-
ill haif-past twelve, perhaps not then.
Suddenly, with a spring of her heart
against her ribs. she saw Peters dark
head with Its touches of iron gray.
Groomed and brushed scrupulously
as always, with the little limp, yet as
always dignified and erect, he came to
stand before her, and she stood up,
and their hands met. Flushed and a
little confused, she followed him to
an inconspicuous table in a corner of
the dining room. Then the dreamlike
~unreality and beauty of their hours
together began again.
did % expect me to meet you? ~
she smiled. For answer he looked at
her thOughtfully a minute before his
own face lighted with a bright smile.
81 don't think l thought of your not
being there" he confessed. 81 was
simply moving all morning toward the
instant of meeting" He watched her,
almost with anxiety, for a moment,
then turned his attention to the bill
of fare. But Cherry was not hungry,
and she paid small attention to the
order. or to the food when it came.
Presently they were talking again.
In hat hunger for ~self-analysis that
Is a part of new love. They thrilled
at every word, Cherry raising her
eyes, shining with eagerness, to his,
or Peter watching the little down
dropped face in an agony of alteration.
An hOu passed, two hours. after
awhile they were walking, still with
that strange sense of oneness and of
solitude, and still as easily as if they
had been floating, to the ferry.
AlfX met them in Mill Valley with
vivid accounts of the day; she had
been bordering the brief talk with
Anne, and was anxious to have Peters
View OF it. Peter was of the opinion
that Anne's conduct indicated very
CLEARLY hat she and Justin realized
1fraA their case was lost.
Then you're fixed for life, Cherry
was Alx's first remark. 'Oh, sayl'
she added, in a burst. Lets go down
to the old house tomorrow, viii you?
Let's see What it needs, and how much
would have to be done to make it fit
10 live inr'
Cherry flushed, staring steadily at
Tber sister, and Peter, too, was con-
FUSED, Dnt Alix saw nothing. The
nex1 day she carried her point, and
10Sk them with her down to the old
un.,. II.npt.t xNny raIa md Ruhtinu
tears, as they crossed the porch, and
litted the key in the door. Inside the
house the air was close and stale,
odorons of dry pine walls and of un-
aired rooms. Peter flung up a window,
che girls walked aimlessly about,
Fhrergh the familiar, yet shockingly
strange, chairs and tables that were all
coated thickly with dust. 3
III needs everything Alix said,
after 81 first quick tour OF inspection,
cycling u greater weather streak on
sbe raw plaster of the dining-room
wall. 1T needs air, cleaning, straight
ening. flowers Gosh, how 1t does
Deed peoplel"
Ill can't bear ltl' Cherry said
softly. in a sick undertone.
Alix. who was rapidly recovering
her equilibrium, sprang upstairs with
out herring her, but Cherry did not
follow. She went to he open front
doorway and stood there, leaning
against the sill, and gazing sadly out
at the shabby, tangled garden that
had sheltered all the safety and joy
and innocence Of her l%ittle-girl days.
Peter" she said, as he came to
sand beside her, Pm so unhappy ~
Cherry, will you end it," he asked
sier, huskily.
she gave him n startled look.
END it2" she faltered.