The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-05-13


last kiss.
May stopped Cherry as she was
slowly and thoughtfully mounting
the stairs.
Would you go in to see Mrs.
Jud, please?" the maid said.
Cherry's voice was all reluctance
and distaste. did she ask to see
me?"
''She did before ever Mr.. Coates
left. She was so upset we tele-
phoned the doctor"
Cherry" Fran said, in tragic,
quiet voice. ''Sit down, won't you?
Has Kelly been talking to your"
'Yes, we were talking" Cherry
said coldly. And then suddenly
breaking, and sinking on her knees
before the bed, Fran, how could
you! You know you had nothing to
do with this all, and you know Kelly
didn'ti'
II think I'm going crazy" Fran
whispered, her eyes closed, her fe-
verish hand tight on Cherry's. 81
suddenly-suddenly wanted it all to
be over-to be out of It'll And Kelly
had loved me, Cherry -
Still acting. Cherry's heart, opened
on sudden impulse of hope and
confidence, closed again in despair.
What do you think they will do?"
Fran breathed the question, not
opening her eyes.
II don't know what they'll do. I
know it will ruin his life," Cherry
answered bitterly.
"Oh, no, no, no! Oh, my head!"
Fran murmured. "Amy's here"
she announced family.
eyes, / know" Cherry sat back
on her heels, chilled and weary.
'They stopped off here on their way
to Del Monte" she said.
They're not on their way any,
where until they find out the mean
ing of that notice from Comstock.
! never knew anyone to show his
hand quite as plainly as Gogo did,"
"You saw him?"
'sNo, but she came in here few
minutes ago to find you. She'd been
crying. And married yesterday" :
''She wanted me?" "--~~~--s.
ayes. It seems Gogo couldn't
wait to go down to the office tomor-
row, and telephoned the lawyer to-
night. Comstock's coming up at half
past eight. He asked Gogo if he
knew how to get in touch with you,
and Gogo said you were right here. +"
Tonight"
"And Cherry" Fran said, open
ing her tired beautiful eyes, "about
this other thing, don't judge me too
hard! ! never would have dragged
Kelly in. They did that--these great
husky beasts of men-asking me
question after question:"
'But why should you say you did
it, Franz" Cherry demanded SIM
ply.
Because / did it," Fran persist
ed. "Or at least / know who didl"
she added half aloud. "Or at least
l think ! do.''
but you wouldn't say who did it
to protect Kelly, Franz"
'Why should /? Nobody's protect
ing me. I'm sick of the whole thing"
Fran tossed on her pillows.
81 think I'm going out of my
mind!" she said in a whisper.
"I'm going down to dinner, Cher
ry," she added, II can't stay here
and think or I'll go mad!"
At dinner they all talked triviali-
ties by fits and starts. When the
lawyers arrived Cherry and Gogo
and Amy took them into the draw
ing room, and sat solemnly facing
them.
George Comstock opened long
envelope and took from it another
long envelope. He asked which Of
the young women was Amelia
Marshbanks, and, upon Amy claim
ing the title, handed it ceremonious-
ly to her.
Amy opened it. The lawyer then
stretched his hand for it, and she
surrendered it obediently enough. He
read it aloud.
my dear daughters, if both of you
survive until the day set for the
reading of this WILL" it began. Cher
ry's head was rocking.
beg you, my daughters,
who read this, to believe that it
was only the conviction that my
child by my wife could not possibly
survive, and my hope that the SUBJ
stitution of Charlotte's baby in her
place would be an act of charity
to all concerned :"
1t was true. The expressions on
the faces of the others told her !;
she was Amelia Marshbanks, Amy
was Charlotte Rawlings. The long
mystery had come to its end i.
The voices about Cherry seemed
suddenly loud and confusing. She re-
membered saying, "Air!" and then
everything was blackness.
Cherry awoke three days later to
a new world. She had been vague
ly, uncomfortably conscious of what
was going on about her through long
nights and sleepy days. Now it was
morning.
MAY, / feel wonderful" she sud-
denly said to the maid. WAS /
very sick?"
.sWell, we had the doctor come in
once," May said, land then yester-
day he looked in when he was here
to see Mrs. Marshbanks."
"Was Mr.. Coates here?"
Fright along until this morning.
He went home to get some sleep,
He's coming back. Mrs. Marsh
banks" May pursued with a jerk of
her head toward Fran's room, RE-
tracted. That's what they call it..
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