Show KATHLEEN NORRIS copyright by kathleen norris morris CHAPTER 16 when cherry Clur rv anine out olit to lo break fust list ii a fim few hours litter inter site she found aix 1 already tit lit tile porch pm di table alii looked il hut but fresh flesh and trini trim site imd evl evi just tilla stubbed od nihl and she aiom one df the plain wade lile stil ird ed ginghams illis unit were extremely becoming to her rt ther boyish type t pe slie looked up tip and ht at cherry composedly cherry r always alsed od tier her sister lit in tit the In morning orning but ole did not axi qt troubled doubled mill ashIn ii led all ively avoid M tile little c 1 no men aring her neiti peter lind had to agn to san rafael with ith mr thomas in his cr car todo to do something about the lie case allx alix explained 1 I drove them down nod and nt at tile the last minute martin decided decide to go so I 1 marketed und got tile lie mall nod cattle came buck back and the understanding Is mat no m arp to meet them nt at the st t prim irn rids for dinner tit ht six rod and go fro to the orpheum Orph euin Is it alm almost st ten cherry chern suld said gazing in surp ae ilse at ta the ie clock that wits ns visible through t alie e open door im IBI terribly ashamed and when did you pet get up tit at and II 11 silently make your bell and hang up your jour things oh early ally all noncommittally commit tally 1 I tin lind a linth and this Is rity my second breakfast cherry who evns reading a letter nindo ninde some home inarticulate souni sound alint made allx look nt at tier her in quick owl can cora cem cherry vant Is it ahr he exclaimed for answer cherry to tossed tier her tile letter written on in it 11 thick sheet of dinv inv ln prider paper dlf Tuel ed a strong odor of scent intend that slip briefly fearfully allx alix picked d up tit tile HIP per fumed famed sheet rheet and read lit in a coarse mid sprawling yet vet fend feminine nine handwriting the follain fol loin words dear mrs mr lloyd llo id perhaps you would not feel so phased with etli yourself if you knew the arpid renson why ali bour husband left lied creek it vas as because lie cause of a quarrel qin irrel lie tin lind with alth hatty woods it if you dont believe it you had better ask him about some of the parties tie lie had bad with joe kings crowd and where they yvere were on the night of aug 28 and it if he knows anybody gnawed ratty and see what ile he fays ays ask hint blut it he ever heard hear of bopes hotel and when lie he was in jost hint it if lie he denies it you ou can aljo him tills this letter lette r there was lit no signature allx alix who had road rend it first lit a bewildered and look read mid it again all and flushed de deeply t ply tit at the sordid sin did clinine of it she kne lilt lold I 1 it down tind lo locked ked in ili stunned convi coin li i tion ion nt lit birr slur sl ur all canny rry ili li at il el athing hard raised her levad ri ted her hill on oil her lummll liim lf belh cliitis on oil tile lie table and stared i nt lit alix ali dellal itly Thi there lp sin IL salil ali lilt til III lph billere Il lere no now I 1 Is that so vav va i ui u i v now nil all I 1 to ti just smile binl ia I 1 gree to sin certainly of if ourse course Mill till ili ur nm nii mm it sev HUM ou 1011 sif yav in nm lilt I 1 to 0 o bear that alio he nil icil 1 ain I her ln r lidd ly violent and git agn on tit blin ii ais III ills wafe liall it II illian Il limn lka canny Cliv rry tlene ally allx sald Rs edly ah all it van fin t oreallye icil lr it no hody lint hilf llie mo lutill 1 tn libin lii in it imp hap peris vall cun cherry tier glicr covering her fit faid billi fill dirr hut but 11 1 et 1 sn il lint in W now she added nili lul 1 I 1 let ilia ili ulal dilill it in parisis ni I 1 dij nl i my illy own fir frain lin linly on W ally allx vatch M milling log hw fearfully leiai fiill wa ans nt at alit i in ili lier iter ciar lr rys bivs neif klitzing blitzing bin blit lug zing birr t heeks lipf ks I ale iler milf kii MIS ili dr mild beverl li 1 and I ahert waa it u sort sin or fir fre itzy in lier lua liller that allx alix lidid vell liv bk fore foie to hiang sonny ii mile arr to tills to change licini lii ini tile hit radiant Iti lanoi ent child billil thill ill binl haq l rii cherl liri li ri v lilt into this bitter and nal woman allx alix f frit fit it it us it till ilic ade i ile orld ir lil mrie elv going anad unil it us it if life gouid never he title iiii and I ariene aguin for uny nn oil one of alit lii cirii charry li rii da 10 mill belleve believe it she clit cht i rr try from n nion moment lent of lil hofling shrugged rugged sli glicr ter ili ai fill pill 1 I 1 1 of r etire I 1 believe it site nils ered bcd lit darling we dont even know mio lio aroi rii it we lime hane only tills niini coln mis fills word mord for it 11 oil hi look lok tit it it look nt lit it all aliel il cherry burst forth do detent decent wen men liace letter like that sent to their ives Is it probable pro buble that it good wan lunn would do anything to rouse sonie some busybody woman to write such midi it a letter about him well but who to h she and what do d you ate ace wrote it for allx aliz wondered ivon dered oil oh I 1 dont know she got mail mad at win him perhaps or perhaps she la Is a champion of this woods wood woman they had some quarry how do I 1 know but you can aee that she Is mad nod nad this in tie he way she gets even event I 1 abety Cb eTy at 1 least do martin the to ask will him about it alix ali il If leaded nilcia iter sister ster tr seemed not to henr her tile misery in tier lier beautiful eyes ees anade alli alexs s heipt sink and that cherry sold said in a whisper Is iny illy hus husbands bandt I 1 site she paused staling down at tile the table one hand supporting her forehead the other wandering idly among the breakfast thing her ber took look was soul somber ber wid far away alix all standing stand lne watched tier lier through a long minute of silence well cherry sold said lifelessly looking up tip at hor her sl ater ter with dulled what now its still for better or ir I 1 suppose suppo allx alix sat down anil and for a t moment co arvd her face with a tight pres pressed aed hand when sho ilie took it away there was giai iii new w serenity mid and resolution in ili tier thed th ed fun face no she with a groat great sigh elgh 1 I 1 think perhaps youre ouro lightf lie he in should liae have no claim on you ou 11 iio ow ally alls cherry demanded would ou it forgive him 1 erlia tig I 1 alls alix said laid lifter after thought perhaps you I 1 cherry cherr PC echoed lit led incredulously well im not very good allx aft suld hesitatingly hut but a vow TOW Is n vow you know if it was limited then my in 11 my y fulfillment of it would be limited I 1 suppose e of course slie she added honestly im talking for myself ehll 1 and yon would quietly forgive null and forg forgets foi get etl demanded the attle sister tit in bitter scorn 1 I sity sn I 1 hope I 1 would V 1 alix corrected tier lier liven iwen if this Is t true rua s she he allied added with a glance at the lavender letter ietter still till I 1 suppose the rule of forgiving seventy times seven times time cherry interrupted intel tier her with ith a burst of litter bitter and rebellious weeping delpp ing oil aly m god what dball I 1 dol sh bac s with tier her bright head dropped dro pied on tier her arin dont cry ry cherry cherra allx alix uld suld her onan on tears brimming oer liver she mie cuine come to kneel beade be ade tier her s ister and aul they locked their ninin arins about ench cacti other and their wet net cheeks touched dont cry deurl dearl slie she suld said tend crl all come straight somehow donie how and we all 11 why we took it so BO hard now non listen to we me SW as soon boon as clieny cherry hud hall somewhat regained tier her con composure kosure well ascertain about albut this letter only fair if martin df denies lles it of course hell deny idill cherry interrupted houi the bitter knowledge she ilie loid hod of hlin him allx alix again felt minted daunted 1 for a second by b tile lie sheer and sordidness s of tile matter but she returned turned rt to the calir ahnise ge br hr avely nl we get itter to ask lit bilm a aln it llotd sug suggests gestA ll ltd udd dili rily aeter h haiti s a lorfel aly MH of getting tit alie e truth out lit of people I 1 poor cherry lierre lier rv tile lie e er ry ideiil iiii ot of ills nallie look es h hei 1 1 kiino ce ally alit th light lit I 1 lier I 1 1 simer if marill ell inn it convince peter tint that it Is not t inn rue town tin 11 alint anak till sill the difference lit in alp tt ri lil slit in adill It Iod llian pill im tell ml martin iran lil tint that you ion line have the tie old IKUI hollo IKU I I iiii il it tn lir 11 in n and id you iou mint to in he c there III clr llull 11 never aaret to that cherry iiii rr slid link liiK in hiir 1 dwail lint but it if till aliis 1 tuie true still arkell nik cil lignin ii ln ilens the hie lef letter lr thell tell hlin hilt that 11 TIles lie ile agenw lio liili to tn n im iiii alin alix all s kiil alint MII iou will get 11 and live ike hilr al alliet lilt chilt ot nit fit a 11 cherry urill alil mill hlll 1111 maaring Mal it alering ring es t i oh it ell slip n said rising lisl tig wid going alii the dior II 11 s hoi 1 llila lioi 1 alile lioi i llila vir I 1 ilc 1 I what anit 1 Is mini III hll bilm ti billit me 1 lion lil dine bifid go an to tin lilt tonight it us if nothing liln luid hild and let hll hil fill tills wait ailt illitia toil oil till a ask ican if to cros cro s martill mm tint 1 I 1 hondr if Al lartin would tell teji me file why wh I 1 pretend I 1 ili iril hint letter by b fol nil inke lind frighten him loto into admitting it it if its tine ally allx sold you vou could cheairy cheiry clair admitted life lesly lossl hut MII may inn ile be sure sur 0 it Is irue annu li slip she aln ii leme leie it tu to we me ally al sold and dont don t feel too sul still cherry Cli err oaire boling nit and life allay ina kiil ank a 11 turn ehni for ui ou you lu IMS alwoN li linne fetek veler ond mid nie lie back of next ou alix all uie tile llie best sister it pill girl er had clien cherry said ilass 1 idill t ely hav wr d on in allx alls shoulder 1 11 I mish I 1 wire as am big ni its iiii it tire me and lies anade me ine so w wretched chod ats whispered cherry mith trembling jill lips eliat sometimes ive lieeie sick of if life hut but I 1 will all investigate this letter and if its not true ill try again allx alix VII ill BO 90 anway with ill him if tip he wants inc ile to ti or ill lle live here and study french and go BO to lectures with you ou you dar darling lIngl I 1 allx alix sold said with lit nn dehing henrt that night it wits was simply managed that martin should be next to all in ili the logo nt tile the theater ani and she lit lie gun to 0 o question him seriously serl outly nt oneall through tho the strange illy follow lit her night tit lall 1 flu I liml hill beell planning lint bill should tray MI to film but site and cherry Clit irv liml hall not spoken of the subject nlaly cherry liml hall dressed herself with tier flaunty eare cure ond now with tile the violets ally hod then given hor her spir nying in III it great purple bunch bt at tier her breast bre ond tier her alire vies res rinsed ringed mid and tn ought ful under miller her soft little fi adhered tint hat ilie was so arm stingly lonely that alls alix wits well aware of the nd mIrIng glances front till to tip which ell ache e was ito co superbly indifferent 1 martin sw site bepin began 1 I read n letter Interi ded for cherry this mom ilig 1 I 1 I open ope nil all tile the infill ini ill site she luid had tu to repeat it pent it twice before he realized mill zed cil that there was ns something behind let varlie Ft und tone then she IK nw caw him film stop tw twilling isling 11 lilt 1 i till and aver about toward oward tier lier c she che he n question r DD I 1 tint he asked lit in nn in undertone lowered lower wl dt 1 you vou know a girl named blatty Wo oils alix repeated rie nUd cautiously all hope died fell when villen site blie saw it his is face IN clint lint about tier her lie asked allnott aino it inaudibly wrote lil letter about tier lier allx alix sani ted quickly wito wrote ulc you ou about tier her she sav lie he doni quickly just ill let you we ee it slie site sold 1 I dont know who wrote it it signed do you OTI do oil know k now tier po do you know hatty woods she said bald the letter said oli oil sure I 1 know what shed say any 11 martin conceded furious at alias interference ter trembling with anger nod resentment and only anxious to alose the conversation III 1 I know nil all about tier lier and tier kind I 1 think I 1 know who wrote that letter too you yon give ghe it to me tomorrow and ill manage manare it there wont lie he any tri wore ore martin allx alix gravely 11 if vo ou I 1 hov klen glien cherry any baue ll uio her voice olce fell and there was a I 1 ter e there tiro tire a great nitina in life flint you yon dont understand my dear benr sister ln lil law IBM 1 martin sald re nettled 1 a I muns mans life Is not jill is I 1 C 0 C 11 11 J do you know a girl named hitty hatty woods a s ill I ll 1 I ll 11 to lo I 1 lir if till tills als ait till ills nil it nip lilt wi ij S non ill ivil mill it some ii van iii till ur i ii this I 1 is it fromi bip flint ill 1 II 11 lliel j 1 ellid fifty lift I 1 bmartin irr for hemeli li inin s sil lv alix AIN him it sit il pre ed alvr in r alo lo 10 eis ni ellist liel ln i 1 filce inc well hp li salil li tIlly lim im it know illow ilow I 1 feel it alix alik folling fol dr ling litin that bior litt ht t hup hope we wa inny hom firm lur her ctol yu you tier altory you ou KII get cherry to t deity flint all I 1 I 1 I 1 p nedr 1 lit li t it 11 lo in allt it II a av erinn doroe ever since ow MII w mar alfil 1 lie I said mild boll to lo that she lins aid over still over liver ag 1 n bilat i ile never wanted lillian ii if eliut i t tier marriage win it boll toll her to show you von the boter 1 ir ritten hor asking isan is ln tier her ti ill comi anif knirk and then ill tw you val tin till f got mart ally all mild sha rilly there no nil ii nr in ili bour nir aking hint taw lilt inet lin ehilt will to do nil fill botill if tl ili poor girl kr till blatty 1 I tell in to tn leme lintt olit nl or of it martin mill tin cst noll ain itin 1111 10 lo do Is to tn lt let tile thing wit lint site sin iw ov fluit ho 1 wits balli norv ous iiii all annl il i and ile hii kiru that tin inference site ellid cherry hail drawn front the letter ans ns 1 I i tille does dixs cherry Cli err know anything of tills martin presently do you wont tier lier to tn ali allx pointedly lie ile shrug ed ill ills shoulders etli it grent assumption of indifference if ff she wants to have hav it nil all drag lr nid vil t to light why she can attend 1 lir I remarked carelessly ani ill wit mit stopping I 1 tier her III I 1 1 1 at ennst const I 1 think vin ought to tn IM harry lead her own aflfe afta th tha I 1 1 1 v z tred t with llie le lit in our old bouw ali lie IK asked rient ri ent fill ay as lie flipped tin tile pages page if ills 1114 with a lilg big thil lith tint stared rd lit at it with unseeing eyes what does she want tu to HB there for the ilip fact remains reint ains that asbe does alls alix persisted ats and an lime just as good n R time ns if she neer had been married ut lit till nil lie said you know alix wati wnm beginning the denial tant site lind lilt bivien him so confidently last night hut but site she interrupted herself lier self mid and stopped short the conviction rustled rushed upon her in ili nn in merw overwhelming helming wave that she lind had no right to repent repeat that denial now that the lie lust dreadful oien awen ty four hours lind hall banged bunged the lie whole itu atlon and that she s he herself |