Show MIK A dia IL W ST by KATHLEEN KAT I 1 norri tbt b by nords CHAPTER if 16 when bon cherry came out to break tast fast a few hours later she found alls alix already at the porch table all alls looked pale bale but fresh and trim she had etl gently just dubbed and she wore one df the plain wide striped ginghams that were extremely becoming to her hei rather boyish type she looked up and nodded at cherry composedly cherry always kissed her sister in the morning but she did not today she felt troubled and ashamed hamed ns and instinctively avoided the little caress no men she asked sharing her grapefruit with her mall mail peter had bad to go to san rafael with rith mr thomas in his car to do something about the case al alts ii explained 1 1 q I drove them down and nt at the last minute martin decided ta go so 80 1 I marketed and got the man mail and came bade back and the understanding Is that we be are to meet them at the st francis for dinner at six and go to the orpheum Is it almost benr ten cherry said eald sleepily gazing in surprise at the block that was visible through the open door TEH terribly ashamed 1 and when did you get up and silently make your ybur bed and hang bang up your things oh ear early lyt alls all answered noncommittally commit tally 1 I bad it a bath and this Is my second breakfast I 1 cherry who was reading a letter made some inarticulate sound that made aux allx look at her ber in quick concern aern cherry what Is she exclaim ed 1 for answer merry cherry tossed her the letter jetter written on a thick sheet of lay lav ander paper watch M diffused a strong odor of scent oread bead thail she eho said bald briefly fearfully allx alix picked up the perfumed sheet and read in a coarse and sprawling yet unmistakably feminine handwriting the following words dear mrs mm lloyd perhaps you would not feel so BO pleased vi with th your bell adf if you knew the real reason why your husband left red bed creek it was bemuse because of a quarrel he had with hatty woods it if you yon dont belleve believe it you had better ask him about some of the parties he be had with joe kings crowd and where they were on the night of aug 28 and if he be knows anybody named ratty hatty woods and see says ask him it if he be ever heard of bep bopes pe hotel and when he was in sacramento last if he be denies it you can show him this letter there was no signature alls alix who had read it first with a bewildered and suspicious look read it again and flushed deeply at the sordid shame of it IL she laid it down and looked in stunned conviction at hr her sister bister cherry who was breathing hard bard raised her head rested her chin 0 on her hands elbows on the table and stared stand at allx alix defiantly there mere she said almost with triumph therel there I 1 now Is that so easy now am I 1 to just smile and agree to say eay certainly martin of course martin dearl dear I 1 now you see now you see now am I 1 to bear that she rushed M on her ber words suddenly violent and ALA go on with him as aa his wife bif e when a common woman like that merry cherry beart allx alls said bold distress edly ah well you cant realize iti lt nobody body but the woman to whom it happens can cant r cherry interrupted her covering her face with her hands bands but let him say what he pleases now she added passionately let him do what lib he pleases ill follow my own course from today on ont I 1 allx alix watching her fearfully was I 1 amazed at the change in her cher Ws rys eyes were blazing her cheeks pale ner her voice was dry and feverish and there was wag a sort of frenzy in her munner that alls alix had never seen before to bring sunny little cherry to this to change the radiant innocent child that had been cherry into this bitter and disillusioned woman allx alix felt as it if the whole world were wem going mad and as it if life would never be sane and serene sereal again for any one of them cherry do you believe it she askel cherry roused from a moment of broking silence shrugged her daib impatiently of course I 1 believe it V she answered buts but darling we dont even know who wrote it we ive have only this wom ans word tor for lt it oh look at it look at it aliat cherry burst forth do decent men have bave letters like that sent to their wives Is it probable that a good man would do anything to rome some busybody woman to write such a letter about hemr well bt who to she and what do you suppose otie wrote it fort for allx wondered oh I 1 dont know enow she got mad at him perhaps or perhaps she la is a champion of 0 this woods woman they had some quarrel how do I 1 know but you con can see eo that she Is mad nod this Is tb way she gets evell even 1 cherry at least do martin the tha justice to ask hirn him about it alls alix pleaded her sister seemed not to hear her the misery la in her beautiful eyes made heart sink and that cherry said in a whisper is my husband I 1 she paused staring down at the table one hand supporting her ber forehead the other wandering idly among the breakfast things her look was somber and far away allx alix standing watched her through a long minute of silence belll cherry said lifelessly look ing up at her sister with dulled eyes what now its still for better or worse I 1 suppose allx alix sat down and for a moment covered her face with a tight pressed hand when she took it away there was new serenity ani and resolution in her tired face no she said with a great sigh 1 I think perhaps youre right I 1 he he should have no claim on you now I 1 allx alls cherry demanded would you forgive him perhaps I 1 alls alix said after thought perhaps you yon 1 cherry echoed incredulously well im not very good alls alix said hesitatingly dut but a vow Is a vow you know it if it was limited then roy my my fulfillment of it would be Il limited miteL I 1 suppose of coursed course she added honestly tra tm talking for myself only v 64 and you would quietly forgive and forg forget etl I 1 demanded the little attla sister bister in bitter scorn 1 I say I 1 hope I 1 would I 1 alls alix corrected her even it if this la Is true she added with a glanco glance at the lavendor lavender letter still I 1 suppose the rule of forgiving seventy times seven times cherry interrupted her with a burst of bitter and rebellious wee weeping pt ng 1014 oh my god what shall I 1 dol do she sobbed with her bright head bead dropped on her arm dont cry cherry cherryl cherry I 1 alls alix said her own tears brimming over she came to kneel beside her sister and they locked their arms about each other and their wet cheeks touched dont cry dearl she said tenderly all come straight somehow and well wonder why we took tooh it so hard now listen to me als as soon as cherry had somewhat regained her composure well ascertain about this letter only fair if martin denies it of course hell deny etl cherry interrupted from the bitter knowledge she had of him alls alix again felt daunted for a second by the sheer ugliness and sordidness of the matter but sho she returned to the charge bravely suppose we get peter to ask him she suggested suddenly peter has a wonderful way of getting the truth out of people 1 poor cherry the very mention of his name dame makes her wince alls thought though watching her sister sorrowfully if martin can convince peter that it Is not true then that makes all the difference in the world she added aloud then you tell martin frankly that you have the old house ready to live la in and you want to live there them ho he hell never agree to that I 1 cherry said shaking her heed head but if abi this 4 Is truer true she asked again indicating tho the letter then tell him that unless he agrees absolutely to a separation alls said that you will get a divorces divorce I 1 and live here alone under that sort of a cloud cherry said with watering eyes oh well she said rising and aad going toward the door its horrible horrible horrible whatever I 1 do what Is your four that we should dine diep and go to the orpheum tonight as 1 if nothing had bad happened and let all this wait until you yoh can ask peter to cross examine martin r 1 I wonder if martin would tell me why colada t I 1 pretend that I 1 opened that letter by mistake aud and frighten him into admitting it if its true allx alls said you could cherry admitted lifelessly gut but you may be sure it Is true enough I 1 she added then leave it to me alls said and dont feel too sad cherry youre young aud and life ilfe may talis take a turn that chants changes everything for you you always have reter peter peter aeter ond me back of couf you I 1 allx alix youre the best sister a girl eer hod had cherry said passionately putting her hand on alexs shoulder 1 I wish I 1 were as big as you are and hes made me so wretched whispered cherry with trembling lips that sometimes ive been sick of life I 1 but I 1 will invest investigate agate this letter and if its not true ill try again ill go away with him if he wants me tc or ill III live here bere tind and study french and go to lectures with you you darling allx alix said with an aching heart hearl that night it was simply managed that martin should be next to allx in the loge at the theater and she began to question him seriously fit at once all through the strange nt ranee unnatural un naturi naturel day that followed her night of vigil she lind had been planning what nhat she should say to him but she and cherry had not spoken of the subject again cherry had dressed herself with her usual dainty care anil now with the violets alix had given her spraying in a great purple bunch at her breast and her blue eyes ringed and thoughtful under lier her soft little feathered nat hat she s he was so arrestingly lovely that alls alix was well aware of the admiring glances from all sides to which she was aas so superbly indifferent INI martin artin she began 1 I read a letter intended for cherry tills this rooming morning 1 I 1 I open all the mail she had to repeat it twice before lie he realized that there was something behind her earnest and significant tone then she saw him stop twisting his program and veer about toward towar aher her she murmured a question do I 1 what he asked in an undertone instantly lowered do you yon know a girl named hatty woods alls alix repeated cautiously all hope died when she saw his face what about her he asked almost inaudibly somebody wrote this letter about her alls alix started quickly who wrote you about her she say he demanded quickly just ill let you see eee it she said 1 I dont know who wrote it it signed do you do you know her do you know hatty woods she said the letter said oh sure I 1 know what shed say 1 I martin conceded furious at allis interference ter ference trembling with alth anger and resentment and only anxious to dose close the conversation 1 I know all about her and her kind I 1 think I 1 know who wrote that letter too you give it to me tomorrow and ill manage it there wont be any more morel I 1 martin alls alix whispered gravely if you have given cherry any cause lies voice fell and thero there was waa a silence there are arc a great many things in life that you dont understand my dear sister in law martin said re luct antly nettled a mans life la Is not C ap ki 0 W N do you know a girl named hatty woods a homana womans intended to bel if this woman says she has anything on me well now IT ill tell you something and you can tell your sister it if this Is a frame up that ill light fight hatty woods and fifty hatty woods I 1 martin ln for heavens bearens sakel sake alls alix yarned him as she tier her ato io lets against her face well lie be said now you know bow I 1 feel about it 1 martin alls alix pleaded feeling that her last hope was away f from rom her can you deny her story you get cherry to deny that ch artiea es never lost a chance to beat it away from home over ever since lahe he was married lie he said you got her to deny that she has said over euid over again that she never wanted children that her marriage mair lage was a mistake you ask her to show you the letters ive written her asking tier to conic come bark back and then ill shw w you the answers I 1 11 mart alart alls alix said sharply theres no use in your taking that tone with me that will do no good I 1 it if poor girl tills this hatty 1 I tell lell you to leave hatty out of it I 1 martin said the best thing you yon can do Is to let the whole thing alone dut but she saw that he was mas both nervous and apprehensive and she knew that the inference she and cherry had drown drawn brorn the letter was a true one does cherry know anything of thier this martin presently muttered do you wont her to tor alls alix asked pointedly ile iio shrugged his shoulders with a great assumption of indifference it if she wants to have it all dragged dragg cd to light why she can go abend V 1 he remarked carelessly im not stopping her at least I 1 think you ought to let cherry lead her own life after afir allx alix countered with spirit live in your old house eh lie naked asked resentfully as he flipped the pages of ills his program with a big thumb and stared at it with unseeing eyes what does docs she want to live there for the fact remains that she does alls persisted yes and have just as good a time as it if she never had been married at nil all 1 lie he said you know 11 alix was beginning the denial that she be had given him so confidently last night but she interrupted herself and stopped short the conviction rushed upon her in an overwhelming wave that she had no right to repeat that denial now that the last dreadful awen ty tour four hours had changed the whole situation and that she herself had better reason to suspect cherry than either martin or his gossiping aunt she sat sick and silent meanwhile cherry and peter had their first opportunity to speak to each other alone to both the thirst for speech was a burning necessity and it was with an almost dizzy sense of relief that cherry turned to him with her first words peter I 1 dont dare say much I 1 can yau hear bea me perfectly he answered looking at his folded program peter ive been thinking about our plan I 1 mean meant I 1 martin plans to go 90 on monday but something has happened since I 1 saw you this morning something that makes a difference I 1 I 1 had bad a letter a letter from some woman connecting hla his name with another woman a hatty woods hes notorious in red creek and this joe yang king crowd that he went with I 1 dont know who wrote the letter or why she wrote she said hastily as peter interpolated terpo a question and I 1 dont carol As aa tar far as martin goes I 1 am free now what is 13 justice to martin and kindness to martin will never count with me any morel moral peter wasted no words lie he goes monday he said eald we can go sunday tola this la Is thursday night your suitcase I 1 checked again yesterday was it only oaly yesterday all aall I 1 we would have been on the train tonight cherry flying toward new orleans I 1 her small hand gripped his in the darkness if we v e only were I 1 be heard her breathe he turned to her so exquisite in her distress her breast was rising and falling failing quickly patience sweet sweetheart heartt F he sald said ra patience Pat lence tience for only a few days morel tomorrow Toi To Lorrow ill make inake the arrangements sunday Is only two days off their eyes met in a wild rush of triumph and hope this time we shall do it ul I 1 peter said oh peter never be sorry she whispered sorry I 1 my dearest child when you give your you beauty and your sour youth to a man almost twice your age who has loved you nil all your life do you think there is much chance of tt why it be one of the happy marriages said cherry after ft a silence it will be answered confidently As the v oe beks ka become months and the months become years yeam and the beauty and miracle of it go on and on we will think that what we feel for each other now Is only the |