NORTII PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
IS
KATHLEEN
NORRIS
CoDynonr oy
MTHlttW NORRIf
CHAPTER XIII.
12
Mranwhllc Cherry, In tlio sick flut
ter of spirits that lmil become familiar
to her of Into, kept her dentist np
imlntmcnt, npd at noon looked at a
flushed and lovely vIhIoh In tho den
tint's mirror.
She went out Into tho blazing street;
It was one of the hot noontides of tho
year. At two o'clock u wlJd wind
would spring up nnd Bend papers and
lut flying, hut Just now the bent was
dry nnd clear and still.
She was carrying a parasol nnd she
opened It now and walked slowly to
ward Geary street. She could not even
frame In her thoughts the utter blank
;if?s of the feeling that swept over
Iut nt missing an opportunity to see
ivier. Sho turned nnd went slowly'
tip past tho big shop windows that re
flected the burning IMuzn, nnd ho cmno
ti tlw cool, great doorway of the St.
Francis. Inside was tempered light
mid much noiseless coming und going,
mooting nnd parting.
Cherry drifted Into the big, deep
carpeted waiting room; there were
itber women' there, sunk Into tho big
leather chairs, watching tho doors and
glancing nt the clock. When a man
fittup hastily In the floor, one woman
riwe, there was a significant smile, a
murmured greeting, before tho two
vanished.
In a luxurious chair Cherry wnlted,
l'etcr cortnlnly would not come In un
ll half-past twelve, perhaps not then.
Huddcnly, with a spring of her heart
iigulnsc her ribs, sho saw rater's dark
tiend with Its touches of Iron gray.
Groomed nnd brushed scrupulously
us always, with the little limp, yet ns
always dignified and erect, he came to
jttnnd before her, nnd she stood up,
and their hnnds 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 nguln.
iLtyd you expect mo to meet you?"
he kmllod. For nnswer ho looked at
lr thougbtfnlly n mluutu beforo his
wvn fncc lighted with n bright smile.
"I don't think I thought of your not
Imlnc thero," ho confessed. "I wns
HlmpJy moving nil morning toward the
tnritnnt of meeting." He watched her,
almost with anxiety, for n moment,
then turned his nttentlon to the bill
r fare. Hut Cherry wns not hungry,
ami she pnld small nttentlon to tho
onler, or to the food when It came,
Presently they were talking ngnln,
In that hunger for self-analysis that
H n nurt of new love. They thrilled
nt every word, Cherry raising her
fyoH, shining with eagerness, to his,
or Peter watching tho llttlo down
dropped face In nn ngony of ndnrntlon
An hour passed, two hours, after
nwlillo they were" walking, still with
that strange sense of oneness nnd of
uilltndp, nnd still ns easily as If they
Iiji.il been flouting, to the ferry.
f Mlx met them In Mill Valley with
-vivid nccmints of tho day; sho hnd
b.-en pondering tho brief tnlk with
Anne, nnd was nnxlous to hnvo Peter's
vivw of It. Peter was of tho opinion
ibut Anne's conduct Indicated very
clearly that sho and Justin realized
that their caso wns lost.
"Tlicn you're flxed for life, Cherry,"
wus Allx's first remark. "Oh, say I"
tdie added, In a burst. "Let's go down
to thu old house tomorrow, will you
JUHN sou whnt It needs, nnd bow much
would bnvo to be done to mnko It tit
to llvo hi I"
Cherryi flushed, staring steadily nt
her sister,, and Peter, too, wus con
fused, hut Allx saw nothlug. Tho
next day she carried her point, and
took Ihcm with her down to tho old
linuiu. Cherry wns pule und fighting
U'uns, us they crossed tho porch, and
ilttcd the key In the door. Inside thu
Jiouuo tho air was close and stale,
(Jirp!B of dry plno wulls and of uu
vired rooms. Peter flung up a window,
tho girls walked aimlessly about,
fhrough tho familiar, yet shockingly
strange, chairs and tables that wero all
coutcd thickly with dust.
"It needs everything I" Allx said,
after n first quick tour of Inspection,
eyeing n greater weather streak on
the raw plaster of Uio dining-room
wall. "It needs ulr, cleaning, straight
ening, flowers Oosh, how It does
need nooDlel"
"I . enn't bear It I" Cherry said
uoftly. in a sick undertoue.
AUr. who was rapidly recovering
liar equilibrium, sprang upstnlra with
out lienrlng her, but Cherry did not
follow. She went to the open front
(doorway and stood thero, leaning
aga list the Bill, and gazing sadly out
nt tho shabby, tangled gurden that
hmd sheltered all the safety und Joy
.wad tnnoceuco of hor llttle-glrl days
I "Peter." sho said. nB ho camo to
ataud beside her, "I'm bo unhappy I"
"Cherry, will you end It?" ho askod
tier, huskily.
gave him a startled look,
i T-tod It?" sbo faltered.
r "Will ;rou-do you think you aro
nruve eiiougu to give evoryuung ciuo
up for me?" he nuked.
"Peter 1" said Cherry, hurdly above
a breath.
"Will you go away with mo?" Peter
went on, feverishly. "That's tho only
way, now. That's the only way now.
Will you go away?"
"(Jo away I" Cherry s face was ash
en as she moved her tragic and beau
tiful eyes to bis. "(Jo uwny where?"
"Anywhere 1" Peter answered, con
fusedly. "Anywhere I" He did not
meet her look, his own went furtively
about tho garden. Immediately be
seemed to regain self-control. "I'm
talking tlko u fool!" ho said, quickly
"I don't know what I'm saying half
the timet I'm sorry I'm sorry, Cher
ry. Don't mind me. Say that you'll
forgive mo for what I said I"
He had taken her hands, and they
wero looking dlstressedly nnd sober
ly at each other when an unexpected
noise mude them step quickly apart.
Cherry's heart beat madly with ter
ror, und Peter flushed deeply.
It wns Mnrtln Lloyd's mint, Mrs.
North, their old neighbor, who enmo
about the corner of the house, nnd
nppronched them smilingly. How much
had she seen? Cherry usked herself,
In n panic. Whnt were they doing?
whnt were they saying -as she up
peared? -how much had their atti
tude betrayed them?
Mrs. North wus the same loud
lnughlng, cheerful womun as of old
Sho kissed Cherry, nnd wns full of
queries for Martin.
"uurango? Hello told mu some
thing about his going there," she said.
How long you been here, Cherry?"
"I'vo been with Allx and Peter for
for several weeks," Cherry said, un
easily. Her eyes met Peter's and he
conveyed reassurance to her with n
look.
"When you going back, dear?" Mrs.
North asked, with so shrewd a glance
from Cherry's exquisite rosy face to
Peter's that ho felt a fresh pang of
suspicion. She hud seen something
"Why, I'vo been rather rnther kept
here by the the lnw-sult, haven't I,
Peter?" Cherry explnlncd. "Hut I ex
pect to go soon an It is all settled!
Here's Allx," she suld, gladly, ns Allx
cume downstairs.
"I'll hot you threo aro having real
good times I" Mrs. North suld, with n
curious look from one to the other,
"You know what I hope," Allx told
her, "Is that Cherry and Martin will
nlwnys keep the old place open now,
I don't believe Cberry'U ever love an
Here's Allx," She Said Gladly aa
Allx Cnme Downstairs.
other place as slm does tho valley-
will you, Sis?" Allx ended, eagerly.
Cherry met the arm her sister linked
around her, half-way, and guvo her
a troubled smile.
And yet a few moments later, when
some quest took Peter suddenly from
the group, sho watched tho shubby
corduroy suit, the laced high boots,
nnd the black head touched with gray,
disappear In tho direction of the
kitchen with a tearing pain nt her
heart. Her father had asked her to
wait, wait until sho was nineteen I
Nineteen had seemed old then. Sho
hud felt at nineteen she would have
merely dclnycd tho great Joy of life
for nothing; at nineteen sho would
be only so much oldor, so much moro
desperately bent upon this marringe,
And Peter was thero then, was com
lug and going, advising und teuslng her
so near, so accessible, loving her
even then, hnd sho but known It I
That engagement might ns easily
and how much moro wisely t hnve
been with Peter; tho presents, the
gowns, tho wedding would hnvo been
the same, to her childish egotism; the
rest how different I Tho rest would
hnvo been light Instead of darkness
Joy Instead of pain, dignity and de-
vclopmcnt nnd Increasing content in
stend of nil tho months of restless
criticism nnd doubt nnd disillusion
ment. Tho very scene here, with Mrs.
North and Allx, might easily have
been, with Cherry ns tho wlfo of Peter,
Cherry as her sister's hostess, In tho
mountain cabin
At tho thought her benrt suffocated
her. She stood dazedly looking out of
tho old kitchen window, und her
senses swam In a sudden spusm of
pain.
CHAPTER XIV.
"You nnd I must go nwnyl" suld
Peter. "I enn't stnnd It. I love you.
I love you so dearly, Cherry. I enn't
think of anything else any more. It's
like n fever It's like n sickness. I'm
never hnppy, nny more, unless my
nrms nre about you. Will you let me
tnko you somewhere, where wc can be
hnppy together?"
Cherry turned her confident, child
ish fnco toward him; her lashes glit
tered, but she smiled.
"I love you, Peter J" she said. And
the words, sounding softly through the
silence of the garden, died away on
the worm night nlr like music.
In the two weeks since the dny nt
the old house they had not chanced to
be often alone, nnd tonight, for tho
first time, Cherry admitted that she
could fight no longer. They talked ns
lovers, his arm nbout the soft little
clinging figure, her small, firm lingers
tight In his own. He hnd squurcd
nbout on the great log that was their
seat so that his ardent eyes were
closer to her; the world held nothing
but themselves. It wus eight o'clock.
' "So this Is the thing that wus wait
Ing for us nil these years, Cherry, over
slnco the time you and Allx used to
dum my brook nnd climb my oak
trees 1"
"I never dreamed of It I" Cherry
said, with wonder In her tone.
"If we hnd dreamed of It " Peter
began, nnd stopped.
"Ah, If wc hnd, It would nil bo dif
ferent," Cherry said, with a look of
pain. "Thnt's the one thing I can't
bear to think of I I cannot go back to
Mnrtln. I enn't leave you I can't leave
you 1"
"Shall wc go nwny?" Peter nsked,
simply.
"Go where?" she nsked.
"(Jo nnywhcrcl" he. nnsworcd. "We
have money enough; we enn lenve
Allx rich she will still hnve her cabin
nnd her dogs nnd tho life she loves,
But there nre other tiny places. Cher
ry; there nre little cabins in Hawaii,
there nre Canadian villages Cherry,
there nre thousands of places In the
south of France where we might live
for years nnd never be questioned, nnd
never be annoyed."
"Franco I" sho whispered, nnd the
downcast face ho was watching so
eagerly was thoughtful. "How could
wo go," she breathed. "You first, and
then I? To meet somewhere?"
"Wo would hnve to go together,"
ho decided svvlftly. "Every ono must
know, dear; you realize that?"
Wide-eyed sho was staring at him
us If spell-hound by some new hope;
now she shrugged hor shoulders In
cnreless dlsdnln.
"Thnt Is'nt of nny consequence!"
"You don't feel It sol" He snt down
beside her, nnd ngnln they locked
bunds.
"Not thnt part," sho answered, sim
ply. "I mind Allx." she udded.
thoughtfully.
"Yes, I mind Allx !" he admitted.
"But tho Injury Is dono to Allx now,"
Cherry suld, slowly. "Now It Is too Into
to go bnckl .You nnd I couldn't we
couldn't deceive Allx here, Peter,"
Cherry ndded, nnd ns she turned to
him ho saw her thin white blouse move
suddenly with the quick rising of her
heurt. "That thnt would he too hor
rible! But I could take this love of
ours awny, leavo everything else be
hind, simply simply recognize," stam
mered Cherry, her lips beginning to
tremble, "that It Is bigger than our
selves, that we can't help It, Peter.
I'd fight It If I could," she udded, plte
ously, "I'd go uwoy If I didn't know
that no power on enrth could keep mu
from coming bnckl"
She burled Iter bend on his shoulder,
nnd he put his arm about her, and
thero wot utter silence over tho great
brooding mountain, and lu Uic valley
brimming with soft moonshine, and In
the garden.
"I believe that even Allx will under
stand," Peter said after awhile. "She
loves you nnd me better thnn nny one
else In the world; she Is not only ev
erything thut Is generous, but sho Isn't
Hellish, she Is the busiest nnd tho most
sensible person I ever knew. I know
of course I know It's rotten," he broke
off In sudden despnlr, "but what I'm
trying to say Is that Allx, of all peo
ple I know, Is tho ono that will make
the least fuss about It-
Cherry wns staring rnptly before
her; now sho grasped his hand and
said breathlessly :
"Oh, Peter, nre we talking nbout It?
Aro we talking nbout our going away,
and belonging to each other?"
"Whnt else?" he snld, quick tenrs
In his eyes.
"Oh, but I've been so unhappy, I've
been bo starved I" sho whispered. "I
thought 1 wanted people cities I
thought I wanted to g on tho stage.
Hut It wns only you I wanted. Oh,.
Peter, what n llfo It will bo I The lit-
tlest cottage, tho simplest life, and
perhaps a bench or woods to walk In
nnd ulwnys talking, reading, always
together. Isn't thero some wny wo
can get uwny, dlsuppcnr as if we bad
never been?"
"Cherry I" ho said, kneeling before
her in tho wet grass. "You know whnt
It menus l"
"It means you I" sho answered, af te
a silence. Sho hnd laid her hands
softly nbout his neck, and her shin-
ng eyes were dose to his.
"It's so beautiful It's so wonderful
to lovo this wny," sho said, In bet
Innocent, llttle-glrl voice, "that ll
seems to mo tho only thing In the
world I I'd como to you, Peter, If it
mount shnme and death nnd horror.
It doesn't mean thnt, It only mcuns
a mnu nnd a womun settling down
somewhere In tho south of France, a
big qulot man who limps a little, und
a little yellow-headed woman In blue
smocks nnd silly-looking hats '
"It means life, of coursol" he Inter
rupted her. "The hour thnt makes
you mine, Cherry, will be the exqui
site hour of my whole life I"
They were silent for n while, and
below them the white moonlight deep
ened nnd brightened nnd swam llko
an enchantment.
"There will be no coming back. Cher
ry."
"Oh, I know that!"
"There can't ever be there mustn't
be you've thought of thut?" ho suld,
uncertulnly. In the curious, unrcnl
light thut Howled the world, he saw
her turn, and caught tho gleam of her
surprised eyes.
"You mean children a child?" she
sntd, surprlsedly. "Why not, Peter?"
she ndded, tightening her fingers,
"what could be more wonderful than
thut we should have a child? Can
you Imagine n happier environment
for a child than thnt little sunshiny,
woodsy bench cottnge; enn't yqu seo
the llttla flgure tho two or three little
tiguresi Hcumpering ahead of us
through tho country roads, or around
the lire? Oh, I can," suld Cherry, her
extraordinary voice rich and sweet
Her Shining Eyes Were Close.
with longing, "I can I That would be
motherhood, Peter, that wouldn't bo
like huvlng a baby whose father ono
didn't ono couldn't love, marriage or
no murrlugol"
And us he watched, amazed at the
change that love hud brought to quiet,
little Inarticulate Cherry, she udded,
earnestly :
"Allx will forgive us; you'll see she
will! Allx I know her I will only
be sorry for me. She.'!! only Uilnk me
mud to disgrace tho good name of
Strickland; she'll think we're both
crazy. Perhaps she'll plunge Into the
orphunngo work, or perhaps she'll go
on here, gardening, playing with Buck,
raising ducks she says herself thut
she hus never known what love means
suys It really meaning It, yet bb If
the whole subject was a Joke a wenk-
ness I"
"I believe sho will forgive us, for
she Is the most generous woman In
the world," Peter said, slowly. "Any-
wny wo enn't stop nowl We can't
stop now! Thero Is the steamer line
that goes to Los Angeles," he mused.
"Yes I bellevo that Is the solution,'
ho added, with n brightening fuco. "No
body you know goes there on It; it
leaves dally at cloven, und gets Into
Los Angeles the following morning.
From -thero wo can get a drawing-
room to Now Orleans; that's only a
day nnd u hulf more; and wo can
keep to ourselves If by uny unlucky
chance thero .should bo' any ono wo
j-,. ,m tno train "
"Which Isn't likely I"
"Which-Isn't likely 1 Then nt New
Orleans wo go either to the Zone, or
to South Amerlcn, or to nny ono of
tho thousand pluccs New York, If
we like, by water. By thnt time wo
will bo lost as completely ns If wo hnd
dropped Into the seu. I'll seo about
reservations the thing Is, you're too
pretty to go quite unnoticed I" ho add
ed ruefully.
Ho suw u smile flicker on hor fuco
In thu moonlight, but when slie spoke,
it was wun almost tcartui gravity:
"You arrange It, Peter, and Bonio-
how I'll go. I'll wrlto Allx-l'll tell
her thnt whore sho's sane, I'm mad,
und where sho's strong, I'm weak!
And we'll weather It, denr, nnd we'll
And ourselves somewhere, ulone, with
all tho golden, beautiful future before
ue. But, Peter, until this part of It's
over wo mustn't bo alone nguln you
mustn't kiss me ugulu 1 Will you prom
ise mo?"
As Btlrred as sho wns, he gathered
her llttlo fingers together, und kissed
them.
"I'll promise anything I Only trust
mo for a few days more, and wo wilt
bo nwuy from it all. And now you
put It nil out of your mind, and run
in und go to bed. You're exhausted,
nnd If Allx gots tho eight o'clock train
sho will he here lu a fow minutes.'
"Good night I" sho breathed, and ho
suw the white gown flicker ngnlnst
the soft light on the lawn, and saw
tho black shadow creeping by it, be
fore she mounted the porch steps,
and was gone..
(TO DS CONTINUHKX)
What to
CONSTIPATION
Take a good doze
I CARTERS
IIPPITTLE
IVER
PILLS
Seven hundred British subjects are
born nt sea each year.
Cutlcura for Pimply Faces.
To remove pimples and blackheads
smear them with CuUcura Ointment.
Wash off In five minutes with Cutl
cura Soap and hot water. Once clear
keep your skin clear by using them for
dally toilet purposes. Don't fall to in
clude Cutlcura Talcum. Advertisement
It's a poot patent medicine
that
enn't get Itself Imitated.
WHY DRUGGISTS RECOMMEND
SWAMP-ROOT
For many years druggists have watched
with much interest the remarkable record
maintained by Dr. Kilmer's Swamp-Hoot,
the great kidney, liver and bladder medi
cine. It is a physician's prescription.
Swamp-Root is a strengthening medi
cine. It helps the kidneys, liver and blad
der do the work nature intended they
should do.
Swamp-Root has stood the test of years.
It is sold by all druggists on its merit
and it should help you. No other kidney
medicine has so many friends.
Be sure to get Swamp-Root and start
treatment at once.
However, if .you wish first to test this
great preparation send ten cents to Dr.
Kilmer 4. Co.. Binghamton, N. Y., for a 1
sample bottle. When writing be sure and
mention this paper. Advertisement.
OBJECTION WOULD NOT LAST
Suitor More Than Willing to Remove
Cause for Prospective Father-In-Law's
III Will.
The two lovers wero talking over
their troubles, particularly tho pnrcn
tnl objections offered to their mar
riage. "But," said the youth, "I can't
for the life of me see why your fa
ther should plncc any obstacle In the
way of our marriage."
"Well," explained the girl after
some reflection. "I think It stnnds this
wny: Father, you know, Is always
boasting of his lineage. He Is for
ever saying that his ancestors were
gentlemen of leisure like himself, nnd
that you have to work for a living."
"Well," continued the suitor, "tell
him thnt I don't expect to nfter we
are mnrrled."
Thought Ho Was Dying.
"Stirring times In our neighbor
hood last night."
"Whnt happened?"
"Tho Blltherbys played Jasz records
until after midnight, so Mr. Grump
son rose from his bed und began
to sing, by wny of starting a little com
petition." "I suppose the Blltherbys took tho
hint?"
'No, Indeed. They sent for nn nm-
hulauce."
Equipped for Fight.
Miss Oushlngton Do you believe
that when poverty comes In at the
door lovo flies out the window?
Mr. Ilardfax Sure I Didn't you
ever notice the wings on Cupid?
Three crops n year enn be grown in
tho Panama canal zone.
Do you discriminate at the dintng
table or are you thoughtless?
In thousands of homes,
a "line" is drawn at the
breakfast table. Tea or
coffee ia served for
"grown-ups" and Postum
for children. But some
parents Jo not discrimin
ate. Caffeine and tannin,
the injurious contents of
coffee and tea, seriously
retard the development of
the delicate nerve tissues
in children.
Consequently, instead
of rich, satisfying Postum,
children are over stimu
lated by the drugs in tea
and coffee; and so may
grow up irritable and
nervous. Any doctor can
tell you that this is a
great evil and should be
corrected.
Although some par
ents feel a certain justifi
cation for the personal
Indulgence in coffee, yet
the harm to them may
be equally serious. It
may take a little while
longer for the drugs in
coffee and tea to affect
Take for
of Carter's little liver Pills
then take 2 or 3 for a few nights af ter.They
cleanse your system of all waste matter and
Regmlate Year Bowels. Mild as easy to
take aS SUgar. Genuine tear signature sea?&IvC
Small Pill. Small Dose. Small Price.
The Old School of Medicine.
Do Gush "What would you pre
scribe for tho Ills of tho world to
day?" De Crush "Mosaic tublets.
Wayside Tales.
ASPIRIN
Name "Bayer" on Genuine
Take Aspirin only as told In each
package of genuine Bayer Tablets of
Aspirin. Then you will be following;
the directions and dosage worked out
by physlclanB during 21 years, and
proved safe by millions. Take no
chances with substitutes. If you see
the Bayer Gross on tablets, you can
take them without fear for Colds,
Headache, Neuralgia, Rheumatism,
Earache, Toothache, Lumbago and
for Pain. Handy tin boxes of twelve
tablets cost few cents. Druggists also
sell larger packages. Aspirin Is the
trade mark of Bayer Manufacture of
Uonoacetlcacidester of Sallcyllcacld.
Advertisement.
"SHOW" HAD HER APPROVAL
Small Girt Enjoyed It and Was Not at
All Backward In Telling
the World.
"Sister" Is six, nnd her delight Is
Indianapolis. Last summer Ola took
her when rho went to see Stuart
Walker's "Peg o' My Henrt." Sister
squirmed and wiggled and whispered
that "this Isn't a real show" until
Ola declared "never again."
But shortly afterward she and her
husband hnd to take "Sister" along
when they went to see the premiere
of "Abe Martin" nt English's. First,
they cautioned her:
"For goodness' Bake, bo still."
Imagine their surprise, amusement
and also embarrassment when nfter a
lively ensemble, "Sister," who had
been shrieking In glee, clapped her
bunds, nnd whllo the whole audience
turned to see, shrilled:
"Oh, Ola, this Is a real show 'cause
its got pretty girls and they sing
and dance." Indianapolis News.
The Balanced Menu.
Men will bo encouraged to learn how
food Is prepared, which foods nre most
nutritious and how to combine them
to make a balanced menu In a special
home economics course nt the Kansas
State Agricultural college. In order
to mne this course popular It has
been opened to nil students In tho
college without requisites. It Is ex
pected to help men to understand what
goes on In their own kitchens.
To step Into another man's shoes Is
generally easier than It Is to walk to
them.
Ho who says what ho likes may hcai
wltnt ho doesn't like.
an older person, but in
many cases the nervous
system nnd allied bodily
functions will become
weakened. The surest
way to avoid such pos
sibilities is to quit coffee
entirely and drink Postum
instead. The change per
mits you to get sound,
restful sleep.
Postum is the well
known, meal-time bever
age. Like thousands of
others you will like it be
cause, in flavor, it ia
much like a high-grade
coffee.
Do away with the dis
tinction at the table.
Serve delicious Postum,
piping hot, to all the fam
ily. One week's trial and
it is likely that you'll never
return to tea and coffee.
Postum comes in two
forms: Instant Postum (In tins)
roads instantly In the cup by
the addition of boiling water.
Postum Cereal (In packages of
larger bulk, for those rho pre
fer to make the drink while the
meal is being prepared) mads
by boiling for 20 minutes.