Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Mt. Scott herald. (Lents, Multnomah Co., Or.) 1914-1923 | View Entire Issue (March 10, 1922)
I Confined from last weak.) “Let me get till» »tralght." ba »«It •lowly. "Tbe arm la O. K. and the leg, but tbe back—" Cherry. kneeling beside him. ber haixla on hie. drew a wincing breath. Martin rvaaaured her with an Indul gent nod. "I’ve known It right along!” he told ber. He looked al the doctors. "It’» no go?" “I don't are why I should deceive yon. my dear boy." enld the younger doctor, who had grown very fond of bint. “You can «till twat me at bridge, you know, you can read and write, and come lo the table, after awhile; you have your devoted wife to keep finding new things for you to do I Nest sum mrr now—a chair out In the garden—" Cherry was fearfully watching her husband's face. “We ll all do what we can to make It easy. Marti” she whispered, in tears He looked at ber with a whimsical smile. "Mind very much taking care of a helpless man all your life?" he asked, with a bint of his old confident man ner. “Oh. Mart. I mind only for you!“ she aald. Veter, standing behind the doc tors, slipped from tbe room unnoticed Ijite that evening, when Martin was aaleep. Cherry came noiselessly from "O, Marti I Mind Only for You!" 8h. Said. j i I breathing more quietly, she said again: “PeterI We can uever dream that dream again.” “We shall dream It again," ho cor rected her. Cherry did not answer for a long while. Then she gently disengaged herself from his srrns. and sat erect. Iler tears were euded now, and ber voice Ormer and surer. “No; never again!* she told him. “I've been thinking about It. all these days, and I've come to see what Is right, as I uever did before. Alls never knew about us. Peter—and that's been the one thing for which I could be thankful In all this time! But Alls had only one hope for me, and that was that somehow Martin and I would come to be—well, to I ms nearer to each other, and that somehow l>e and I would make a succeas of our giurriage. would spare—well, let's say tbe family name, from all the disgrace and publicity of a divorce—" “But, Cherry, my child—” Peter ex postulated. “You cannot sacrifice all your life to the fancy that no one else can take your place with him—” 'That.” site said, steadily, “la Just wbal 1 must do!” Peter looked at her for a few sec onds without speaking. "You don't love him.” he said. “No,” she admitted, gravely. “I don't love him—not In the way you mean.” "lie la nothing to you." Peter argued. "As a matter of fact. It never was what ■ murrluge should t>e. It was always—always- a mistake.” "Yea." alie cuncrded, sadly, “it was always a mistake I" "Then there Is nothing to blud you lo him!“ Peter added. "No—and there isn't Alix to distress now!” she agreed, thoughtfully. "And yet," she went on. suddeoly. “I do thia more for Alix than for any one !* I’eter looked at her in silence, looked back at the last flicker of the fire. "You will change your mind after awhile !'* he said. Cherry rose from the chair, and stood with dropped head and troubled eyes, looklug down at the flame. "No. I shall never change my mind I" she said. In a low tone that was still strangely firm and final for her. "For five or ten or twenty or thirty years 1 shall always be where •Martin Is. caring for him. amusing him, making a life for him.” And Cherry raised her glorious blue eyes in which there was a pure and an up lifted look ttMit Peter had never seen there before. “It Is what Dad and Alls would have wished,” she finished, soli-mnly, “and I do It for them!" I’eter did not answer; and after a moment »he went quietly ami quickly from the room, with the new air of quel responsibility that she had worn ever since the accident. i ! ! ' ' , 1 I I J I I the sick room, to find I’eter alone In tbe dimly lighted sitting room. He glanced at lier. fwlmg rather than bearing her presence. and called her. “Como over her», will you, Cherry? I 1 want to apenk to yon.” CHAPTER XX. She came, with an Inquiring and yet not wholly unconscious look, to the I’eter saw. with a sort of stu|>efac- fireside, and ho stood up to greet her. tlon. that life was satisfying her now “Tired?" he asked, tu an unnatural ns life had never satisfied restless, ex voice. acting little Cberry before. "I—I was Just going to bed,” she She spent much of ber free time by answered, hesitatingly. But she sat her husbund's »Ide. amusing him ns down nevertheless; sank comfortably skillfully as a mother. He was get Intc the chair o| poslte his own. and ting so iMipulnr that she had to be etrvtched her llttlo feet, crossed at the ready for callers every day. Would he ankle, before her, ns if she were In like her to keep Oeorge Sewnll for deed tired. dinner, when they could play dominoes He knelt down beside her chair, ami again? Would he like the table with gathered her cold bands Into one of the picture puzzle? lie would like hl» own. “What are you and I going Just to talk? Very well; they would to dot* he asked. talk. Rhe looked at him In terror. Martin's day wns so tilled and "But all that Is changed!” she »»Id, divided with small pleasure« thnt It quickly, fearfully. wn« apt to amaze him by |:n«-mg too "Why Is It changed?" he countered. qtllcl.lv lie hod S|M>efnl hrenkfasts. "I love you—1 have always loved you be Itnd Ills pn|>et his Imlr was brushed since the days long ago. In thia very ar.d his l-tvl reme>le a tloaeii times a bouse! I can't atop It now. And you day Cherry «hilled her mall which love me, Cherry!" wns always heavy now. with him; she llltiert into »’»» sick-room every fe« "Yea. I ahnll always» love yon." she mlniiies «HI. -mall mes«ng<s or gifts answered, agitatedly, after n pause In With ht'r bare bright hend her busy which she looked at him with troubled «hlti- I iiiih I« tier voice all motherly eyes. “But—hut—you must see thnt simi-ct " nt -mu sympathy and sweet we cannot- cannot think of all lluit oess • hurt ne'er «• emed so much now," she added with difficulty “I a «Ife »the Imil Hit1 pleasantest laugh couldn't fall Martin now. «hen he In the worltl ami «he often laughed needs me so I" The nick room wn* kept «’Ith exquisite "He needs you now." Peter concert Blmpllrliy. «Ith «m-h freshne«« hare ert, "and I don’t ask you to do any nr»', uno order os made It n '»Hee of thing that must distress him now But delight < me day Cherry hroiigln home In a few months, when his mother a great Vlkory howl of silvery glass comes down for a visit you must tell and a dozen drifting goldfish and Mar them honestly that you enre for me." tin never tt-ed of watching them Idly he said. while hr listened to her rending Cherry wns t/emhllim violently. “Cherry." Peter said, on a wet lanu “But how could I !*’ «he protested. “Tell him that I am going away, de ary day when lie enntr upon her tn the dining room .■ontentedly nrr-mglng a serting him when he most needs me!" fragrant inn«» -if wel violet« "I think Peter had gro«-n very pale. Martin’s out of the «-nod. now. I be "But—" he stammered his thee lieve i'll he moving along!" close to here—"hut you cannot mean “Oh. but we want you always, Pe that this In the end?" She moved her lips an If she wan | ter!" she said. Innocently regretful. «hmtt to speak ; looked at him hlnnklv. The ghost of a pained smile flitted acrons his fnce. Then suddenly tears cams, and she “Thank you." he said, gently. "But wrenched her hands free from hla. I think 1 will go." he added, mildly. and laid her arms about hla neck. Her She made no further protest. wet cheek was preened to hla own. and he put his arms tightly about the lit “But where?" she asked, syinpa tle shaken figure. thetlcnlly. “Peter!' she whispered, desolately. ”1 don't know. I shall take Ruck— And after a time, when the violence of start off toward the big mountains. ber aoba wan lessened, and ahe wan I’ll write you now and then, of course! • Pm going home, first I" “Just now," Cherry mused, sadly, "perhaps It la beat—for you—to get away! Now that Martin Is so much better.” she added, tn a little burst. “1 do feel so sorry for you, Peter I I know how you feel. I aball miss ber always, of course." said CherrL “but I have him." “I try not to think of her,” I’eter said, flinging up hla head. “When you do," Cherry said, earn estly. giving him u>< re of ber attention than had bwen usuul. of lata, “Here la something to think, Peter. It's this: we have so much lo be thunkful for. because she never—knew 1 It was mildness,'' Cherry went on. eagerly, “sheer madness—that Is clear now. 1 don't try lo explain IL because It's all beeu washed away by the frightful thing that iiappel ed. I'm different now; you're different—I don't know how we ever thought we could—” There was a silence during which | aim looked at him anxiously, but tbe expression on hla face did nut alter, : and be dl<l not speak. “And what 1 think we ought to bo thankful for.” she resumed, "is that Alix would rather—she would rather have It this way. .She told me that she would be imiirt-broken If there bad beeu auy actual separation between me and Martin, and bow much worse j that would have been—what we I planned, 1 tueun. Sbe was spared that, and we were »pared—1 see It now—what would have ruined both our Ilves. We were brought to our senses, and the awakeulug ouly came a little sooner than It would’have come any- way I” Peter had walked to the window, and was looking out at tbe shabby winter trees that were dripping rain, and at the beaten garden, where the drenched chrysanthemum» bud beeu bowed to the soaked earth. “Here, In Dud's home,” Cherry said, coming to stand beside him, "I see bow wicked and how mad I was. In another twenty-four houra It would have been too late—you don't know how often 1 wake up tai the night aud shiver, thinking that I And as It la. I am here In the dear old house; and Martlu—well, you can see that even | Martin'» life Is going to be far happier | than It ever was I It'a such a Joy to ; me," ahe added, with the radiant look she often wore when ber husband's i comfort was under consideration, “to [ feel that we need never worry about tbe money end of things—there's \ enough for what we need forever!” “You must never worry about mod- ! ey," he told ber. "And If ever you ' need it—If It is a question of a long 1 trip, or of more operations—If there to any chance—" “I shall remember thnt I have a big | brother!” alie said. Tbe room was scented by the sweet, i damp flowers, and by the good odor ' of lazily burning loga; yet to Peter there was chill aud desolateness In the , air. Cherry took up the glass bowl In both careful hands, and went awny In the direction of the study, but he stood at the window for a long time staring dully out at the battered chrysanthe mums and the swishing branches, and the steudllv falling rain. A few trays fitter, on a day of un certain sunshine and shower», Peter left them. To Cherry Peter’s going was n relief; It burned one more bridge behind tier. It confirmed her In tbe path she had chosen; It was to her spirit like the enp that marks the accepted student nurse, or like the black coif that replaces the postulant's white veil of probation. lie had been in the downstnlrs bed room. talking with Martin, for per haps an hour; he had drawn them a rough sketch of the little addition to the house that Cherry meant some day to build next to tbe study, and he and Martin had been discussing the de tails. Cherry was sweeping the wet. dun-colored leaves frym the old porcli when a sudden step In the doorway be hind her tnnde her look up. I’eter had come out of the house, with Buck beside him. He wore his old corduroy clothes and his shabby cap, but there was something In his aspect that made her ask: "Not going?" “Yes, Pin going now I” he said. She rested her broom against the thick trunk of the old banksia. and Cherry!” he reminded ber. "Only six years—” Rhe was ob viously amazed. “It doesn't aeem pos sthle that all thia haa happened In six years!" ahe exclaimed. He did not answer. He bad ber sand now for farewella. and perhaps, with ths ¿ought of those abort six years had come also the thought that this slender figure In tbe housewifely blue linen, this exquisite little bead, so trim aod demure despite all Its rebel tendrils of gold, this lowly face, still the face of a child, with a child's trusting, uplifted eyes, might hsve beeu bls. Tbe old home might have been their home, and perhaps—who knows, there might have been a new Cberry and a new Peter beginning to look eagerly out at life through the screen of tbe old rose vine! Too late now. A single Instant of those lost years might have brought him all thia, but there was no going back. He put his arm about ber, and ktosed ber forehead, and said: "God bless you, CberryI” “God hie»» you, dear!” she an swered grsvely. She watched tbe tall figure, with Its little limp, end with the dog leaping and circling about It In ecstasy, until the redwoods closed around him. Then sbe took up the broom again, and slowly and thought fully crossed the old porch, and shut tbe door. Peter, walking with long strides, and wltb a furrowed brow and absent eyes, crossed the village, and climbed once more tbe old trail that led up to the cabin. It was dusted, orderly, complete; be and Alix might have left It yesterday. Kow had seen him coming, be tboughL and had had time to light the fire, which was blazing freshly up to the chimney's great throat. He sat down, staring at the flames. Buck pushed open the swinging door between tbe pantry and tbe sit ting room, and came In, a question In bls bright eyes, bls great plumy tall beating the floor ay be lay down at Peter’s side. Presently the dog laid hla nose on Peter's knee and poured forth a faint sound that was not quite • whine, not quite ■ algh. and rose restlessly, and went to the clo»ed door of Alix'» room, and pawed IL hto eager uom - to tbe threahold. "Not here, old fellow!” Peter said, atroklng the silky head under hto band. He had not been lo this room since tbe day of ber death. It struck him as strangely changed, strangely and heartretyllngly familiar. The windows were closed, as Alix had never bad them closed, winter or summer, rain or sunshine. Her books stood In their old order, her student's Shakespeare, and some of ber girlhood's b>ok». “Little Women." and "Uncle Max.” In the closeL which exhaled a damp and woody smell, were one or two of tbe boyish-looking hats he had so often seen her crush carelessly on her dark hair, aud the big belted coat that was as plain as his owu. and the big boots sbe wore when she tramped about the poultry yard, still spattered with pale, dry mud. Her father’s worn little Bi ble lay on the table, and beside It an other book, "Duck Raising for the Market," with the marks of muddy and mealy hands still lingering on Its cover. Suddenly, evoked by these silent witnesses to her busy and happy life, the whole woman seemed to stand be side I’eter. th- tall, eager, vital woman who had been at home here, who had ruled the cabin with a splendid and vital personality. He seemed to feel her near him agnln. to see the Inter ested eyes, the high cheek-bones touched with scarlet, the wisp of hair that would fall across her face some times when she was deep in baking, or preserving, or pocltry-farmiug. and that she would brush away with the back of an Impatient hand, only to have It slip loose again. One of her kitchen aprons, caught In the current of air from the opened door, blew about on Its hook. He re membered her. on many a «-tntry day, buttoned Into Just such a crisp apron, radiantly busy and brisk tn her kitch en, stirring and chopping, moving con stantly between stove and table. With strong hands still showing traces of flour she «ould come to sit beside him at the piano, to play a duet with her characteristic dash and finish, only to Jump up In sudden compunction, with an exclamation: “Oh, my ducks—I’d forgotten them I Oh. the poor little wretchesI" And she would be gone, leaving a streak of wet. fresh air through the «■arm house from the open door, and he would perhaps glance from a win dow to see her. roughly coated and booted, ploughing »bout her duck yard, delving Into barrels of grain, turning on faucets, wielding a stubby old broom. She loved her life, he mused, with a bitter heartache, as he stood here In her empty room. Sometime» he had marveled at the complete and unques tioning Joy she had brought to IL Pe ter reminded himself that never In their years together had he heard her complain about anything, or seem to feel bored or at a loss. "We've always thought of Cherry as the child I" he thought. "But tt was «he, Alix, who was the real child. She never grew up. She never entered Into the time of moods and aelf-analysto and Jealousies and desires! She would have played and picnicked all her (Continued next week). "Yes, I’m Going Now I” He said. nibbed her two hands together, and came to the top of the steps to say good-by. And standing there, under the rose tree, ahe linked her arm about It looking up through the branches, where the shabby foliage of last year lingered. “How fast It's grown since that terrific pruning we gnve It all that long time ago!” she said. “Little more than six years ago A cold bath will be found more pleasant if made with hot water. Spaghetti should not be cooked too lontf. About ten inches is right. Ask Fuller How to Do Your Own Refinishing of Furniture, Floors, Walls, Bric-a-brac, Etc. F you cannot get a pair.ter for nishes, enamels, wall finishes and stains especially for you to redecorating you’ll find it fas cinating to do the work your use. Quick-drying,smooth-flow* self— easy, too, with Fuller’s ing, easily applied—the finest materials of this kind that we free advice. You can tint walls, paint floors know. You’ll be surprised, delighted, or closets, re-enamel the bath tub, make old chairs, tables, etc., to see the kind of work that you like new, re-do picture frames can do. and bric-a-brac at small cost. We know how to make them for you, for we’ve had 72 years’ Describe the article to us, how finished now, and what effect experience. We are one of the you want tp get. We tell you country's largest manufacturers how to do it in detail, and what of paint products exclusively. material to buy. Fuller’s "Home Service" Paints are used and Fuller'r Try! “just a can of paint and a little work that’s fun"— you’ll Specification! for painting at work little wonders in your home are followed by home peo ple everywhere. € home. Thousands of women now use Take advantage, of Fuller’s paint and varnish who never Free Advice a-.d Fuller Prod thought they could. ucts, and you’ll get the exact We make special paints var effects that you desire. I Fullers W almost anything but a traffic cop. WASHABLEWALL FINISH is Fuller's Specification for beau tifully tinted washable plastered walls and ceil ings. and woodwork. Comes ready-mixed in fifteen colors. Yon tin- ply apply it at directed and <et a beautiful ef fect. Ready For Use WASHABLE WALL FINISH. • decorative, durable and sanitary finish for interior wails and wall board. The colors are f 't, mellow, and adapt themaelvea to any interior decor ating color scheme. Easy to apply. Nominal in cost. Made in 16 colors. • Also makers of Rubber-Cement Floor Paint, All-purpose Varnishes, Silken- white Enamel, Fifteen-for-Floors, Auto Enamel, Barn and Roof Paint, Porch and Step Paint, and PIONEER WHITE LEAD. W. P. Fuller & Co. Dept. 21, San Francisco Pioneer Paint Manufacturers for 72 Years—Established 1649 Branches in 16 cities in the West Dealers Everywhere SPtCIFlCATlOH "Home ServicePaintt Varnishes • Snaniels MTi by W. P. Fuller & Co. WHFRE TO BUY: Important that you yet the riyht material so be sure to co to the right store for PuLcr products. Cut out the coupon below a memo to dirr.t you. Don't allow surfaces to rot. It costs less to paint them. Write us now—a postcard—for booklet of Fuller's Specification “Home Service” Paint Products which tells just what to buy for the work you have in mind. Send full description of and get our free advice on any kind of pamung job you want to do. For all exterior John of painting it ia advisable to obtain tbe services of a Master Painter SAVE THIS-CUT THIS OUT AND PUT IT IN YOUR POCKETBOOK OR HAN0BA6 AS A MEMO Fuller'. "Hom. Servie« ' Paint» are aoH by the ioUowwg ia your cuy: LENTS HARDWARE CO. Phone Auto. 625-44 5923 92nd SL S. E. Playing the Game What Speed and Accuracy are to the Ball Player, Quality and Price are to our Business. We are building, not for today, but for the future. Quality and Price, plus Courteous Attention, make the Main-spring of our Business. Royal Baking Powder, large cans .................................... 38c Argo Com Starch, lb. 10c or 3 for 25c Dill Pickles, 4 large ones 10c Solar Pineapple, broken slices, No. 2*i cans ........................ 23e Salted Peanuts, fresh, lb... 15c Crystal White Soap, bar. »» Sterling Jam, 24-oz. bottle..29c Big box of Matches 5c Fairy Brooms, 5 sewed, ea. 58c Golden Bantam Corn, “Red Rib bon,” can ............................... 20c Bartlett Pears, Robles No. 2 is cans ......................................... 23c Libby’s Pork and Beans.... 10c Skyline Toilet Paper, 3 rolls 10c 9-lb. Cornmeal sack., Macaroni, 4 lbs. Pint bottle Puritan Catsup.25c Ivory Soap, two bars for... 15c Crisco, 3-lb. can for Fels S03p. bar 58c 7'ic Campbell's Tomato Soup.. ,10c Federal Milk, tall cans Hall Sweet Potatoes 4 lbs. 25c COFFEE TEAS—SPECIAL W hy not have- the best, when it costs no more ? 20th Century Coffee, “Best in the Northwest, per pound only 33 eta. Roasted today, on your table tomorrow. Fancy Spiderleg, best from Japan’s gardens or Ceylon and India, best product from Ceylon. Half pound «nly ......................................... 28 centx Direct to our stores ^rom plantation. A New Twentieth Century Grocery Store has been opened at Gresham 92nd St., Lents, next to Multnomah State Rank Walking Walk and be happy, walk and tion by earnest walking,—hale fel- As one lamp lights another, nor be ilo'va- c}°* uP°n eighty and ninety, grows less, so nobleness enkindleth healthy. “The best of all way» to but brisk as boys— Charles Dickens. nobleness.—JamA Russell I x) well. lengthen our days” is not, as Mr. Patronize All* our n.lvnr+icnno advertisers. Thomas Moore haa it, “to- steal a few i ; ti i ze our advertisers. hours from night, my love”; but, with leave be it spoken, to walk steadily and with a purpose. The wandering man knows of certain an cients, far gone in years, who have staved off infirmities and dissolu- P. LARSEN, Reai Estate, Insurance 6538 Foster Road usiness AuL 634-30 F. R. FENTON Real Estate (Successor to the late Chas. E. Kennedy) 92 M WOODSTOCK AVE. Honey may be used for sweetening Washable Wall Finish AT 92nd STREET PHCNES ................ Residence Ant 636-61 P. L. Manderville & Wife at the Mt. Hood Ice Cream Parlor Serve SHORT ORDERS of ALL KINDS