The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1919-12-12
PETERS, PARTNER
By JAek LAYTON.


Far down on the lonely beach was
the clubhouse, it's door barred for the
winter; farther still, quite alone, stood
little house where Peter lived; Old
Peters house was never closed Sdurjng
all the seasons.i Each springtimA fonnd
him whIstling with fresh cheeft as he
planted flowers In his tiny garden, and
during the gay months of simmer.
Peters porch was usually occupied BY
eager youngsters from cottages UP
shore in search of the pretty shell
beads or ornaments, which Peter loved
to give them.
Now golden October gave. to sea
and land one last gift Of summer. and
Peter sat summing himself On the porch
In his rush-bottomed chair @At ~
! A girl came presently like a scarlet
bird, flying acrdss the sands. Her hair
,Nts wind-blown and her cheeks as
crimson as the sweater she wore,
Daddy Peter!" she cried, when
VIII you remember to wear your coat
when you sit outdoors. The air Is
chill. even In this, sunshine" She had
reached his side how. seating herself
on a step beneath him. Fi, ~
Her appearance brought to- old
Peters face al dozen kindly wrinkles,
Of Aumor and Tenderness. ILL.,,
you will gdt back at me with your
baiying, Nell he said, "just because
happened to bring you up that way"
'sYou did bring me up Daddy Peter"
| the girl said softly, "from the time my
parents persisted in this same smiling
sea- I'll never forget that-it was
good bringing hp too. You could not
have done more for your own blood"
She raised solemn eyes to his. II
viii never forget my debt to you," she
said The wotds were like a covenant.
Debt" scofed the old man. "Why
child, you've paid me over and over.
again in kindness"
81 will always be kind" the girl
added firmly. .She lowered her, eyes TO
hide sudden tears. 20 AZ Jsa q
"Sometimesb said Peter, II have an
uncomfortable, fancy that young Dave
| an you care tor each other, but that
$you-w wont adIbit the caring to him for
Tear your going would leave me in the
| lurch. Nell S he spoke earnestly.
you wouldn't let any nonsense like
that keep YOU from your happiness"
"You are Imagining. Daddy Peter"
| the girl laughed. She patted his
wrinkled hand and arose as Young
man came swinging toward them, y
II thought, "isaid the big young man,
strangely shy, I"that you might walk to
| town with md Nell"
"Of course, I urged Peter. go, girl"
And Nell went.
| The old map looked up surprised as
lHyisitor came walking up. ..js'..+s,,..s
"Good evening"" greeted the stran-
| ger. you won't remember me, but 1
Used to come and sit In your porch
While my grandchildren begged for
shells. We stopped at the hotel. To-
day such a longing came over me to
smell salt water again and to breathe
in the air that l had my daughters
| chauffeur drive me out. You see, sir"
he added as Peter offe' his own
comfortable chair, II was brought up
close to the sea my father was fish
erman. WE'LL made a bit, but no
| other place has ever spelled home to
| me. AS l get older seem to want to
be near the water. That's why my
daughter brought me here last sum-
mer. But 1t wasn't heSsame," The
old gentleman sighed. One capt take
comfort with Jeanette and her chifs
dren some way, even If Jeanette is my
| daughter. John-that's her husband,
he means WELL Johns decent to me.
fsut~Tr tho, oldT stranger studied the
facs;of the old seamaps"I wonder be
unused, "ifJ You can possibly know what
II means to feel ones self In the way,
to be borne with, you understand, and
treated pleasantly, but lin the way?' :"
mo" Peter answered, 81 don't know
what 1t means to feel like that. l do
us I please. No one about to, be
bothered. Nell, my foster daughter, is
| teaching school and boarding. She
thinks she has got to stay near me, to
run in and keep me from being lonely.
III. confess that get lonesome, eve
| nings.s Otherwise my Vie lis pretty
|, happy dread. .Ahe9 books I'jike. an';
smoke my pipe, and Pm a master hand
at cooking. Winters. with the wind
T hSwlhg cross title BEACH an wy IRE
aglowings Inside, some apples baking
mebbe, an me in the lamplight there
with the evening paper" said Peter
blissfully, "that's peace"
EYES," excitedly agreed the stranger.
TITS freedom and pleasure the year
round,,I can. see that. Then, the feel
| 7~of the sSal & ~ - Is
I k.Ihls is4whnt. / meynbout today.
I've been thinking the thing over since
watched you last summer. Could
you take partner in-freedom7 Ny
self. sir. I'd be more than content
with my books and you to talk to. VIII
you share your home, IL my money
keeps 1t going?" xy ~
~ sPeter's atnptteq Aandsa srnsped the
porch rail. A CLEAN came into his
faded eyes.
aAra Won ouro vou rneop ~ ofrar