The Cordova daily times., 1920-01-28
PETERS PARTNER
By JACK LAYTON.

little house where Peter lived. Old Peters house was never closed during all the seasons. Each Springtime found him whistling with fresh cheer as he planted flowers in his tiny garden, and during the gay months of summer, 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.
 A girl came presently like scarlet bird flying across the sands. Her hair was wind-blown and her cheeks as crimson as the sweater she wore. |. Daddy Peter!" she cried, when will you remember to wear your coat when you sit outdoors The air is chill, even in this sunshine" She had reached his side now, seating herself on step beneath him.
 Her appearance brought to old Peters face. a dozen kindly wrinkles of humor and tenderness.
 'You will get back at me with your babying, Nell" he said, "just because 1 happened to bring you up that way"
 You did bring me up Daddy Peter," the girl said softly, from the time my parents perished in this same smiling sea. I'll never forget that-it was a good bringing up, too. You could not have done more for your own blood"
 She raised solemn eyes to his. "I will never forget my debt to you," she said. The words were like covenant.
 Debt" scoffed the old man. "Why child, you've paid me over and over again in kindness"
 "I will always be kind," the girl added firmly. She lowered her eyes to hide sudden tears.
 Sometimes, said Pete-, q have an uncomfortable fancy that young Dave an you care for each other, but that you won't admit the caring to him for fear your going would leave me in the lurch. Nell" 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 a young man came swinging toward them.
 Il thought said the big young man, strangely shy, that you might walk to town with me, Nell"
 "Of course" urged Peter GO, girl" And Nell went.
 The old man looked up surprised as visitor came walking up.
 Good evening"" greeted the stran- ger. You won't remember me, but 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 offered his own comfortable chair, 'I was brought up close to the sea my father was fish erman. Well-I made bit, but no other place has ever spelled home to me. As I get older I seem to want to be near the water. That's why my daughter brought me here last sum- mer. But it wasn't the same" The old gentleman sighed. "One can't take comfort with Jeanette and her chill dren some way, even if Jeanette is my daughter. John-that's her husband, ne means we'll. Johns decent to me. But" the old stranger studied the face of the old seaman, ''I wonder" he unused, Eff you can possibly know what it means to feel ones self in the way, to be borne with, you understand, and treated pleasantly, but in the wayT"
 'No," Peter answered, '@I don't know what it means to feel like that I do as l 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 I'll confess that I get lonesome, eve nings. Otherwise my life is pretty happy. I read the books I like, an smoke my pipe, and Pm master hand at cooking. Winters, with the wind bowling cross the beach, an my fire aglowing inside, some apples baking, mebbe, an me in the lamplight there with the evening paper said Peter blissfully, that's peace"
 "Yes," excitedly agreed the stranger. Its freedom and pleasure the year round, can see that. Then, the feel of the sea
 '"This is what I came about today. I've been thinking the thing over since watched you last summer. Could you take a partner in-freedom? My self, sir I'd be more than content with my books and you to talk to. Will you share your home, if my money keeps it going"
 Peters knotted hands grasped the porch rail- A gleam came into his