The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-12-03

In his gentlest tone, well! 1t ha
to come, perhaps. i can't promise he
to you very soon, Mr.. Lloyd. But
you both are willing TO wait. and
time proves this to be the real fee
Ing, l don't believe you'll find me har
on yOu!"
That's all ask, sir :" Martin sait
resuming his seat and his dinner. An
for the rest of the meal harmony an,
gayeiy reigned.
After dinner Cherry and Martin. II
all the ecstatic first delight OF recog
nized love, went out to the wide from
porch, where there were wicker chairs
under the rose vines. Alix alon,
laughed at them as they went. Anne
win storm in her heart. played nois
| lily on the piano. and the doctor. after
giving the doorway where Cherry had
disappeared Il wistful look. restlessly
TOOK to his armchair and his book, in
| Such desolation of spirit as he had moi
known since the dark day Of her moth
er's death.
The next day Alix and the engaged
pair walked up TO invite Peter to a
tennis f0ursome on the old Blithedale
court. Ii was Saturday, and as he
usually dined with them. or asked them
10 dine with him on Saturday. they
were not surprised TO find him busy
with a charcoal burner. under the
trees, compromising a marvellous dish
OF chicken, tomatoes, cream and mush-
rooms.
stop your messing one second ~
AliX said, catching him by the arm.
Congratulate these creatures-they-
lheyre going To be married! Why
dont you congratulate them?"
Peter gave one long look at Mar
tin and Cherry, who stood laughing.
but little confused and self-con-
sclous, too, in the grassy path. With n
SHOCK like death in his heart, he real
ized that it was all over. Their pro-
lection OF her, their suspicious. had |
come too late. Blind child that she |
was. she was committed to this fasci-
mating and mysterious adventure.
HIS face grew dark with sudden
'ush OF blood. But he went to them
quickly and shook hands with Martin.
ma was presently reproducing Cherry
or her secretiveness in his old. or
Utmost his old, way.
lie arranged that they xere TO NAV
he tennis here on his own courts. and
alter dine with him. bur under his
ospitality and under the golden bean
or the day 1t was all pain-pain-
am. Ii was agony TO see her with
iin' beginning to taste the rapture of
we given and returned; il was agony
nave the conversation return al
'ays to Martin and Cherry, to the
rst love affair. Peter felt that he
Duid have killed this newcomer. this
lief' this usurper of the place that he
lmself might have filed.
Dads always said he disapproyed
long engagements" Alix commented.
but you ought to hear him ,
wv! This thing-he won't even cal
an engagement-it's an understand. =
& or preference-is to be pro-
und secret, and Cherry's to be twen-
-one before any one else but our a
Ives knows" in
Peter did not hear her. There was d,
a little hope In his heart m
rls did not always fulfill their first re
gagements; did not often do so. in pl
II. The thing was a secret il might m
III come to nothing, after all. ~
That was the beginning, and after ee
although it was. arranged between m
I'm all that nothing should be Ii
inged, and that nobody but them
YES should share the secret, some do
life seemed different. Two or on
zee days after the momentous dov W:
the raising of the rose tree, Martin Sc
'yd went to his mine at Ell Nido.
the interrupted current of life in In
brown bungalow supposedly found
old groove.
'ut nothing was the same. The Loc- II
In the first place, was more silent II
thoughtful than the girls had ever
MIN before. Anne and AIix knew
be was not happy about Cherrv,s
rs, Ii the younger girl did not. With Ri
only he talked of the engage
It, and she knew from his com 70
rs, his doubtful manner. that be
IL TO be mistake. The .en vears.
'rence between Cherry and Martin
ressed him; he spoke of it again A
again. imr
Merry was changed, TOO. and NOT In
In the expected and natural WAYS min
thought. Her daily letter from scio
Tin, her new prospects, not only act,
eased her importance in the other Iittl
eyes, but innocently inflated her mar
seif-confidence. She had prom- insi
to keep the engagement "or m acct
or preference" pro- IT
secret. but this was Impossible be |
one intimate friend and then an rece
was allowed to gasp and ex- read
over the news. The time came natu
Anne decided that il was NOT the
'ht not TO let Martins aunt know Shee
[. when all these other peopIe sufi,
!. Finally came dinner TO the bour
rs. when Cherry's health was Dc
< and then the engagement pres youn
began 10 come in. train
r father only looked tenderIv In. sens,
lie blue eyes and frightened his ness
rm protectingly about the slender
shoulders PM bo MO- -, Whv