Judsonia weekly advance., 1921-12-01

glanced at her father, who was read ing his paper, 'sdo you remember when Dad always used to s-old us for being rude to Peter?"
 Well, I'd rather go to Peters for dinner than anywhere else 1 ever go! Alix remarked, dreamily. seriously, 1 mean it" she repeated as Cherry looked at her in amused surprise In the first place, 1 love his bungalow tiny as it is, it has the whole of lit tie canyon to itself, and the prettiest view in the valley. think. And then l love the messy sitting room, with | all the books and music, and l love the way Peter entertains. 1 wish," she added, simply, that l liked Peter half as well as 1 do his house!"
 Peters a dear!" Cherry contended.
 "Oh, l know he isl" Alix said, quickly. "Peters always been a dear, of course. But l mean in a special sense-' finished Alix with an en- tirely unembarrassed grin.
 Cherry, through a glittering cloud of hair, looked at her steadily. Sud denly she gave an odd laugh.
 Do you know I never thought of Peter like that?" she said.
 Alix nodded with cautious look at her father, who was out of hearing.
 "No, nor l We've always taken him rather for granted" she admit ted. "Only Pve been rather wishing lately, that Peter wasn't such an un- fatterine, Dig-brotherish, everyday neighbor sort of person."
 Cherry regarded her steadily, with an awakening look in her eyes.
 "Why latelyY she asked
 Because" said Alix, briskly and unromanticaIly, q think Peter wdlld like me to-well, to stop taking him for granted 1 imagine he's awfully lonely. And then I imagine it would 1 please Dad"
 Dad has always been ridiculously fond of him. Cherry said, thought 1 fully. Petel-possibly in love with Alixl She had never even suspected it. Well, there was something rather pleasant in the thought, after all, if 1 AllX didn't mind his ugliness and thinness. Cherry thought about it all day. She had no thought of money a year or two ago. but she was more experienced now. And Peter was rich.
 Ordinarily she would have said that she was not going to change for | Peters dinner; but this afternoon, without mentioning the fact, she quietly got into one of her prettiest dresses; dress that had been made in the long-ago excitement of trous- l seau days. Peter as a rather auto cratic and critical neighbor was one 1 thing; as possible brother-in-law he was another.
 She came downstairs to find her father waiting, and they walked away l through the woods together. AliX had already gone up to Peters house l to play tennis. They walked slowly l through the lovely aisles of the trees, crossing a road or two, climbing steadily upward under great redwoods | Cherry's skirt brushed the gold dust from masses and masses of buttercups The tennis was over, but just over | Peter and Alix were sitting, still pant l ihS, ofi tiic Idll OI lHe Wlue, open porch, and shouted as the others came up.
 You missed doubles" called Alix '"The grandest we ever did Doubles with the Thompsons and three sets straight to us-six-two, siX-twO, and six-two again. They've gone. Oh, l heavens. I never had such tennis. Oh, Peter, when you stood there at the net and just curved your hand like cup" -Alix gave an enthusiastic imitation -"and over she went, and game and set !"
 Cherry, sinking white and frilly into a chair, smiled indulgently. The walk had given her wild-rose color and | even Alix was struck with her extraor- dinary beauty. Alix had wheeled about on the rail to face the porch, | and Peter had gotten to his feet and was hospitably pushing basket chairs about. Now he gave Alix critical look
 You're disgracefully dirtyw he said, fraternally
 "I know it,' she answered, calmly. "Have I time to tub?"
 "All the time in the world p he an swered
 AliX departed
 Its very pleasant to me to have Alix so much at home here" Cherry said, when Alix was gone, and the >doctor wandering happily about the garden. "I don't know what we'd do if any one ever usurped our places here l''
 She had said it deliberately; the fascination of her recent discovery was too strong to resist. The man flushed suddenly. For a full minute he did not speak, and Cherry was sur prised to find herself little thrilled and even frightened by his silence.
 What put that into your head?' he asked, presently. smoking with his eyes fixed upon, 1fhe valley far below.
 Perhaps ixy because there are so