Marble Hill press., 1921-11-03
(cHkPTER ii-centinusoJ }


Presently he selected the sapling
redwood. and brought It down with
two blows ot his al The girl seated
herself beside him. helped him strip
the trunk. their hands constantly
touching. the msn once or twice delay.
Ing her for one more snatchcd and
laughing kiss. And Martin said that
he was going TO make her the happlesi
wife n man ever had
Dragging the stripped tree. they ran
down the sharp hill to the house just
as Anne came out 10 announce lunch
con. Peter was wandering N 10 the
woods nearby. but cam. AZ AllIs
shrilI yell OF summons and looked re.
lieyed when he saw cherry and Star.
tin not even talking 10 each other.
They had been gone only ten minutes.
II was happy meal for everyone.
and after Il they had attacked the rose
bush again. with aching muscles now.
and In the first real summer heat. II
was three o'clock before, with q great
cracking and the scream OF a twist.
ed branch. and genera painting and
heaying on the part of the workers.
at last the feathery mass had risen
foot-two feet-into the air. had
stood tottering Ike wall of bloom.
and hnally, with q downward rush.
had settled TO its old place on the
roof Hong was pressed into service
now. and with Martin. was on the
roof. graphing with a rope shouting
directions
There was q rendlng. slipping noise
on the roof q scream from Martin.
and shouts from the doctor and Peter.
With a great sliding and rushing OF
the refractory sprays and with a hor-
rtfying stumbling and falling. down
came Martin. caught in a great rope
OF the creeper almost ST Cherry's feet
A time OF great running and calling
ensued Cherry dropped on her knees
beside him, and had his head on her
took her place. and AllI. with an as.
tonished look at the younger girls
wet eyes drew her sister sway I'm.
mediately afterward Martin sat up.
looked bewilderedly about from one
face 10 another. looked at his scratched
wrist and said Gee 7" In q thoughtful
tone.
you scared Cherry out Of ten
years growth! !' AliI reprosched Mar.
tin.
IL thought he might have hurt
himself" Cherry said. In the softest
of little-girl voices. and with her shy
little head hanging Anne decided
that II was becoming her clear duty
to talk TO Cherry.
A few minutes later Allx. Peter and
Martin left for the daily ceremony Of
walking into the village for the mail.
The house was very still. early sum.
mer sweetness was drifting through
wide-opened windows and doors; the
long day was slowly declining. Anne
peeped into, the deserted living room,
softened through all Its pleasant
shsbbiness into real beauty by the
shafts of sunset red that came in
through the easement windows: and
was celebrating between various be-
coming occupations - for Martin
might walk back with the girls
when her uncle called her.
"Anne-you weren't there when that
young chap tunIbled But rye been
worrying about II little: There's no |
Qnestion-theses no question that she
that Cherry--calIed him by his
name. 'Msrtin.tsh called him"
Anne had crossed TO the shadowy
doorway; she stood still
you've not noticed anything be
tween him and Cherryr pursued the
doeta n girl might call q man by
his name, I suppose"
r don't think there has been any
thing to'notice." Anne stated. in = level
tone.
well, It must be stopped. Il II has
begun, odecided. her uncle: r can't
psrmit It'd fpsgottsp, how the little
witch growsi'' |
Again Anne wss siIsAt. HI vas
~ In love With Martin Lloyd; ~
wss not ass susceptible - shsYmucA
ysanger Cherry. and ,She had nqf bad /
- urging to help her to 9 quick sur
Esbaer, But for the nfst pme III hes 1.
~ she had ts9n ar sbssldtsiy sui&
~ man, . man whose work. positioa.
losks. name and character fitted her
rather exacting standard. and for the
1rst time she had let herself think
Of being woosd and won.