The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-09-24

with a storm in her heart. played nois-
lily on the piano. and the doctor. after
giving the doorway where Cherry had
disappeared a wistfm look. restlessly
took to his armchair and his book. in
such desolation of spirit as he had not
known since the dark day of her moth
er's death.
The next day Alix ands the engaged
pair walked up to invite Peter TO a
tennis foursome on the old Blithedale
court. 1t was Saturday. and as he
usually dined with them. or asked them
to 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 reatures-they-
they're going to be married! Why
don't you congratulate themY'
Peter gave one long look at Mar
tin and Cherry, who stood laughing
but a little confused and oSelf-cOn-
scious, too, in the grassy path With a
shock like death in his heart, he real
lied that II 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 a sudden
rush of blood. But he went to them
quickly and shook hands with Martin.
and was presently reproaching Cherry
for her secretiveness in his old, or
almost his old, way.
He arranged that they were to play
the tennis here on his own courts, and
later dine with him, but under his
hospitality and under the golden beau
ty OF the day it was all pain-pain-
pain. It was agony to see her with
him. beginning to taste the rapture of
love given and returned it was agony
to have the conversation return al
ways to Martin and Cherry, to the
first love affair. Peter felt that he
could have killed this newcomer. this
thief. this usurper of the place that he
nlmSeiI might nave nIed.
Dads always said he disapproved
of long engagements" Alix commented,
amusedly. but you ought to bear him
now! This thing-he won't even call
it an engagement-it's an understand
ing, or preference-is to be pro-
found secret. and Cherry's to be twen-
ty-one before any one else but our
selves knows"
Peter did not hear her. There was
beginning a little hope in his heart.
Girls did not always fulfill their first
engagements did not often do so, In
fact The thing was a secret; il might
well come TO nothing, after ALL
That was the beginning, and after
IT, although II was arranged between
them all that nothing Snorld he
changed, and that nobody hut thets-
selves should share the secret, some
how life seemed different. Two OF
three days after the momentous Gay
of the raising of the rose tree. Martin
Lloyd went to his mine at Ell NidO,
and the interrupted current of life in
the brown bungalow supposedly found
its old groove.
But nothing was the same. The doc
tor, In the nrst place, was more silent
and thoughtful than the girls had ever
seen him before. Anne ard AIiX knew
that he was not happy about Cherry's
plans, if the younger girl did not. With
! Aifx only he talked Of the engage
ment. and she knew from his com
/ ments, his doubtful manner. that he
felt it to be mistake. The ten years
I difference between Cherry and Martin
distressed him; he spoke of it again
/ and again
Cherry was changed, too, and not
/ only in the expected aud natural ways.
/ AIix Thought Her daily Letter from