The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1921-10-20

i. \ T.
girls laughed over this nonsense an.
preciatively, but there was more than
laughter In Cherry's heart.
From that moment the world was
changed. Her father, her sister, her
cousin had second place, now. Cherry
had put out her innocent little hand.
and had opened the gate, and had
passed through it into the world. That
hour was the beginning, and 1t had led
her surely, steadily. to the other hour
tonight when she had been kissed,
and had kissed In return.
"So-we walk home with young
men r unused the doctor, smiling.
Look here, girls, this little Miss Muf-
fet will be cutting you both out with
that young man. Il you're not care
full 1" 7
Alix, deep in her story, did not hear
him. but Anne smiled family, and
family frowned as she shook her
head. She considered Cherry sufi-
ciently precoclous without Uncle Lees
ili-considered tolerance
He would have had them always
children, this tender, simple, innocent
DR.. Strickland. He was in many
ways child himself. He had never
made money in his profession he and
his wife and the two tiny girls had
had hard enough struggle sometimes.
Anne and her own father had Joined
the family eight years ago, in the
same year that the Strickland patent
fire extinguisher, over which the doc
tor had been puttering for years, had
been sold. 1t did not sell, as his
neighbors believed, for million dol
lars, but for perhaps one-tenth Of that
sum-, 1t was enough, and more than
enough, whatever it was. After
Anne's father died it meant that the
doctor could live on In the brown
house under the redwoods, with his
girls, reading, fussing with a new in
vention, walking, consulting with
Anne, laughing at Alix, and spelling
his youngest-born.
It was perfect life for the old
man; 1t was only lately that he begun
uneasily to suspect that they would
some day want something more, that
they would some day tire Of empty
forest and blowing mountain ridge,
and go away from the shadow of Mt.
Tamalpais, and into the world.
Anne, now--was she beginning to
fancy this young Lloyd? DR.. Strick-
land was surprised with the fervor
with which he repudiated the thought.
This young engineer, who had drifted
already into dozen different and dis
tant places, was not the man for staid
little Anne.
What did you want to see Mr..
Lloyd about tomorrow, Dad?' Cherry
interrupted his thoughtstto ask.
1.-THE rose vine. What did he say
about coming over, Cherry?"
Cherry remarked, between two rend-
Ing yawns, that Mr.. Lloyd was coming
over tomorrow at ten o'clock, and
Peter, too
"Peter won't be much goodw Alix
commented. Cherry looked at her re-
proachfully. -
You're awfully mean to Peter, late
ly" she protested. Her father gave
her shrewd look, with his goodnight
kiss, and Immediately afterward both
the younger girls dragged their way
up to bed.
Alix and Cherry shared bare,
woody-smelling room tucked away un-
der brown caves. The walls were of
raw pine, the latticed windows, in
bungalow fashion, opened into the
fragrant darkness Of the night. The
beds were really hunks, and above her
bunk each girl had an extra berth, for
occasional guests, There was scant
prettiness in the room, and yet 1t was
full Of purity and charm. The girls,
like all their neighbors, were hardy,
bred to cold baths. long walks, simple
hours, and simple food. In the soft
western climate they left their bed
room windows open the year round;
they liked to wake to winter damp
and fog, and 60 downstairs with blue
and chattering teeth, to
warm themselves with breakfast and
he fire.
Alix rolled herself in a gray army |
blanket, and was asleep in some sixty
seconds. But Cherry felt that she was
ioating in seas of new Joy and utter
lelight and that she would never be
'leepy again.
Downstairs Anne and the doctor sat
'taidly on, the man dreaming with q
Zn0tted forehead, the girl sewing.
PRESENTLY she ran a needle through
Ter fine white work with sevel tiny
titches, folded it, and put her thimble
nto case that hung from her order
y workbag with long ribbon.
wait minute, Anne" said the doc
or, as she Strengthened herself to rise.
This young Lloyd, now-what do
ou think Of him?"
She widened demure blue eyes.
Should you be sorry IL liked
i'm, Uncle Lee7' she smiled.
The old man rumpied his silver hair
estlessly. Nj
That's the way the wind blows
hf'' he asked kindly. rss
"Wellyou see how much he's herel
'ou see the flowers and books and