The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-12-24


II all the books and music, and / Low
II the way Peter entertains. 1 wish,
she added, simply, that 1 liked Pete
II half as well as l do his house!'
| Peters dear!" Cherry contendet
| "Oh, l know he is" Alix sale
quickly. Peters always been a DEAF
OF course. But 1 mean in a specia
sense" finished Alix with an ell
tirely unembarrassed grin.
Cherry, through a glittering clouC
or hair, looked at her steadily. Sud
denly she gave an odd laugh.
DO you know 1 never thought OF
Peter like that?" she said.
Alix nodded with a cautious look al
her father, who was out of hearing.
NO. nor /! We've always taken
him rather for granted" she admit.
ted. "Only I've been rather wishing,
lateIy, that Peter wasn't such an un-
fattering, Dig-brotherish, everyday
neighbOr sort of person."
Cherry regarded her steadily. with
an awakening look in her eyes.
SHt dSheu.
Because" said Alix, briskly and
automatically, II think Peter would
IKE me towel, to stop taking him
for granted! 1 imagine he's awfully
lonely. And then 1 imagine it would
please Dad"
Dad has always been ridiculously
fond of him." Cherry said, thought
fuily. Peter-pOssibly in love with
AK! She had never even suspected
1t. Well, there was something rather
pleasant in the thought, after all. If
Aiix didn't mind his ugliness and
thinness. Cherry thought about It all
gay. 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
refers dinner; but this afternoon
without mentioning the fact. She
quietly got into one of her prettiest
dresses; dress that had been made
u the iong-ago. excitement of trous-
Seau days. Peter as a rather auto-
,ratic and critical neighbor was one
hing; as possible brother-in-law be
vas another.
nhe came downstairs to find her
ather waiting, and they walked away
hrough the woods together. Alix
iau ALREADY gone up to Peters house
o play tennis. They walked SLOWLY {
hrough the lovely aisles of the trees .
rossing road or two, climbing | |
readily upward under great redwoods
herry's skirt brushed the gold dust
rom masses and masses of buttercups
ne tennis was over, but Just over.
eler and Alix were sitting. still pant.
~ on the rail Of the wide, omen
orch' and shouted as the others
lme mp.
lou missed dOublesl" called AIix
me grandest we ever did, Doubles
18th the Thompsons and three COTS
raight to us-six-two, six-two. and
A-two again! They've gone. oh. z
'a'ens' never had such tennis. Oh
'ter' when you stood there at the net r
"a just curved your hand like a cunr
Alix gave an enthusiastic imitation
and over she went, and game and n
anu
sinking white and frilly into II
chair, smiled indulgently. The walk
q given her a wild-rose color and
en- AK was struck with her extraor. :
iary beauty. Alix had wheeled s
out on the rail to face the porch
Peter had gotten to his feet and =
s hospitality pushing basket chairs e
put. Now he gave Alix a critical q
k.
You're disgracefully dirtyw he
d, fraterrally.
L know It," she answered. calmly
ave time to tub?" CHI
All the time In the world 7" he an
cred. a
Xix departed. .
It's very pleasant to me To have cr,,
so much at home here" CHERRY doo
l. when Alix was gone, and the orc,
lor wandering happily about tho !"
len. Il don't know what we'd Ior,
u any one ever usurped our places If =
no bos -, A
ne nad said it deliberately: the 70 i
,ihation of her recent discovarr 70 =,
nod srdao.9 iesist. The man ban
no NOT speak. and Cherry was sur- bus,
Ed 10 ind herself. little tbril,oa ct
even frightened by his silence OFF !,
mar put that into your bead,, snad
sked, presently. smoking with bis go,
nxed upon the valley far below fectl
erhaps It's because there are so .v
y changes, Peter; my marriage o,n,
es-everything different! II inst rio =,
10 me that it Is nice to have tbis ham
Us the same" o",u
erhaps Alix will come up here up p
neip Keep 1t so some day." the like
,ahor.to Cherry's look of W
hoforo ana = pleasure idly.
oerore his serious glance. She .yy
n, 49,. i'oinehi' Cher
low, thoughtful tone. TREMBLING suna,
10 preserve his mood without . cross
note 'ioss
boro. J., wake
We ha.,. answered simply. miss
'ac,ad npeu win sudden fanci,
'ected emotion. What was it, sob 2
Measure not all surprise-surelv heart
so,,nr no ,eaiousy mixed with sister
eeiing for Peters plans? But
as dazed with the rush of fool The
hurt in some fashion she ..1.