The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1921-09-08
Continued from Page Eight

looked at her in amused surprise. I'm
the first place, / love his bungalow
tiny as it is, 1t has the whole of a lit
tie canyon to itself, and the prettiest
view in the valley, l 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, 1 know he is" Alix said,
quickly. Peters always been a dear,
of course. But | mean in q 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 / never thought of
Peter like that?" she said.
Alix nodded with a cautious look at
her father, who was out of hearing.
mo, nor II We've always taken
him rather for granted" she admit
ted. "Only I've been rather wishing,
lately, that Peter wasn't such an I'M
iattering, big-brotherish, everyday
neighbor sort of person."
Cherry regarded her steadily, with
In awakening look in her eyes.
"Why lately?" she asked.
Because said Alix, briskly and
automatically, 81 think Peter would
like me to-well, to stop taking him
for granted I imagine he's awfully
lonely. And then I imagine it would
please Dad"
Dad has always been ridiculously
fond of him." Cherry said, thought
fully. Peter-possibly In love with
Alix! She had never even suspected
IT, Well, there was something rather
pleasant in the thought, after all, II
Alix 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 n of her prettiest
dresses; a dress that had beer made
in the long-ago excitement of trous-
seau days. Peter as a rather auto
cratic and critical neighbor was one
thing; as a possible brother-in-law he
was another.
She came downstairs to find her
father waiting, and they walked away
through the woods together. Alix
had already gone up to Peters house
to play tennis. They walked slowly
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
ing, on the rail of the wide, open
porch, and shouted as the others
came up.
you missed doubIesl' called Alix.
1.-THE grandest we ever didl Doubles
with the Thompsons and three sets
straight to us-six-two, six-two, and
six-two againl They've gone. Oh,
heavens, I never had such tennis. Oh,
Peter, when you stood there at the net :
and just curved your hand like a cup"
-Alix gave an enthusiastic imitation
-"and over she went, n game and
set !"
Cherry, sinking white and frilIy into
a chair, smiled indulgently. The walk
had given her a wild-rose color. and /:
even Alix was struck with her extraor- :
beauty. Alix had wheeled :
about on the rail to face the porch, :
and Peter had gotten to his feet and :
Hospitality pushing basket chairs :
about. Now he gave Alix a critical :
look. :
you're d~isgracefully dirtyl" he :
said, fraternally. :
81 know it," she answered, calmly. :
Have | time to tub?' :
"All the time in the world 7" he an :
:
Alix departed. :
Its very pleasant to me to have :
Alix so much at home here" Cherry :
'aid, when Alix was gone, and the :
ioctor wandering happily about the :
81 don't know what we'd :
10 II any one ever usurped our places :
lere I" =
She had said 1t deliberately; the :
fascination of her recent discovery 3
vas too strong to resist. The man Z
lushed suddenly. For a full minute =
lie did not speak, and Cherry was sur =
to find herself a little thrilled =
nd eve frightened by his silence. =
What put that into your head? g
lie asked, presently. smoking with his =
yes fixed upon the valley far below. s.
perhaps it's because there are so e
many changes, Peter; my marriage, =
Anne's-everything dinerentl 1t just E
anne to me that 1t is nice to have this e
ways the same" e
perhaps Ali1 will come up here g
nd help keep 1t so some day" the =
said, deliberately. Cherry's look e
t elaborate surprise and pleasure e