The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-10-06

ESESkaESkSEaESS3SSSa:SSzS3ES Alix and Cherry, the latter just eighteen years old, and his niece, Anne, Doctor ley short distance from San Francisco. His closest friend is Peter Joyce, some cinity, Martin Lloyd, mining engineer, falls in love with and secretly becomes engaged to Cherry.
 CHAPTER II. While the family is s Sspeculatbng ing as to Lioyds & a3idn5 1neenfions announcing her engagement to him. CHAPTER Iu-Doctor Strickland feels Cherry too young to marry. and urges her to wait at least year, but the mediate wedding and the ceremony takes place, the couple leaving at once for Fl Nido, where Martin is employed.
 CHAPTER Iv.--The honeymoon days dfssa ksa atisfaetion ct with with Martin tin and the monotony of her daily life.
 CHAPTER v.-At Mill Valley. Justin Little lawyer becomes - engaged eng to ,'es ber some me months months % distance. @ Al %li2 e Visits Cherry at Fl Nido and the two girls coax Martin in allowing Cherry to go home for Annes wedding.
 (Continued from Yesterday.)
 "Oh, I know he isl" AEx said quickly. Peters always been dear, or course BuI mean Tn a SpeCldl sense" finished Alix with an en- tirely unembarrassed grin.
 Cherry, through a g1ittering cloud of hair. looked at her steadily. Sud- denly she gave an odd laugh.
 Do you know I never thought of Peter like that?" she said.
 Alix nodded with a cautious look at her father, who was out of hearing.
 him rather for granted" she admit ted. "Only I've been rather wishing, lately, that Peter wasn't such an un- flatering, big-brotherish, everyday neighbor sort of person."
 Cherry regarded her steadily, with an, awakening in her eyes.
 -,..Why lately?" she asked.
 Because" said AliX, briskly and automatically. 'I think Peter would like me to-weu, to stop taking him for granted. I imagine he's awfully lonely. And then I imagine it would 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, if Alix didn't mind his ugliness and thinness. Cherry thought it all day. She had no thought of money a, year or two ago. but she was more ex- perienced 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 one of her prettiest dresses; a dress that had been made in the long ago excitement of trous- seau days. Peter as 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 awaiting, and they walked away through the woods together A1iX 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 brush ed the gold dust from masses and was over; Peter and Alix were sit ting. still panting, on the rail of the wide, open porch, and shouted as the others came up.
 You missed doubleS!" called AliH ''The grandest we ever did! Double! with the Thompsons and three sets straight to uS-SiG-tw1o, siX-twO anC six-two again! They've gone. Oh heavens, I never had such tennis. Oh Peter, when you stood there at tht net and just curved your hand likt a cup'-AliX gave an enthusiastic i'm itation-"and over she went, and gam and set!" M
 Cherry. sinking white ana frillyin to a chair, smiled indu1gently. Tht walk had given her a wild-rose color and even AliX was struck with he wheeled about on the rail to fac the porch, and Peter had gotten t his feet and was hospitably pushin basket chairs about. Now he gav AEx critical look.
 You're disgracefully dirty" h said, fraternally.
 Have I time to tub?''
 ''Ar the time in the world," h answered.
 Alix departed.
 Its very pleasant to me to hay Alix so much at home here" Cherr said, when AliX was gone, and tn doctor wandering happily about tn garden. ''I don't know what we't do if any one ever uSurped our place here!"
 She had said it deliberately: tn fascination of her recent discover was too strong to resist. The ma, he did not speak, and Cherry was sur prised to find herself a little thriue and even frightened by his silence
 What put that into your head :? his eyes fixed upon the valley ia below.
 Perhaps it's because there are s many changes. Peter; my marriage Anne's everything different! It jus came to me that it is nice to hay this always the same!"
 HerhapS AnS Will come up her and help keep it SC some day." tn man said, deliberately. Cherry's loo of elaborate surprise and pleasur died before his serious glance. Sh was silent for a moment.
 ~Why don't you ask herr" she sai in a low, thoughtful tone, trenholm eager to preserve his mood, withou false note.
 'I have,' he answered simpl Cherry's heart Jumped with a. sudde unexpected emotion. What was il Not pleasure, not all surprise-surel there could be no Jealousy mike with her feeling for Peters plans But she was dazed with the rush feeling; hurt in some fashion sh could not stop to dissect now.
 And she said no?'' she stammere in confusion.
 "She said no. Or, at least, I int mated that I was a lonely old affe, tionate man with this and that to O fer, and she intimated that thu