The Holly chieftain., 1921-12-22

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 60 away from the shadow Of Mt.
Tamalpais, and into the world.
Anne. now-was she beginning to
fancy this young Lloyd7 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, Dadf' Cherry
interrupted his thoughts to ask.
"The rose vine. What did he say
about coming over, Cherry7"
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 Allx
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 q bare.
woody-smelling room tucked away un-
der brown caves. The walls were Of
raw pine, the lattlced 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
| finger-tips and chattering teeth, to
warm themselves with breakfast and
| the fire.
Alix rolled herself in gray army
blanket, and was asleep in some sixty
seconds. But Cherry felt that che was
floating in seas of new Joy and utter
delight, and that she would never be
sleepy again.
Downstairs Anne and the doctor sat
staidly on, the man dreaming with a
knotted forehead, the girl sewing.
Presently she ran q needle through
her fine white work with seven tiny
stitches. folded It, and put her thimble
Into case that: hung from her order
liy workbag with 4 long ribbon.
''Wait minute, Anne" said the doc
tor, as she Strengthened herself to rise.
This young Lloyd, now-what do
you think Of himT'
She widened demure blue eyes.
SHOULD you be sorry If liked
him, Uncle Lee7" she smiled.
The old man rumpled his silver hair
restlessly.
"That's the way the wind blows.
eh?" he asked kindly.
"Well-you see how much he's here !
You see the flowers and books and
notes. I'm not the sort Of girl to wear
my heart on my Sleeve" Anne, who
was fond Of small conversational tags,
assured him merrily. "But there must
be some fire where there's SO much
smOke!" she ended.
you're not sure, my dear?" he
asked, after some thought.
"Oh, mol" she answered. TITS Just
a fancy that persists In coming and
going" She got to her feet, saying
brightly, "welll we mustn't take this
too gravely-yet. It was only that
wanted to be open and above-board
with you, uncle, from the beginning.
That's the only honest way"
"That's wise and rightl" her uncle
answered, in the kindly, absent tone
he had used to them as children, a
tone he was apt to use to Anne when
she was in her highest mood, and one
she rather resented.
Cherry, now" he asked, OBTAINING
her for moment. "She-you don't
think that perhaps Peter admires
her7"
"Peter" Anne echoed amazedly.
and stood thinking.
Peter was more than thirty years
old, thin, scholarly, something of q
solitary, the sweet, dreamy, affection.
ate neighbor who had shared the girls
lives for the past ten years. For some
reason she could not, or would not, de-
Rne, Anne liked the Idea of Cherry
and Peter falling in love
Somehow one doesn't think Of Pc
ter as marrying anyone" she said
slowly, still trying to grasp the
thought.