The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-10-01

| to the blue eyes and frightened his
 big arm protectingly about the sien- der young shoulders But he was deeply depressed There was nothins | to be said against young Lloyd IT was only-mused the doctor, aghast- only what was being done in the world every day. But he was staggered by the bright readiness with which all of thern-Cherry. Martin, the other girI-accepted the stupendous fact Cherry was to be married She was quite frankly and delight ed1y discussing trosseau now, too en- tirely absorbed in her own happiness to see that the ether girls had nVeS to live as well as she
 T got my cards yesterday" she said one day T was passing the shop and I thought I might as welli The woman looked at me so queerly; she said: Mrs. John Martin Lloyd Are these for your mother" .No, l said, They're for mel I wish you could have seen her look Martin says in to-day's letter that he thinks people will say I'm his daughter, and Alix- he says that you are to come up to a fine husband. Won't it be funny to think of your visiting me! Oh. and Anne-did you see what Mrs Fairfax sent me? A great big glorious fur coat. She said l would need it up there. and I guess I will! It's not new. you know; she says 1t isn't the real present. but it can be cut down and it will look like new.
 
 listened. sympathized and reJoiced. but 1t was not always easy August brought Martin He was delighted with bis work in the Fl Nj, do mine, the Emmy Younger, and everything he had to say about it was amusing and interesting It was~stIl l in a rather chaotic condition, he re- ported, but the stuff was there, and he autfctpated a busy winter. He | was to have a cottage. pretty crude affair, in a few weeks. right at the | mine.
 | asked Cherry; She gave her father deInure and fnterrogative glance | Martin. following 1t. immediately sob | cred.
 "Just what Is your position there?'' | the doctor asked. pleasantly "A little bit of everything, now," | Martin answered. readily and respect
 fni1y: Later. of course. l shall have
 my own special work At present I'm | doing some of the assaying and have i charge of the sluice-gang- They want me to make myself generally useful, make suggestions, take hold in every | wayt'
 1 That's the way to get on.'' the old 1 CT man said. approvingly: Cherry 1 looked adm!rinGiy. with all her heart ! in her eyes at-her hubsand-to-be; the other girls were impressed. too. Mar | tin had not been with them more than \ a. few hours before the engagement l was openly discussed. and there were | | riage- Somehow. few days later. wedding plans were in the air. and they were all taking it for granted that Cherry 1 and Martin were to be married almost 1 Immediately: in October. in fact. The
 doctor at first persisted that the
 event must wait until April, but 1 Martins reasonable fI1patience and Cherry's p1afnttve But why, Daddy ?'' 1 were too much for him. Why. i'm deed7 Cherry's mother had been l H. |, CTS husband was more than ten
 years older than Martin Lloyd was now,
 would ye let 1t go on. eh?" the | one evening when he and Peter were ] walking from the train in the late September twilight.
 Lord, don't ask meT' Peter said. gruffly. '.I think she's too young to
 marry s1yone-but the mischiefs
 T think I'll talk to her." her fath- having her make a mistake I think she'll listen to mel" And day or tUo later he called her into the study.
 It was quiet autumn morning. fog 1 sweetness in the air.
 Before we decide this thing cnal-
 ly," the doctor said. smiling into her
 people that it's settled. want to ask
 you to do something. It's something
 you won't like to do, my little girl.
 want ye to wait a while-wait a
 year."
 It, was said. He watched the
 face. She lowered her eyes. The line of her mouth grew firm.
 Wait until you're twenty. dear That's young enough. I only ask you to take a little time-to be sure, dearI" ! Silence. She shrugged faintly. b1inked the downcast eyes as if tears Can't take your old fathers word for it7' Dr. Strickland asked.
 eagerly gSfe and ahA' afreetionateiy 5 Tfi : wait have waited! I'll wait until Christmas, or April, if you ,ess:sne say so: nothing will. love him and he loves me. and we always will. You don't know" Cherry went on.
 Wth suddeniy n1 . Wais,ring tI,s eye sna , aration has meant to us bothl If we must wait longer. why, we will, of 3 course but 1t will mean that ]. am 7 won't cryI" she Interrupted. smiling r with wet lashes. "Tn try to bear it : decently! But sometimes I feel as if : A rush of tears choked her. She . groped for q handkerchief and, felt, as she had felt so many times, her } fathers handkerchief pressed into her
 hand The doctor sighed. There t was nothing more to be said. So he gave Cherry a wedding check that made her dance with joy, and there was no more seriousness. There were gowns, dinners. theatre parties l and presents; every day brought its l new surprise and new delight to F Cherry. She had her cream-colored = rajah silk, but her sister and cousin !. persuaded her to be married in = white, and 1t was their hands that : dressed the first bride when the e great day came. and fastened over t her corn-cob red hair her mothers : lace veil.
 It was day of soft sweetness, not 0 too brightly summery. but warm and 5 still under the trees. Until ten = o'clock the mountain and the tons of
 the redwoods were tangled in scarfs an=4haL Lzna1lnnzasun.