The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-09-23

VI ~
Laughing and smothered With Roses,
She crept into View.
Martin, when there was an Interrupt
zion for Cherry's arrival on the scene
With characteristic coquetry she did
not approach, as the others had, by
means of the front porch and the gar
den path. but creEt from the study
window into a veFitable tunnel of
green bloom, and came crawling down
1t, as sweet and fragrant, as lovely
and as fresh. as thu. roses themselves
Her bright head was hidden by blue
sunbonnet. assumed, she explained
later, because the thorns tangled her
hair; but as, laughing and smothered
with roses. she crept into view, the
sunbonnet slipped tack, and the love
ly. flushed little face. with tendrils of
gold straying across the white fore
head, and mischief cleaning in the
blue, blue eyes was framed only in
loosened pale gold hair.
Years afterward Alix remembered
her so, as Martin Lloyd helped her to
spring free of the branches. and she
stood laughing at their surprise and
still clinging TO his hand. 1.-THE day
we raised the rose tree" had place
of its own in Alix's memory, as a time
of carefree fun and content, a time of
perfume and neutrality-suspicious. the
last time of its kind that any one of
them was to know
Cherry looked at Martin daringly as
she Joined the laborers; her whole be-
ing was thrilling to the excitement of
his glance; she was hardly conscious
Of what she was doing or saying. Mar
tin came close to her. in the general
confusion.
"How's my little sweetheart this
morning?"
Cherry looked up. her throat con-
tracted, she looked down again, I'M
able to speak. She had been waiting
for his first word; now that 1t had
come 1t seemed so far richer and
sweeter than her widest dream.
"How can / see you minute?" Mar
tin murmured, swapping his big knife
shut.
81 have to walk down for the mall
-" stammered Cherry. conscious only
of Martin and herself.
Both Peter and her father were
watching her with an uneasiness and
suspicion that had sprung into being
full-blown. Both men were asking
themselves what they knew of this
strange young man who was suddenly
part of their intimate little world.
Peter, In his secret heart, had a
vague, dissatisfied feeling that Lloyd
was a man who held women, as a
class, rather in dfsrespect. and had
probably had his experiences with
them. but there was no way of ex-
pressing, much less governing his
conduct toward, Martin by so purely
speculative a prejudice. Somewhat
appalled,, in the sunny garden. strug-
Cling with the banksia, Peter decided
that this was not much to know Of O
person who might have the audactty
to fall in love with an exquisite and
innocent Cherry. After all, she would
| not be q little girl forever; some man
/
colored head and that delicious little
pink-clad person away with him some
day, to be his wife
And suddenly Peter was torn by 9
stab of pure pain, and he stood puz
| zled and sick, In the garden bed. won
dering what was happening to him.
'Iisten-want a drink ~ Alix asked
/ mi vrffh In
spilled a glittering sheet Of water
down the thirsty nasturtiums. RES
! a few minutes. Peter. Dad wanted &
pole, and Mr. Lloyd has gone up int
the woods to cut one"
"And where's CherryT' Peter asked
drinking deep.
''She went along-just up in tn
i woods here!" Alix answered. ''They'l
be back before you could get there
i They've been gone five minutes I"
Il
i Five minutes were enough to TAX
4 Cherry and her lover out of sight O
the house, enough to have him put hi
arm about her, and TO have her rails
her lips confidently, and yet shyly
again 10 MS. 1nEy KISSED eacn OIne
deeply. again and again.
Their talk was incoherent Cherr
was stin playing, coquetting and smi
ing, her words few. and Martin, hay
ing her so near, could only repeat tn
endearing phrases that attempted {
express to her his love and fervor.
"You darIingl Do you know how
love you? You Darlington little e.
quisite beauty Do you love me-d
you love me?" Martin murmured, an
Cherry answered breathlessly:
"You know / debut you know
dol"
Presently he selected the saplir
redwood, and brought il down wit
MI two blows of his ak. The girl seate
herself beside him, helped him str
the trunk, their hands constant
touching, the man once or twice della
ing her for one more snatched ar
laughing kiss. And Martin said tn
he was going TO make her the happie
wife a man ever had.
Dragging the stripped tree, they rs
down the sharp hill TO the house in
SIS Anne came cut TO announce lunc
con. Peter was wandering of in Z
woods nearby, but came at Ali1
shrill yell of summons, and looked !
lieved when he saw Cherry and Ma
&A fM oThs