Graham guardian., 1921-09-02
Continued from Page 2

crossing 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 Allx were sitting, still pant.
| Ing, on the rail of the wide, open
porch, and shouted as the others
came up.
you missed doubles" called Alix.
"The grandest we ever didl Doubles
with the Thompsons and three sets
| straight to us-six-two, six-two, and
six.two again! They've gone. Oh,
heavens, never had such tennis. Oh.
Peter, when you stood there at the net
! and just curved your hand like cup"
| --Alix gave an enthusiastic imitation
--"nnd over she went, and game and
| set !"
Cherry, sinking white md frilly into
a chair, smiled indulgently. The walk
| had given her a wild-roSe color, and
| even AliX was struck with her extraor-
| dinary beauty. Allx had wheeled
| about on the rail to face the porch,
! and Peter had gotten to his feet and
was Hospitality pushing basket chairs
about. Now he gave Allx critical
| look.
you're disgracefully dirty" he
said, fraternally.
'T know it, she answered, calmly.
"Have ] time to .tub?"
"All the time in the worldi I" he an
swered
Ali6 departed.
"It's very pleasant to me to have
| ALA so much at home here" Cherry
said, when Alix was gone, and the
doctor wandering happily about the
garden. II don't know what we'd
do II any one ever usurped our places
here"
She had said It deliberately; the
fascination of her recent discovery
was too strong to resist. The man
flushed suddenly. For full minute
he did not speak, and Cherry was sur
prsed to find herself little thrilled
and even frightened by his silence.
"What put that into your headT
he asked, presently. smoking with his
eyes fixed upon the valley far below.
perhaps it's because there are so
many changes, Peter; my marriage,
Anne's--everything different 1t just
came TO me that 1t Is nice TO have this
always the same"
perhaps Alix will come up here
and help keep It so some day." the
man said, deliberately. Cherry's look
of elaborate surprise and pleasure
died before his serious glance. She
was silent for q moment.
"Why don't you ask herr" she said
In low, thoughtful tone, trembling.
eager to preserve his mood without
false note.
T have" he answered simply.
Cherry's heart jumped with sudden
unexpected emotion. What was TT
Not pleasure, not all surprise-surely
there could be no jealousy mixed with
her feeling for Peters plansl But
she was dazed with the rush Of feel
ing: hurt in some fashion she could
not stop to dlssect now.
"And she said no?" she stammered
in confusion.
/ "She said no. Or, Mt least, I inti-
mated that l was lonely old affec-
tionate man with this and that to Of
fer. and she intlmated that that wasn't
enough. ought to have sald-I ought
to PXplain--that had told her, only
few days previously, that had al
ways loved somebody else!'
| "Oh.h-h " Cherry was enlightened.
She vlsuallzed an affair In the last
] years Of he old century for Peter
"Oh, arri--and she didn't love your
Cherry asked.
"The lady2 She was unfortunately
married before l had chance to ask
her." said Peter.
"Oh-h-hw Cherry said again, Inn
pressed, "and you'll never get over
| III" she asked, timidly. Peter, l
never knew that" she added as he
was silent. "Does--dQcs Dad known
| "Nobody knows but Alix, and she
only knows the bare facts" he as
sured her
"Oh!" Cherry could think Of nothing
to add to the sympathetic little mono
syllable.
"Flnished with the shower ~
shrIeked Alix from the warm darkness
inside the doorway. "Hurry mp,
Peter something smells utterly
grandl"
"That's the chicken thing" Peter
shouted back, springing up to dlsap.
pear In the direction Of the bath
room. Cherry ga; On, silent, wrapped
stll d" he new spell of the pleasant
voice, the strangely appealing and yet
mastcrful personality.
The dinner struggled as all Peters
dinners did; Alix mixed q salad dress.
ing; Peter himself flashed in and out
Of the tiny, hot kitchen hundred
times. KOw, In immaculate linen
came back and forth in leIsur'ly
tablescttIng. Suddenly everything
was ready: the crisp, smoking-hoi
French loaf, the big brown jar Of hub
bling and odorous chicken the lettuce
curled In Its bowl, the long-necked
bottles In their straw cases, and
cheeses and crackers and olives an,
figs and tiny Dish in oil and marrOH
In llutcd paper that were part o
all Peters dinners.
After dinner they watched the mocl
| risc .,nlil AliN nrilinl In - the nlnll