The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-09-29

ble into a case that hung from her or derly workbag with a long ribbon
 Wait a minute. Anne." said the doctor, as she strengthened herself tc rise This young Lloyd, now-what do you think of him ?" She widened demure blue eyes
 Should you !. be uso sorry rn,,fa 1T liked The old man rumpled his silver hair l restlessly. That's the way the wind blows. err" 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 conservational tags, assured him merr11y. 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, no.'' she anwered. "It's just a fancy that persists in coming and | going" She got to her feet, saying brightly, Well! We mustn't take this too gravely-yet. It was only that l wanted to be open ana above-board with you, uncle from the beginning. That's the only honest way
 That's wise and right!'' her uncle answered, in the kindly. absent tone he had used to them as children, tone he was apt to- use to Anne when she was in her highest mood, and one she rather resented.
 Cherry. now" he asked, detain- ing her for a moment. '.She-you | don't think that perhaps Peter ad- mireS her?'
 'Peter!" Anne echoed amazedly, and stood thinking.
 ] Peter was more than thirty years old. thin. scholarly. something of 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, define, Anne liked the idea Of ] | Cherry and Peter falling in love somehow one doesn't think of Pe- ter as marrying anyone" she said slowly, still trying to grasp the | thought
 Peter is a dear fellow,- the doctor ly eighteen! He-I don't suppose he really ever kissed her. The old man hesitated, began again: Just fancy. he assured her. Just an old fathers fear that she is growing up too fast!" l Because we all. and you especially, spoil her." Anne reminded him, sm1i- ing. Peter she added thoughtful ly, "has kissed us all, now and them! She stopped for a dutifu1 goodnight kiss, and was gone
 Downstairs the doctor sat on. thinking. and his face was grave. He was thinking of little Cherry's good night kiss, half an hour ago. She had rested against his arm, and he had held her there. but what had been
 
 near his own? He realized with a great rush of fear that some man had kissed Cherry tonight. had held her against a tobacco-scented coat. and that the girl was a woman, and an awakened woman at that Cherry kissed a man! Her fathers heart winced away from the thought
 Young Lloyd and Peter had walked home with her. But if Anne was right in her. maidenly suspicious of Lloyd's intentions, then it must have ! been Peter who surprised little Cherry with a sudden embrace.
 And as he came to his conclusions a certain relief crept Into the old mans heart. Peter was an odd fel- | low; he was ten years too old for the
 child. But Peter was a lover of books and gardens and woods and music, after all. and Peters father and this old man musing by the fire other since boyhood. Peter might give Cherry a kiss as innocently as a brother; in any case, Peter would wait | for her, would be all consideration and tenderness when he did win her. Cherry, he reflected fearfully, was as pretty as her mother had been at eighteen, with the same rounded chin and apricot cheeks. and the same shadowed innocent blue eyes with
 film of corn-colored hair blown
 across them. She had the strange,
 the indefinable quality that without words, almost without glances, draws
 youth toward youth. draws admira-
 ton and passion, draws life and all
 it's pain. Her father for the first
 time tonight formulated in his heart
 the thought that she might be happi-
 ly married--
 Married-nonsense! Why, what did
 she know of life, of submission and
 courage and sacrifice? It would be
 years, many years, before the snowy
 frills, and the pale gold head. and the firm, brown little hand would be
 ready for thati
 L hOnrG a went :. slowly up to bed morning began to
 creep into the little valley. Alix, at
 her early bath. heard quail calling, and looked out to see the last of the fog vanishing at eight o'clock, and to get a wet rush of fragrance rom the Persian lilac, blooming this year for ! the first time. At half-past eight she came out into the garden, to find her father somewhat ruefully studying the
 tumbled ruins of the yellow banksia rose. The garden was still wet, but
 warming fast; she picked plume of dark and perfumed hehotrope. and began to fasten it in his coat lapel while she kissed him. wen never get that back on the roof, my dear boy" Alix said mater na1ly.
 : Her father pursed his lips. shook ] his head doubtful1y. The rose, a short week ago, had been spreading fanlike branches we'll toward the ridge-po1e, a story and a half above their heads. But the great wind of yestereve that |. ! had endeo the spring ana brought Tn the summer had dragged it from it's 7 place and flung it, a tumble of ener- aid leaves and sweet clusters of creamy blossams. across the path and
 the steps of the porch. Alix tenta- lively tugged at a loose spray. and
 stood biting her thumb. Her attention was districted by the setter puppy who came clumsily gam boiling toward her. Hello, old Bum
 bydoodles!'' kissing the dogs silky head, and burying both hands in his feathered collar. Hello, old Bucki'' v Alexandra, for heavens sake stop handling that brute!" said Peter V Joyce disgustedly, coming up the path. q dare say you've not had your n breakfast, either. Go wash your . | hands! Morning, Doctor!"
 :, Father and daughter turned to
 smile upon him. tall. lean man, with X a young face and a finely groomed