Charlevoix county herald., 1921-09-09


garden. II don't know what we'd
do II any one ever usurped our places
herew
She had said IL deliberately; the
fascination Of her recent discovery
was roo strong 10 resist. The man
flushed suddenly. For a full minute
he did not speak. and Cherry was sur
prised 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 II Is nice to have this
always the same"
perhaps Alix will come up here
and help keep II so some day." the
man said, deliberately. Cherry's look
Of elaborate surprise and pleasure
died before his serious glance. She
was silent for a moment.
"Why don't you ask her?' she said
In low, thoughtful tone, trembling
eager to preserve his mood without a
false note.
81 have" he answered simply.
Cherry's heart jumped with a sudden
unexpected emotion. What was It?
Not pleasure, not all surprise-surely
there could be no jealousy mixed with
her feeling for Peters plansf But
she was dazed with the rush Of feel
ing; hurt In some fashion she could
not stop to dissect now.
"And she said nor she stammered
in confusion.
"She said no. Or, at least, I init
mated that I was lonely old affec-
tionate man with this and that to Of
fer. and she intimated that that wasn't
enough. ought to have said-I ought
to explain-that I had told her, only
a few days previously, that had al
ways loved somebody elsel'
"Oh-h-h!" Cherry was enlightened.
She visualized an affair In the last
years Of the old century for Peter.
"Oh, and-and she didn't love your
Cherry asked.
1.-The lady7 She was unfortunately
married before 1 had a chance to ask
her." said Peter.
"Oh-h-h!" Cherry said again, I'm
pressed, land you'll never get over
itT' she asked, timidly. Peter,
never knew thatw she added as he
was silent. "Does-does Dad known
Nobody knows but Alix, and she
only knows the bare facts" he as
sured her.
"Ohl" Cherry could think of nothing
to add to the sympathetic little mono
syllable.
FINISHED with the shower 7"
shrieked Alix from the warm darkness
inside the doorway. Hurry up,
Peter, something smells utterly
grand"
That's the chicken thingw Peter
shouted back, springing up to disap-
pear in the direction Of the bath
room. Cherry sat on, silent, wrapped
still in the new spell Of the pleasant
voice, the strangely appealing and yet
masterful personality.
The dinner struggled as all Peters
dinners did Alix mixed a salad dress
ing; Peter himself flashed In and out
Of the tiny, hot kitchen a hundred
times Kow, in immaculate linen,
came back and forth In leisurely
tablesetting Suddenly everything
was ready; the crisp, smoking-hot
French loaf, the big, brown jar Of bub-
bling and odorous chicken, the lettuce
curled In its bowl, the long-necked
bottles In their straw cases, and
cheeses and crackers and olives and
figs and tiny fish in oil and marrons
In futed paper that were part Of
all Peters dinners.
After dinner they watched the moon
rise, until Alix drifted in to the piano
and Peter followed her, and the 9th
ers came in, too, to sit beside the fire.
AS usual IL was midnight before any
one thought Of ending one Of Peters
evenings.
And all through the pleasant, quiet
hours, and when he bundled them up
in his own big loose coats to drive
them home, Cherry was thinking Of
him In this new light; Peter loving a
woman, and denied. The knowledge
seemed to fling strange glamor
about him; she saw new charm In
him, or perhaps, as she told herself,
she saw for the first time how charm
ing he really was. His speech seemed
actually the pleasanter for the SIAM
mer at which they had all laughed
years ago; the slight limp lent its
own touch Of individuality, and the
mans blunt criticisms Of books and
music, politics and people, were soft
ened by his humor, his genuine hui
mility, and his eager hospitality.
Next day sne took occasion to men,
ton Peter and his affairs to Alix.
Alix turned fiery red, but laughed
hardly.
IF he considers that an offer, he
can consider 1t refusal, 1 guess"
she said, boyishly embarrassed. II
like him-I'm crazy about him. But
1 don't want any party In ringlets and
crinolines to come floating from the