The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1921-10-27

4 .1Sots ahu AHisCiiici SieduiuS IN tu6
blue. blue eyes was framed only in
loosened pale gold hair.
Years afterward AIix 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 hands "The day
we raised the rose tree" had place
Of its own in Alix's memory, as a time
Of carefree fun and content, time OF
perfume and sunshine -perhaps 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 tp her, in the general
confusion.
slows my little sweetheart this
morning?"
Cherry looked up, her throat con-
tracted, she looked down again, un-
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 minuteT' Mar
tin murmured, swapping his big knife
shut.
Il have to walk down for the mail
-" 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-bl0wn. Both men were asking
themselves what they knew of this
strange young man who was suddenly
part of their intimate little world.
Peter, h his secret heart, had a
vague, dissatisfied feeling that Lloyd
was a man who held women. as a
class. rather in disrespect, 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 prejudice. Somewhat
appalled,. in the sunny garden, strug-
Cling with the banksia, Peter decided
that this was not much to know of a
person who might have the audacity
to fall in love with an exquisite and
innocent Cherry. After all, she would
not be little girl forever; some man
would want to take that little corn
colored head and that delicious little
pink-clad person away with him some
day, to be his wife
And suddenly Peter was torn by
stab Of pure pain. and he stood puz-
zled and sick, in the garden bed, won
dering what was happening to him.
'ListenLwant drink" Alix asked,
coming out with tin -dipper that
spilled a glittering sheet Of water
down the thirsty nasturtiums "Rest
a few minutes, Peter. Dad wanted a
pole, and Mr.. Lloyd has gone up into
the woods to cut one"
"And where's Cherryy' Peter asked,
drinking deep.
"She went along just up in the
woods here!" Alix answered. They'll
be back before you could get there.
They've been gone five minutes!"
Five minutes were enough to take
Cherry and her lover out of sight Of
the house, enough to have him put his
arm about her, and to have her raise
her lips confidently, and yet shyly,
again to his. They kissed each other
deeply, again and again.
Their talk was incoherent. Cherry
was still playing, coquetting and smil-
ing, her words few, and Martin, hav-
ing her 80 near, could only repeat the
endearing phrases that attempted to
express to her his love and fervor.
"You darlingl Do you know how I
love you? You darling little ex-
Quisite beautyl Do you love me-do
you love mel" Martin murmured, and
Cherry answered breathlessly:
"You know I debut you know I
dol"
Presently he selected the sapling
redwood, and brought it down with
two blows Of his ak. The girl seated
herself beside him, helped him strip
the trunk, their hands constantly
touching, the man once or twice delay
ing her for one more snatched and
laughing kiss. And Martin said that
he was going to make her the happiest
wife man ever had.
Dragging the stripped tree, they ran
down the sharp hill to the house just
as Anne came out to announce lunch
con. Peter was wandering off in the
woods nearby, but came at Alix's
shrill yell Of summons, and looked re-
lieved when he saw Cherry ana Mar
tin not even talking to each other.
They had been gone only ten minutes.
1t was happy meal for everyone,
and after 1t they had attacked the rose
bush again, with aching muscles now,
and in the first real summer heat. It
was three O'clock before, with great
cracking, and the scream Of twist
ed branch, and general painting and
heaving on the part of the workers,
at last the feathery mass had risen
foot--tw6 feet--into the air, had
\ stood tottering like wall Of bloom,
and finally, with downward rush,