Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1921-08-19

y,
her for moment. "She-you don't
think that perhaps Peter admires
herT
"Peter!" Anne echoed anlazedy,
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, de-
fine, Anne liked the idea of Cherry
and Peter falling I'm love
Somehow one doesn't think of Pc
ter as marrying anyone" she said
slowly, still trying to grasp the
thought.
"Peter is dear fellow" the doctor
unused. "But Cherry-why, she's bare
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 !"
Because we all, and you especially,
spoil her." Anne reminded him, smil-
ing. "Peter," she added thoughtfully,
''has kissed us all, now and thenl"
She stopped for a dutiful goodnight
kiss, and was gone.
Downstairs, the doctor sat on, think
ing, and his face was grave. He was
thinking Of little Cherry's goodnight
kiss, half an hour ago. She had rested
against his arm, and he had held her
there, but what had been the thoughts
behind the blue eyes so near his own?
He realized with a great rush Of fear
that some man had kissed Cherry to-
night, had held her against tobacco
scented coat, and that the girl was a
woman, and an awakened woman at
that. Cherry-kissed a man! Her ia
theirs heart WINGED 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 Pc
ter who surprised little Cherry with a
sudden embrace.
And as he came to his conclusions
certain relief crept into the old
mans heart. Peter was an odd fell
low; he was ten years too old for the
child. But Peter was lover of books
and gardens and woods and music, aft
er all, and Peters father and this old
man musing by the fire had been lee"
and paul" to each other since boy
er;x. Iii
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
Swallowed innocent blue eyes with a
film Of corn-colored hair blown across
them. She had the strange, the indie
Enable quality that without words al
most without glances, draws youth
toward youth, draws admiration 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 happily married.
Married-nOnsense Why, what did
she know Of life, Of submission and
courage and sacrifice? 1t would be
years, many years, before the snowy
frills, and the pale gold head and the
firm, brown little hand would be ready
for that
Not many hours after he went slow
ly 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 from the Per
sian 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 tum-
bled ruins Of the yellow banksia rose.
The garden was still wet, but warm
ing fast; she picked plume of dark
and perfumed heliotrope, and began to
fasten It in his coat lapel while she
kissed him.
"Well never get that back on the
roof, my dear boy" Alix said mater
nally.
Her father pursed his lips, shook
his head doubtfully The rose, short
week ago, had been spreading fanlike