The St. Charles herald., 1922-09-16
The CHERRY MAN
Rv MOLLIE MA1HER.

disconsolate; in fact, hers was mer-
nv spirit indeed. But Aunt Aiaybelle
Wicks was enough to try any ones
patience. To go as relatlve-compaH-
ion to Aunt Maybelle, after her own
fathers death, had seemed at the
time q providential opportunity. Con-
tinued companionship with Aunt May
belle now seemed far from prOylden-
tial. Truly the fortunefavOred lady
exacted from her orphaned niece duty,
to the last detail. Now, even the
prospect of q long tour through un-
explored country In Aunt's palatlal
car brought no pleasant anticipation.
Above all, Aunt Maybelle Wicks was
q man-hater. Long ago some dlsap-
pointing male had wOoed Aunt May
belle for her fortune, and not her
face. and Miss Wicks had found him
out In time to block his plan. From
that day men were to her merely a
dread necessity. OF course one had 10
hire them to look after furnaces, or
to NOW lawns. Now Aunt fMayoelle
was troubling her mind over the PROP
lem of a suitable chauffeur for the
long trip planned, with only her tfled
companion as associate. Miss Wicks'
friends resolutely rejected the pleasure
of accepting her invitation TO JOIN
in the ride.
This sunshiny morning, as Sallle
| walked between the red-jeweled trees,
| she was thinking how jolly the coun-
try might be with some youthful, con-
| genial soul to enjoy with her It's
beauties.
| A cherry hit her squarely on her
| upturned forehead. Sallie laughed
| looking up into the branches, her mood
of morbidness gone. Then Sallie sat
up and stared. A young man swung
lightly on q limb Of the tree ana
gazed down with dark apologetic eyes.
81 am so sorry" he said. THAT
one missed the pail"
The young man wore brown cotton
Isoyer-alls, and disreputable straw
hat. His barred brown arms reached
higher for more cherries.
"Stranger here-abouts" asked the
young man. His pleasing country dia-
l loCC TclulluCu SdliiC Va - NO-S~-
taking a part; she smiled.
Eyes, stranger" she replied.
"Aunt Wicks and are guests at tho
hotel until we can find satisfactory
chauffeur to take US on our way. Tne
one we brought from the city, or
rather. the one who brought us on
from the city, left suddenly. because
/ 1T yt0 inO
9 o'clock when he was off duty"
sI see," said the understanding
Young man. "Aunt is one of those
people who own you, body and soul,
if you work for them"
"She is," agreed Sallie emphatically.
"But you don't work for her" the
. young man said. "You are her niece" ;.
; "And," Sallie corrected, "her hired
companion as we'll. We are planning
a long trip now"-her tone was visit
!, ful-"it might be such a very delight
full trip, with the right people. Noun
tains, you know, and quaint little inns
to stop at, nesting back against the
;, green. Oh, 1 beg your pardon said
. Sallie, It was really her own pardon
she was begging for unique communi'
catiyeness. II thought" she quickly
o added, that you might possibly be
a able to direct me to capable chaut'
q feur."
d 81 guess" he remarked musingly,
'that could stand the old lady If you
d can. I'd like that trip myself. In
a fact, its the very thing I've been wish
n ing for-to get away somewhere, see
e the world. Pretty dull around here
e l will apply"
l. Sallie was doubtful. "You have te
A. be recommended" she reminded him
u The pleasant young man grinned
'I will be. Doc Stratton will recon-
" mend me- Nobody better known
II around here than Doc Stratton. I've
"a driven for him lot, in off times
Sallie was jubilant. "Come right OF
10 to the hotel with me now," she said
+. 81 must have my written recon
lv mendation first" the young man said
"a / land want to clean up"
i "Cleaning up made a wonderful
"a difference. Sallie could hardly be
no lieve. that this neatly clad person witt
the SlQOOCH was liiC NAANAA
=. man" of the morning. The youn
~ man. in turn was overwhelmed by tn
~ charming appearance, in her daint
- frock, of his "pink gingham" acquain'
." ance. "She was mighty nice TIL
80 morning" he was thinking, "but rH'v---
:" "Jim" proved to be a courteous ~
et desirable chauffeur. Even Miss Nics
could not withstand the charm OF ni
'm engaging personality. Sallie ofte
nd found herself relieved from duty a
I. companion. Jim was not only II
OF teresting but remarkably well IL
formed.
MT It became habit, after Aunt Ma!
all belle had retired for the nlsht' 10
icy the companion and the chauHeur
meet. as with one thought, upon u
is moonlit veranda of some romantic OF
ire inn where they might be stoppin
ep- .Dearest," the cherry man said SUI
led denly. softly, "dont you know thu
en- there can be no parting between yo
and me? I have loved you, dea
from the moment looked down fro