Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-03-11
tcHAPTER l-continued.)

?
"PErer is a dear fellow" the doctor
nused. But Cherry-why, she's bare
IL eighteen He-I don't suppose he
Feallv ever kissed her" The old man
fesltated, began again: "Just fancy"
Re assured her. "Just an old fathers
Gear that she is growing up too fast p
Because we all, and you especially,
epoil her" Anne reminded him, smil-
Ing. peter" she added thoughtfully,
fhas kissed us all, now and then ="
Ehe stopped for a dutiful goodnight
Kiss and was gone.
Downstairs, the doctor sat on, think
Eng and his face was grave. He was
thinking Of little Cherry's good-n Oh
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?
Die realized with a great rush of fear
that some man had kissed Cherry to-
hight, had held her against a tobacco
scented coat, and that the girl was
woman, and an awakened woman at
that Cherry-kissed a mani Her ia
@ther's heart WINGED away from the
Thought.
Young Lloyd and Peter had walked
home with her But If Anne was right
I'm her maidenly suspicious of LlOyds
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
81 hood. Peter might give Cherry a kiss
81 as innocently as a brother; In any
case Peter would wait for her, would
De 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
q Aim Of cOrn-colored hair blown across
them. She had the strange, the indie
d Enable quality that without words, al
mss- without glances, draws youth
toward youth, draws admiration and
passion, draws life and all its 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
" 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
q wet rush Of fragrance from the Per
sian lilac, blooming this year for the
out into the garden, to find her father
somewhat ruefully studying the tum-
Died ruins of the yellow banksia rose.
The garden was still wet, but warm
Ing fast she picked a plume Of dark
and perfumed heliotrope, and began to
fasten it ia his coat lapel while she
kissed him.
Wen never get that back on the
root, my dear boy" AK said mater
nally,
Her father pursed his lips, shook
his head doubtfully. The rose. a short
week ago, had been spreading fanlike
branches well toward the ridge-pole.
story and a half above their heads.
But the great wind Of yestereye that
had ended the spring and brought IN
the summer had dragged It from its
place and flung It, a tumble Of emerald
leaves and sweet clusters Of creamy
blossoms, across the path and the
steps Of the porch. Alix tentatively
rugged at a loose spray, and stood
biting her thumb.
'tAttAtl uii WIS tlstIdtEel b2 Tue
setter puppy who came clumsuy. gam
boing toward her. Hello old Bumpy-
Goodies r. she said with rich aGec
t2n. kissing the dogs silky head, and
e-r5ing both hands ia his feathered
collar Hello, old Buck
Alexandra, for heavens sake stop
handling that brUte,T said Peter
sayee disgCstedly, coming UP the path
dare say you've not had Your break
Las1 either. Go wash your hands
Morning. Doctor
ather and daughter turned to smile
upon him, a tar, lean man with
@oahg face and a finely groom ed head
ana with touches Of premature silver,
at his temples