The Dolores star., 1922-01-06

man; 1t was only lately that he begun
uneaslly to suspect that they would
some day want something more, that
they would some day tire of empty
forest and blowing mountain ridge.
and go away from the shadow Of Mt.
Tamalpais. and into the world.
Anne, now-was she beginning to
fancy this young Lloyd? DIR. Strick-
land was surprised with the fervor
with which he repudiated the thought.
This young engineer, who had drifted
already into dozen different and dis
tant places, was not the man for staid
little Anne.
"What did you want to see Mr..
Lloyd about tomorrow. Dadr' Cherry
interrupted his thoughts to ask.
1.-The rose vine. What did he say
about coming over. CherryT"
Cherry remarked, between two rend-
ing yawns, that Mr.. Lloyd was coming
over tomorrow ut ten o'clock. and
Peter, too
"Peter won't be much good" AliN
commented. Cherry looked at her re-
proachfully.
You're awfully mean to Peter, late
lyl" she protested. Her father gave
her shrewd look, with his goodnight
kiss, and Immediately afterward both
the younger girls dragged their way
up to bed.
Allx and Cherry shared bare,
woody-smelling room tucked away un-
der brown caves. The walls were Of
raw pine, the latticed windows, in
bungalow fashion. opened into the
fragrant darkness of the night. The
beds were really hunks, and above her
bunk each girl had an extra berth, for
occasional guests. There was scant
prettiness In the room. and yet 1t was
full of purity and charm. The girls.
like all their neighbors. were hardy,
bred to cold baths. long walks, simple
hours, and simple food. In the soft
western climate they left their bed
room windows open the year round;
they liked to wake to winter damp
and fog. and go downstairs with blue
finger-tips and chattering teeth, to
warm themselves with breakfast and
the fire.
ALA III u guy
blanket, and was asleep in some sixty
seconds. But Cherry felt that she was
floating in seas of new Joy and utter
delight, and that she would never be
sleepy again.
Downstairs Anne and the doctor sat
staidly on, the man dreaming with a
knotted forehead, the girl sewing
Presently she ran a needle through
her fine white work with seven tiny
stitches. folded 1t. and put her thimble
into case that hung from her order
ly workbag with n long ribbon.
"Wait a minute, Anne" said the doc
tor, as she Strengthened herself to rise.
This young Lloyd, now-what do
you think of him?'
She widened demure blue eyes.
SHOULD you be sorry If liked
him, Uncle Lee?" she smiled
The old man rumpled his silver hair
restlessly.
"Thats the way the wind blows,
| chi" he asked kindly.
"Well-you see how much he's here
| You see the flowers and books and
notes. I'm not the sort of girl to wear
| my heart on my sleeve" Anne, who
was fond of small conservational tags,
assured him merrily. But there must
be some fire where there's so much
| smoker" she ended.
you're not sure, my dear?" he
asked, after some thought
| "Oh, mol" she answered. "Its lust
fancy that persists in coming and
| going" She got to her feet, saying
brightly, "Well! we mustn't take this
too gravely-yet. 1t was only that
with you, uncle, from the beginning.
That's the only honest way"
"Thats wise and right" her uncle
answered, in the kindly. absent tone
he had used to them as children, a
tone he was apt to use to Anne when
she was in her highest mood, and one
she rather resented.
CHERRY, now" he asked, OBTAINING
her for n moment. "She-you don't
think that perhaps Peter admires
her"
"Peterw Anne echoed amazedly,
and stood thinking.
Peter was more than thirty years
old. thin, scholarly, something of a
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-
Rne, Anne liked the idea of Cherry
and Peter falling in love
Somehow one doesn't think of Pc
ter as marrying anyone" she said
slowly, still trying to grasp the
thought.