Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-05-16
$ L s + f. r s
By Kathleen Norris

He would have had them always
children, this tender, simple, innocent
DR.. Strickland. He was in many
ways a child himself. He had never
made money in his profession; he and
his wife and the two tiny girls had
had q hard enough struggle some-
times. Anne ana her own father had
Joined the family eight years ago, i'll
the same year that the Strickland pat
Yent fire ex%tinguisher,, over which the
doctor had been putterins for years.
q been sold. 1t did not sell, as his
neighbors. believed, for a million dol
lars, but for perhaps one-tenth OF
that sum 1t was enough. and more
than enough, whatever it was. After
Anne's father died, it meant. that the
doctor could live on in the brown
house under the redwoods, with .his
!, Eirls. reading, fqssing with a new in
vention, walking. consulting with
Anne, laughing at Alix, and spelling
his youngest-bo born.
1t wa q perfect life for the old
man; 1t was only lately that he begun
uneasily 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 ia
fancy this young Lloyd? DR.. str1ck-
land was surprised with the feryor
with which he repudiated the thought.
n young engineer, who had drifted
already into a dozen different and dis
ftant places, was not the man for staid
little Anne.
What did you want 10 see Mr.,
Lloyd about tomorrow, Dad?" Cherry
interrupted his thoughts to, ask.
The rose vine. What did he say
about coming over, Cherry?"
Cherry remarked, between two
rending yawns, that Mr.. Lloyd wal
coming owe tomorrow at ten O'clock,
and Peter, too
Peter won't be much good!" Alix
commented. Cherry loked it her re-
~proachfully.
You're awfully mean to Peter, late
lY!!.'' she protested. Her father eave
her a shrewd look. with his goodnight
kiss, and Immediately afterward BOTH
the younger girls dragged their way
up to bed. 80
AK and Cherry shared a bare,
woody-smeliing o tucked away
under brown caves. The walls were of
raw pine. the latticed windows, in
bungalow fashion, opened into the
fragrant darkness Of the night. 1rhe
beds were really hunks. and ahnvs
her bunk each girl had an extra berth.
FOR occasional guests. There was
scant prettiness in the room. and vet
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
seit western climate they left their
bedroom windows open the year
round; they liked to wake to winter
with blue finger tips and .chatterine
teeth, to warm themselves with brrsLe
fast and the fire.
AK rolled herself In. A erav arm.
blanket. And was asleep in some sirty
seconds. But Cherry felt that i
was floating in seas Of new iov and
utter delight, and that she wo,,id
never.be sleepy again.
INST Anne and the doctor rat
staidly on, the man dreaming WITH a
knotted forehead. the etrl sAwine.
rresently she ran q needle throush
stitches, folded it, ana put hsr th Isy
Die into 9 case that hung from hns
orderly workbag with a long rihhnn
wait q. minute. Anne said the.
doctor, as she straikhtened hersalf -
rise, This young Lloyd now-wh.t
do you think OF him ~ 10y
= widened demure blue eve.
you be sorry IL I-lihed.
MIN: Uncle IAS?" she smiled.
n zoldamAn ruinpfed Ills silver hsir
That's the Way the vtnd b,n,.
on Z. he asked kindly.
sWell---7you . how much ~.
mere! You zee the flowers ~ hnNSs
and notes. I'm & tbe bort 81 tipy =
wear my heart on my sleeve Annn
VINO vas fond Of small oopveraa4inrs;
slAes. assured him mAffify. .Hut ~.
be some fire where there,s ~
You're not sure. nv de.r,,
asked, after some thonEht.
oh. mol" ahe Answefe6s nYt.. H..
g fancy that psrststs In cosninr n
soins Has 3et to her feet. saytns
n11gntly. .WeM we mustn't NV thass
TOO gravely--ystl II was oniv fhst
nteg 70 be open and abovs.hSs.a
Iilst:s = only honsAt . isAs w
That's Wise and nkkt!s h.r ..s,.
answered 10 the kindly. 49,. 1aSse
g hsd ueed tp them 10 skIS.AsHs
sons e yes sps y use g Aans rhss