The Dolores star., 1922-02-17

| terSg Cherry stated rather tnun
asked. DO you remember" she
glanced at her father, who was read
Ing his paper. do you remember
when Dad always used TO scold us
for being rude to Peter2"
We'll, I'd rather go TO Peters for
dinner than anywhere else l ever go"
Alix remarked, dreamily. Seriously,
l mean ltr she repeated us Cherry
| looked at her in amused surprise. "In
the first place. 1 love his bungalow
tiny as it is, 1t has the whole of a lit
| tie canyon to itself. and the prettiest
view in the valley, think. And then
| | love the messy sitting room, with
| all the books and music, and love
| the way Peter entertains. l wish"
she added, simply, that l liked Peter
half as well us l do his housei"
Peters a dear :" Cherry contendcd.
"Oh, l know he is - Alix said,
quickly. Peters always been dear.
Of course. But l mean In special
sense" finished Alix with an en-
tirely unembarrasSed grin.
Cherry, through gllttering cloud
Of hair, looked at her steadily. Sud
denly she gave an odd laugh.
DO you know | never thought Of
Peter like that?" she said.
Alix nodded with n cautious look at
her father, who was out of hearing.
NO, nor l! We've always taken
him rather for granted" she admit
ted. only I've been rather wishing,
lateIy, that Peter wasn't such an un-
ilattering, Dig-brotherish. everyday
neighbor sort of person."
Cherry regarded her steadily, with
an awakening look in her eyes.
why lately?" she asked
Because" said Alix. briskly and
unromnntlcal!y. 81 think Peter would
like me to-well. to stop taking him
for granted! l imagine he's awfully
lonely. And then / imagine 1t would
please Dad"
Dad has always been rldlculously
fond Of him." Cherry said, thought
fully. Peter-pOsslbly in love with
Alixl She had never even suspected
it. Well, there was something rather
pleasant in the thought, after all, If
Alix didn't mind his ugliness and
thinness. Cherry thought about 1t all
day. She had no thought of money
year or two ago; but she was more
experienced now. And Peter was rich.
Ordinarily she would have said that
she was not going to change for
Peters dinner; but this afternoon
without mentioning the fact. she
quietly got into one of her prettIest
dresses; dress that had been made
in the long-ago excitement of trous-
seau days. Peter as rather auto
cratic and critical neighbor was one
| thing; as a possible brother-in-law he
| was another.
She came downstairs to find her
| father waiting, and they walked away
through the woods together. Alix
| had already gone up to Peters house
to play tennis. They walked slowly
through the lovely aisles of the trees,
crossing a road or two, climbing
steadily upward under great redwoOds.
| Cherry's skirt brushed the gold dust
| from masses and masses of buttercups.
| The tennis was over, but just over !;
| Peter and AliX were sitting, still pant
Ing, on the rail of the wide, open
| porch, and shouted as the others
came up.
You missed doubles =" called Alix
THE grandest we ever did, Doubles
with the Thompsons and three sets
straight to us-six-two, six-two, and
six-two again! They've gone. Oh,
heavens, l never had such tennis. Oh,
Peter when you stood there at the net
and just curved your hand like a cup
-Allx gave an enthusiastic imitation
-"and over she went, and game and
set"
Cherry, sinking white and frilly into
n chair, smiled indulgently. The walk
had given her a wild-rose color, and
even Alix was struck with her extraor-
dinary beauty. Alix had wheeled
about on the rail to face the porch
and Peter had gotten to his feet and
was Hospitality pushing basket chairs
about. Now he gave Alix critical
look
you're disgracefully dirty" he
said, fraternally.
81 know it," she answered, calmly
Have I time to tub?'
"All the time In the world ~ he an.
swered.
Alix departed.
"It's very pleasant to me to have
Alix so much at home here" Cherry
said, when Alix was gone, and the
doctor wandering happily about the
garden. 81 don't know what we'd
do If any one ever usurped our places
here!"
She had said 1t deliberately; the
fascination Of her recent discovery
was too strong to resist. The man
flushed suddenly. For full minute
he did not speak, and Cherry was sur
prised to find herself little thrilled
and even frightened by his silence.
what put that into your head?
he asked, presently. smoking with his
ewes fixed uDOn the valley far below