The Holly chieftain., 1922-02-16

soon. and you'll see the new hotels"
Alix promised when they were seated
on the upper deck, with the blue wa
tiers of the bay moving softly past
them. Cherry's happy eyes followed
wheeling gull; she felt as II the
world was suddenly sunshiny and sim
pie and glorious again. But now,
thought the best thing was to get you
home" Alix went on, land get you
rested"
Il can't get used to the idea Of you
and Peter-marriedr Cherry smiled.
We're well used to It," Alix de.
clared, smiling, too. But little sigh
stabbed through the smile a second
later. Cherry's exquisite eyes grew
sympathetic; she suspected from the
letter Alix had written that there
would be no nursery needed In the
mountain cabin for while, and she
knew that to baby-loving Alix this
would be . bitter cross.
Sausalito. fragrant with acacia and
rose blooms, rose steeply into the
bright sunshine beyond the marshes
skirting the bay glittering In light.
Chcrry's eager eyes missed nothing,
and when they left the train at Mil
Valley, and the mountain air envel-
oped them in rush of its clear soft
ness and purity she was in ecstasies.
She gave an exclamation of delight
when they reached the cabin. It was
picture Of peaceful beauty in the
summer noon. There were still butter
cups and poppies In the fields, and In
the garden thousands of roses were
growing riotously, fiinging their long
arms up against the slope of the low
brown roof, and hanging in festoons
from the low branches of the oaks.
Beyond the house the mountain rose;
from the porch Cherry could look
down upon the familiar valley, and
the rivers winding like strips of blue
ribbon through the marshes, and the
far bay, and San Francisco beyond.
Inside were shady rooms, bowls Of
flowers, plain little white curtains
stirring in the summer breeze, peace
and simplicity everywhere. Cherry
smiled at the Immediately clad Chi
nese stirring something in yellow
bowl in spotless kitchen whose win
dows showed manzanita and wild lilac
and madrone trees smiled at the big.
smoked fireplace where sunlight fell
on piled logs down the chimney's
great mouth; smiled as she went to
and fro on journeys of investigation.
But the smile Quivered into tears when
she came to her own room, just such
room as little Charity Strickland had
had. only a few years ago, with white
hangings and unpainted wood, fresh
air streaming through 1t, and red
woods outside.
Cherry stumbled into the airy, dark.
sweet little bedroom, and somehow
undressed and crept between the cool
sheets Of the bed that stood near
Alix's on the wide sleeping porch.
Her last thought was for the heavenly
redwoods so close to her; she slept,
indeed, for almost twelve unbroken
hours.
,"Oh, Sis. l do feel so deliclously
lazy and happy and rested and-and
everything!" said Cherry, as she set
tied herself at the porch table where
service for one was spread.
CHERRY, you're prettier than ever"
Alix said, eyeing the white hands SO
busy with blue china, and the bright
head dappled with shade and sun
shine coming through the green rose
vine.
"Am II" Cherry said. pleased. II
thought myself that looked nice this
morning." she added. innocently. But
1t is really because the air of this
place agrees with me, it makes my
skin feel right and my eyes feel right;
1t makes me feel normal and smoOthed
out somehow"
"Oh, there's no place in the world
like it!' Alix agreed, rubbing some
dried mud from the back Of her hand
with the trowel. 'If Martin contin-
ues to migrate every little while, l
wish you could have little house
here. Then for part of the time, ut
least, we could be together"
"The old house." Cherry said, dream
lily.
"Well, why not?" Alix echoed, eager
ly. tits in pretty bad shape. after
being empty SO long, but it would
make u darling home again! Would
Martin objectT
Cherry filed her coffee cup Sec
ond time, gave Kow m appreciative
smile as he put hot French loaf be-
fore her, and said, indifferently:
Martin has constitutional objec-
ton to whatever peases me, and would
find some objection to any plan that
gave me pleasure" Her tone was
light, but there was bitter twltch to
her lips as she spoke.
"Oh, Cherry" Alix said, distressed.
However, I'm not going to talk
about Martini" the younger sister de-
creed, gaily. "I'm too utterly and abb
solutely happy"
There was worried little cloud on
Alix's forehead, but 1t lighted stead