The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1922-01-05


asked. do you remember" she
glanced at her father, who was read
ing his paper, "do you remember
WHEN Dad always used to s.Old US
for being rude to Peter?"
well, I'd rather go to Peters for
dinner than anywhere else | ever gol"
AliX remarked, dreamily. seriously,
l mean it," she repeated as Cherry
looked at her in amused surprise. "In
the first place, love his bungalow
tiny as II is, it 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. WISH"
she added, simply, that l liked Peter
half as well as l do his housed"
Peters a dearl" Cherry contended.
ooh, l know he isP Allx said.
quickly. "Peter's always been a dear,
of course. But / mean In a special
sense" finished Alix with an en-
tireIy unembarrassed grin.
Cherry, through glittering cloud
Of hair, looked at her steadily. Sud
denly she gave an odd laugh.
"DO you know l never thought Of
Peter like that" she said.
Alix nodded with cautious look at
her father, who was out of hearing.
mo, nor l! We've always taken
him rather for granted" she admit
ted. "Only I've been rather wishing,
lately, that Peter wasn't such an I'M
flatterinG, oig-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
automatically, 81 think Peter would
like me to-well, to stop taking him
for granted 1 imagine he's awfully
lonely. And then 1 imagine 1t would
please Dad"
Dad has always been ridiculously
fond of him." Cherry said, thought
fully. Peter-possibly in love with
Alix She had never even suspected
II. 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 a
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 q rather auto
cratic and critical nelghbor was one
thing; as 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 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 ard 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 grb ndest we ever did Doubles
with the Thompsons and three sets
~ itrh ~ civ H.
six-two again They've gone. oh,
heavens. never had such tennis. o.
Peter, when you stood there at the net
and just curved your hand like q cup"
-Alix gave an enthusiastic imitation
land over she went. and game and
set :"
Cherry, sinking white and frilly into
IA chair smiled indulgently. The walk
had 81 zen her wild-rOse color. and
even AK was struck with her extraor-
binary 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
"Yod're disgracefully dirtyp he
said, SraternalIy.
81 know IT," she answered, calmly
"Havr / time 10 tub?"
"Ap the time I'm the world!" he an
swerel 1.
Ali1 departed.
ITS very pleasant to me TO have
Alix 50 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 II any one ever usurped our places
herel''
She had said IL deliberately; the
fascination of her recent discovery
was TOO strong IN rc~ig'. Tho man
flushed suddenly. For full minute
lie 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
eyes fixed upon the valley far below.
perhaps it's because there are so
many changes. Peter; my marriage,