The Holly chieftain., 1922-01-05
tcHApTER ll-contiru.d.)

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Presently he selected the sapling
redwood, and brought 1t down with
two blows OF his ak. The girl seated
herself beside him, helped him strip
the trunk. their hands constantly
touching, the man once or twice delay
ing her for one more snatched and
laughing kiss. And Martin said that
he was going to make her the happiest
wife man ever had.
Dragging the 1tfipped tree, they ran
down the sharp hill to the house just
as Anne came out to announce lunch
con. Peter was wandering of In the
woods nearby, but came at Ali1's
shrill yell Of summons, and looked re-
lieved when he saw Cherry and Mar,
tin not even talking to each other.
They had been gone only ten minutes.
1t was happy meal for everyone,
and after 1t they had attacked the rose
bush again. with aching muscles now.
and In the first real summer heat. 1t
was three o'clock before, with great
cracking, and the scream Of a twist
ed branch, and general painting and
heaving on the part of the workers,
at last the feathery mass had risen a
foot-.two feet-into the air. had
stood tottering like wall of bloom,
and finally, with downward rush,
had settled to its old place on the
roof. Hong was pressed into service
now, and with Martin, was on the
roof, graphing with rope, shouting
directions.
There was rending, slipping noise
on the roof, scream from Martini.
and shouts from the doctor and Peter.
With a great sliding and rushing Of
the refractory sprays. and with a hor-
rifying stumbling and falling, down
came Martin, caught in great rope
Of the creeper, almost at Cherry's feet.
A time of great running and calling
ensued. Cherry dropped on her knees
beside him, and had his head on her
arm for moment !; then her father
took her place, and Alix, with an as
tonished look at the younger girls
wet eyes, drew her sister away. I'm.
mediately afterward Martin sat up,
looked bewilderedly about from one
face to another, looked at his scratched
wrist and said "Gee |" in thoughtful
tone.
"You scared Cherry out Of ten
years growth!" Alix reproached Mar
tin.
81 thought he might have hurt
himself!" Cherry said, in the softest
of little-girl voices, and with her shy
little head hanging. Anne decided
that 1t was becoming her clear duty
to talk to Cherry.
A few minutes later Alix, Peter and
Martin left for the daily ceremony of
walking into the village for the mail.
The house was very still, early sum-
mer sweetness was drifting through
wide-opened windows and doors; the
long day was slowly declining. Anne
peeped into the deserted living room,
softened through all Its pleasant
shabbiness into real beauty by the
shafts Of sunset red that came in
through the easement windows; and
was celebrating between various be-
coming occupations = for Martin
might walk back with the girls
when her uncle called her.
"Anne-you weren't there when that
young chap tumbled. But I've been
worrying about 1t a little. There's no
Question-there's no question that she
that Cherry-called him by his
name. Martin she called him" 4
Anne had crossed to the shadowy
doorway; she stood still.
you've not noticed anything be
tween him and Cherry7" pursued the
doctor. "a girl might call man by
his name. suppose"
II don't think there has been any
thing to notice." Anne stated, in level
tone.
"Well, 1t must be stopped, If it has
begun" decided her uncle. II can't
permit it'd forgotten how the little
witch growsr'
Again Anne was silent. She was
not In love with Martin Lloyd; she,
was not as susceptible as the much
younger Cherry, and she had not had
his urging to help her to quick sur
render. But for the first time In her
life she had seen an absolutely suit
able man, man whose work, position,
looks, name and character fitted her
rather exacting standard, and for the
arst time she had let herself think
6a0fidentIy of heing WOpcd and won.