The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-02-04
W.N.u.REteAse
eVkKTHlEEN NORRIS :

W.N.U.REteASe
that you were a blunt little thing
and she was afraid I didn't like it.
But I do! / love people to be abso-
lutely frank with me-"
With her first sight of Emma,
Cherry had had the feeling that the
long years since last they had met
were as nothing and that she was a
little girl of seven again, living in a
small tiled house with a patio and
fountain, and running in and out
of the bedroom where her mother
lay always in bed. A thousand de-
tails, half forgotten until now, had
rushed back to her, and she had
longed for the moment when she
might talk freely to Emma of the
past.
To include any exercise at all in
the twenty-four hours she formed
the habit of rising early and taking
long walk about the streets or
into the eucalyptus-shaded roads of
the Preside before breakfast.
In the freshness and sparkle of
these winter mornings life seemed
exhilarating enough. But after her
breakfast the warmth and torpidity
of the Porter mansion enveloped her
again like Supplying drug.
II wonder" she wrote Anita,
'how long this would go on? Emma
that's my old nurse, you know
has been in one job or another like
this for years and years. Well, any,
way, I got my first pay yesterday
and I'm going to buy myself a hat
I saw on Polk street. My love to
everyone, Madeleine especially. and
Elizabeth and all the Sisters and
girls"
One day Cherry had an adven-
ture. It came on a quiet, foggy
afternoon when all the world seemed
dull and quiet. Cherry was driving
with Mrs. Porter when her old COM
panion said suddenly, "Look there
wait minute-stop him!"
Automatically obeying these in
structions Cherry seized the speak
ing tube and Merryweather drew up
at the right-hand side of the road.
Then the girl saw that two
bay horses carrying q man and
woman were pacing along one Of
the bride paths.
and that the woman was Fran
Marshbanks and the man Kelly
Coates.
In response to old Mrs. Porter's
gesticulations, and her voice at the
window she was energetically low
ering, the riders came close to the
car and Fran gave Cherry her Sec
ond careless smile and nod, and
Kelly saluted her by touching his
cap with his whip. He was pre-
sented to Mrs. Porter, and as the
two women fell into discussion of
the list of patronesses for series
of concerts, he rode around the back
of the car and chatted with Cherry
at her own opened window.
'tWell, Miss-I have to call you
Cherry, I've forgotten the other
name" he began.
''Oh, dol" said Cherry, the dull
park breaking into sparkles, the
white winter sky turned June.
Cherry then. What have you
done to yourself? You look like an
other woman!"
Its my hat" said Cherry. The
Polk street creation was on her
head, a picturesque hat that came
far down over the streaked gold and
brown of her hair.
Its more than your hat" Kelly
assured her. you've washed your
face, too."
Her laugh rang out; he had not
heard her laugh before, and as it
had impressed Judson MarshbankS
at the convent a month or so ear
ier, it impressed the younger man
now as being extraordinarily fresh
and pleasant.
He looked at her a long time,
thoughtfully. Or at least, if only
for few seconds, it seemed long
time to Cherry. She felt the warm
color in her cheeks and the slow
beat of her heart.
II suppose that's true" Kelly said
at last in surprised tone.
''I'd read about girls making their
debuts," Cherry pursued, warmed
to the very soul by his attentive,
half-sympathetic and half-amused
look, land orchids and all that. But
somehow, just that night, to see her
so safe and so happy and having
such wonderful time when ! was
homesick and tired and knew /
looked so awful :"
"Well, of course" he agreed
quickly, as she paused in sort of
shame and embarrassment. Amy,
you mean?"
Amy"
''She's not having. such a wonder
full time" he said. ''It's all COM
parative. She thinks other girls are
having a slightly better time, and
that drives her wild. Mrs. Marsh
banks, Fran, was speaking of it
just a few minutes ago, and saying
what fools girls are!"
"Oh, girls are fools all right"
Cherry agreed meekly, and as the
man laughed she laughed too.
''Mr. Coates" old Mrs. Porter
said, breaking into the conversation
and leaning across Cherry to catch
his attention.
Frances has promised to bring
Amy to dine with me two weeks
from Thursday, and l want you to
come too"
''I'm dead loss at dinners" Kel-
ly said, laughing. You'll never
ask me again."
''Well, well see about that" said
the old lady, in high feather. but
you come, now! My nephew