TfTE NOItTII PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
.
ASKING DAD.
Synopsis. Doctor Strickland, ro
UreJ, la llvlnir with his family at
Mill Valley, Just out of Ban t'ran
oleco, Anne, the doctor's nloce, Is
twenty-four, Allx, tho doctor's
daughter, Is twonty-one. Cherry
the other daughter, Is eighteen.
Their closest friend Is Potcr Joyce,
an odd, lovable (tort of recluse, lie
Is secretly In lovo with beautiful
Cherry. Martin Lloyd, a visiting
mining engineer, pays court to
Cherry and wins her promise to
marry him. While tho family are
speculating about Cherry iind Mar
tin Peter realizes his love for
Cherry.
(CHAPTER II Continued.)
3
Presently he selected tho sapling
redwood, and brought It down with
two blows of bis nx. The girl sou ted
herself heslde 1dm, helped him strip
tho trunk, their bunds constantly
touching, the man once or twice delay
ing her for one more him t died and
laughing klsH. And Martin said that
he was going to make her the happiest
wife a man ever had.
Drugging the stripped tree, they ran
down the sharp hill to the house Just
as Anne came out to announce lunch
eon. Peter was wandering off In the
woods nearby, hut fame at Mix's
shrill yell of summons, anil looked re
lieved when he saw Cherry and Mar
tli not even talking to each other.
They had been gone only ten minutes.
It was a happy meal for everyone,
and after It they had attacked the rose
bush again, with aching muscles now,
nnd In the (lrst real summer heat. It
was three o'clock before, with a great
crackling, and the scream of a twist
ed branch, and a general panting and
heaving on the part of the workers,
at last the feathery mass had risen a
foot two feet Into the air, luu.'
stood tottering like a wall of bloom,
and finally, with a downward rush,
had settled to Its old place on the
roof. Ilong was pressed Into service
now, and with Martin, was on the
roof, grappling with a rope, shouting
directions.
There was a rending, slipping noise
on. tho roof, a scream from Martin, j
and Bhouts from tho doctor and Peter.
With n great sliding and rushing of
the refractory sprays, and with a hor
rifying stumbling and falling, down
came Martin, caught In a great rope
of tin" 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 a moment ; then her father
took her place, and Allx, with an as
tonished look at the younger girl's
wot eyes, drew her sister away. Im
mediately afterward Martin sat up,
looked bewllderedly about from one
faco to another, looked at bis scratched
wrist and said "Owl" In a thoughtful
tone.
"You scared Cherry out of ten
years' growth 1" Allx reproached Mar
tin. "I I thought he might have hurt
himself 1" Cherry said, In the softest
of llttle-glrl voices, and with her shy
little bead banging. Anne decided
that It was becomln;; her clear duty
to talk to Cherry.
A few minutes later Allx, Peter and
Murtln left for the dally ceremony of
walking Into the village for the mall.
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 llvhiu room,
softened through all Its pni-t;t
Hhubblness Into real beauty by the
Bhufts of sunset red that came In
through the casement windows; and
was deliberating between various be
coming occupations for Martin
might walk back with the girls
when her uncle called her
"Aunt you weren't there when that
young chap tumbled. Hut I've been
worrying about It a little. There's no
QueBtlon there's no question that she
that Cherry called liliu by his
name, 'Martin,' sbu called him."
Anne had crossed to the shadowy
doorway ; she stood still
"You've not noticed anything be
tween him anil Cherry?" pursued the
doctor, "A girl might call a man by
hl name, I suppose '
"I don't think there has been any-
thing to notice," Anne stated, In a level
tone.
"Well, It must be stopped, If It has
bofrun," decided her uncle. "I can't
permit It I'd forgotten how the little
Witch grows I"
Again Anno was silent. She was
not III lovo with Martin Lloyd; she
xv b not as susceptible as tho much
yoinger Clierry, ami she bad not had
hlr urging to help her to a quick sur
render. Hut for tho llrst time In her
life she had seen an absolutely suit
ahlo man, a nun whose work, position,
looks, name and character lilted her
rather exacting standard, and for the
tfrst time she had let herself think
conliil
t.f being wooed and won.
And, standing In the doorway, she
tasted tho last bitter dregs of the
dream. It was all over. Anne was
at the age that sets twenty-five years
as the definite boundary of spinster
hood. She would be twenty-five In
August.
AJIx came in from her walk glow
ing, and full of a great discovery.
"Dad," she said eagerly, taking her
place at the supper table, "what do
you think 1 I'll bet you a dollar that
man Is falling In love with our
Cherry !"
Anne, at the head of the table,
looked pained, but there was genuine
apprehension In (he doctor's face.
"Where Is your sister?" be asked.
"Down there by the gate," Allx an
swered. "They're gazing soulfully Into
each other's eyes, and all that I Peter
went home. Hut Cherry with a beau !
Isn't Hint the ultimate extension of
the limit I I'm crazy about It I think
It's great. 1 love weddings! Tbls'U
be the third I've been to!"
"All this seems to have come up
very suddenly," the doctor said, dazed
ly, rumpling bis gray hair with a line
old hand. "I don't Imagine your sister
Is taking It as seriously as you and
Anne seem Inclined to "
"Oh, docs Anne think so!" Allx ex
claimed.
"I .think Cherry Is one of the foe
lunate girls destined to drift along
the surface of life," Anne said, "and
to accept wifehood quite shindy. I
only wish I were that type "
She was Interrupted by Cherry her
self. The girl came to the porch door,
and as she hesitated there n minute,
with her smiling eyes seeking her fa-
"Dad!" Said Cherry, "I've Brought
Martin to Supper."
tiler's face, they saw that ny one firm,
small hand she drew her lover beside
her. Martin Lloyd's smiling face
showed above hers In the lamplight.
"Dad!" said Cherry, with n childish
breath. "Dad! I've brought Martin
to supper 1"
CHAPTER III.
l'he three at the table did not move
for perhaps twenty slow seconds. Dr.
Strickland, who had pushed back his
chair, and whose hands were resting
on the tablu before him, stared at them
steadily. Anne, with a quick little
hiss of surprise, smiled faintly. Allx,
the unstllted, widened her eyes, and
opened her mouth In unaffected as
tonishment. For there was no mis
taking Cherry's tone.
"Doctor," said Martin, coining iu,
"this little girl of yours and I have
something to tell you I"
The old man looked at him sharply,
almost sternly, looked about at the
girls' faces, and was silent
"Are you surprised, Daddy?" Cherry
laughed, with all a child's Innocent
exultation, Tho next Instant Anne
and Martin were shaking hands, and
Allx had enveloped Cherry In an en
Ihuslastle embrace.
"Surprised 1" exclnlmed Allx. "Why,
aren't you surprised yourself?
Her sister Hushed exquisitely, and
Martin laughed
"We're Just about knocked silly!"
he confessed, and all the girls laughed
Joyously.
A place was made for Martin, nnd
biscuits and omelet and honey and
tea were put Into brisk circulation
Cherry took her chair, all dimples
Hushes, smiles, and shy confidence.
"And what are your plans?" Anno
asked maternally.
Her uncle, who had been silent dur
lug the excitement, mildly Interposed
"I think we needn't go too fast
young people I You've only known
each other a few weeks, after all ; you
must be pretty sure of yourselves be
fore taking anything like a decisive
step. Plenty of time plenty of time.
Mr. Lloyd here nnd I must hnve some
talks about his plans"
"I know exactly how you feel, Doc
tor," Martin said, sensibly and sym
pathetically. "I realize that I should
Imve come to you first, and .asked t"
pay my respects to your daughter. Kx
cept that It all came over me with
such n rush. A week ngo Cherry was
only a most attractive child, to me.
I'd spoken to my aunt about her and
had said that I envied the man that
was some day to win her, and that
was all ! Then the time enme for me
to get back to work and I found I
couldn't go I And then came last
night, when I begnji to sny good-byes,
and It happened I I know that you
all hardly know me, and I know thnt
Cherry Is pretty young to settle down,
but I think I can satisfy you, Doctor,
that you give her Into safe hands, and
I believe she'll never regret trusting
me I"
He had gotten to his feet as he spoke
nnd was holding the back of bis chair,
looking anxiously and eagerly Into the
old man's eyes.
"Well " said the doctor, touched,
In bis gentlest tone, "well! It bad
to come, perhaps. I can't promise her
to you very soon, Mr. Lloyd. Hut If
you both are willing to wait, and if
time proves this to be the real feel
ing, I don't believe you'll find me hard
on you !"
That's all I ask. slr" Martin said,
resuming his seat and his dinner. And
for the rest of the meal harmony nnd
guyoty reigned.
After dinner Cherry and Martin, In
all the ecstatic first delight of recog
nized love, went out to the wide front
porch, where there were wicker chairs,
under the rose vines. Allx alone
laughed at them as they went. Anne,
with n storm In her heart, played nois
ily on tho piano, and the doctor, after
giving the doorway where Cherry had
disappeared a wistful look, restlessly
took to his armchair and Ids book, In
such desolation of spirit as he had not
known since the dark day of her moth
er's death.
The next dny Allx and the engaged
pair walked up to Invite Peter to a
tennis foursome on the old Hllthcdnle
court. It was a Saturday, and as he
usually dined with them, or asked them
to dine with him on Snturday, they
were not surprised to find him busy
with a charconl burner, under the
trees, compounding a marvelous dish
of chicken, tomatoes, cream and mush
rooms.
"Stop your messing one second !"
Allx said, catching him by the arm.
"Congratulate these creatures they
they're going to be mnrrled ! Why
don't you congratulate them?"
Peter gave one long look at Mar
tin and Cherry, who stood laughing,
but a little confused nnd self-con
sclous, too, In the grassy path. With a
shock like death In his heart, he real
lzed that it was all over. Their pro
tectlon of her, their suspicions, had
come too late. Hllnd child that she
was, she was committed to this fnscl
nntlng and mysterious ndventure.
His face grew dark with a sudden
rush of blood. Hut he went to them
quickly and shook hands with Martin,
and was presently reproaching Cherry
for her secretlveness In his old, or
almost his old, way
He arranged thnt they were to play
the tennis here on his own courts, and
later dine with him, but under his
hospitality and under the golden beau
ty of the day It was all pain pnln
pain. It wns agony to see her with
him, beginning to taste the rapture of
love given and returned ; It was agony
to have the conversation return nl
ways to Martin and Cherry, to the
first love alTair. Peter felt that ho
could have killed this newcomer, this
thief, this usurper of the place that he
himself might have filled.
'Dad's always said he disapproved
of long engagements," Allx commented,
amusedly, "but you ought to hear him
now! This thing ho won't even on I
It an engagement It's nn understand
Ing, or a preference Is to be a pro
found secret, and Cherry's to be twen
ty-one before any one else but our
selves knows
Peter did not bear her. Thero was
beginning a little hope In his heart.
fllrls did not always fulfill their first
engagements; did not often do so, In
fact. The thing was a secret ; It might
well come to nothing, after all.
That was the beginning, and after
U, although It was arranged between
them all that nothing should be
changed, and thnt nobody but them
selves should share the secret, some
how life seemed different. Two or
three days after the momentous day
of the raising of the rose tree. Martin
Lloyd went to his mine at HI Nldo,
and the Interrupted current of life in
the brown bungalow supposedly found
its old groove
Hut nothing was the sumo. The doe
tor, In the first place, was more silent
and thoughtful than, the girls had ever
seen him before. Anne and Allx knew
that he was not happy about Cherry's
plans, If the younger girl did not. With
Allx only he talked of tho engage
ment, and she knew from his com
ments, his doubtful manner, that he
felt It to be a mistake. The ten years'
difference between Cherry and Martin
distressed him; ho spoke of It again
and again
Cherry was changed, too, and not
only In the expected and natural ways,
Allx thought. Her dally letter from
Martin, her new prospects, not only
Increased her Importance In tho other
girls' eyes, but Innocently Intlated her
own self-confidence. She had prom
ised to keep the engagement "or un
derstanding, or preference," a pro
found secret, hut this was Impossible.
First one Intimate friend and then an
other was allowed to gasp and ex
claim over the news. The time came
when Anne decided that it was uoi
"decent" not to 1st Martin's aunt know
of It, when all these other people
knew. FInnlly came a dinner to the
Norths', when Cherry's health was
drunk, and then the engagement pres
ents began to come In.
Her father only looked tenderly In
to the blue eyes and tightened hU
big arm protectlngly about the aJwvler
young shoulders. Hut he tia deeply
depressed. There was nothing to bo
said ngalnst young Lloyd. It was only
mused the doctor, aghast only
what ,was being done In the world
every day. Hut he wns stnggered by
the bright readiness with which nil
of them Cherry, Martin, the other
girls accepted the stupendous fact
thnt Cherry was to be married. '
She was quite frnnkly nnd delight
edly discussing trousseau now, too en
tirely absorbed In her own happiness
to see that the other girls had lives to
live as well as she.
"I got my cards yesterday," she
said one day. "I was passing the shop
mil I thought I might us well ! The
woman looked at me so queerly; she
said: 'Mrs. John Martin Lloyd. Are
these for your mother?' 'No,' I said.
'They're for mel' I wish you could
have seen her look. Martin says In
today's letter that he thinks people
She Was Delightedly Discussing Trous
seau Now.
will say I'm his daughter, and Allx
ho says that you are to conie up to
visit us, and we're going to find you
a fine husband ! Won't it be funny to
think of your visiting me! Oh, and
Anne did you see what Mrs. Fairfax
sent me? A great big glorious fur
coat! She snld I would need It up
there, and I guess 1 will! It's not
new, you know; she says It Isn't the
real present, but It can be cut down
nnd It will look like new."
And so on and on. The other girls
listened, sympathized and rejoiced, but
it was not always easy.
August brought Martin. He wns
delighted with his work In the El Nldo
mine, tho "Emmy Younger," and every
thing he had to say about It was
amusing and interesting. It wns still
In a rather chaotic condition, lie re
ported, but the "stuff" wns there, and
he anticipated a busy winter. He
wns to have a cottage, a pretty crude
affair, in n few weeks, right at the
mine.
"How does that listen, to you?" he
asked Cherry. She gave her father a
demure nnd Interrogntlve glance.
Martin, following it, Immediately sob
ered. ".lust what Is your position there?"
the doctor usked, pleasantly.
"A lltle bit of everything, now,"
Martin answered, readily and respect
fully. "Later, of course, I shall have
my own special work. At present I'm
doing some of the assaying and have
charge of the sluice-gang. They want
me to mnke myself generally useful,
make suggestions, take hold In every
way I"
"That's the way to get on," the old
er man sain, approvingly, unerry
looked admiringly, with all her heart
In her eyes, at her husband-to-be; the
other girls were Impressed, too. Mar
tin had not been with them more than
n few hours before the engagement
was openly discussed, and there were
constant references to Cherry's mar
riage. Somehow, n few days later, wedding
plans were In the nlr, and they were
all taking it for granted that Cherry
and Martin were to ho married almost
Immediately; In October, In fact. The
doctor at first persisted that the event
must wait until April, hut Martin's
reasonable Impatience and Cherry's
plaintive "Hut why, Daddy?" were too
much for him. Why, Indeed? Cher
ry's mother had been married at eight
een, when that mother's husband was
more than ten years older than Martin
Lloyd was now.
"Would yo let It go on, eh?" the
doctor asked, somewhat embarrassed,
one evening when he and Peter were
walking from the trnln tn the late
September twilight.
"This it the place, Haby
Girl; El Nido, and not much of
a place.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Persona Non Grcts.
Hanks "Did you ever nttenn uny of
Miss lUidd's 'nt-homes'?" Borelelgh
(siully) "No, hut I've uttenileil u good
iminy of her not ut huwoa." Boston
Transcript,
American
(Copy for This Department Supplied
the American Legion News Service.)
jg LEGION LEADER IN PARIS
Famous New Orleans Ace Heads
American Volunteers of French
Foreign Organization.
Edgar John Houllguy of New
Orleans, famous Ace of the Lafayette
Esquadrllle and
scion of nn old
French family
has been chosen
to head an nssocl
utlon of veterans
organized at
Paris and called
"American Volun
teers of the
French Foreign
Legion." When
Germany an
nounced Its Inten
tion of meeting
"ull comers," Uoullgny wus one of the
first Americans to volunteer his
services for France and was decorated
four times for bravery with the esqua
drllle. He Is a member of Alvin Cnl
lender post, American Legion.
Houllguy first served with the Second
regiment tf the French Foreign
Legion. When transferred to the
Lnfayette flyers, his Intrepid ma
neuvering over the enmy lines, eager
ness to engage any plane bearing the
tnaltese cross, contributed many of the
thrilling chapters which comprise the
history of that heroic group. He was
transferred to the American nlr
forces when this country entered the
fight nnd became an nee. He also
secured numerous remarkable photo
graphs, umong them being one of
enemy shells bursting over the Rhelms
cathedral during the first bombard
ment of this historic structure.
The organization of which Boullgny
Is president, Includes American volun
teers who enlisted In the enrly days
of the war, while their country wns
still neutral, and Is Intended to Include
"tho bonnfldo American citizens who
served honorably at the front with the
Legion, for the purpose of keeping
fresh the memory of fallen comrades
and furthering friendship among thoso
surviving."
BUSY FOR THE LEGION CAUSE
Head of Washington Woman's Aux
iliary Says Workers Will Not
Be Found Wanting.
Mrs. John K. Neely hns heen chosen
head of the Washington State Women's
Auxiliary of the
American Legion.
Born In Washing
ton, D. C, Mrs.
Neely later moved
to the stnte of
Washington where
she hns heen
active in club
work of Spokane
and the entire
stnte. She Is, In
addition to being
president of the
state Legion aux
iliary, head of the strong National
Guard auxiliary, the mother organiza
tion and president of St. John's guild.
She Is the mother of Ave children,
four sons nnd a daughter. One son
fought with tho Ninety-first division, A.
K. F. Another wns with the Twenty-
third engineers, A. K. P. A third wus
nn nvlntlon Instructor nt Kelly Field.
Texas, nnd Issodun, France. The
youngest fought with the embattled
Second division A. K. F.
"My work In the auxiliary will ho
n legacy from our beloved sons, who,
sleeping In the sncred soil of Frnnce,
have passed It on to the women of tho
American Legion," snld Mrs. Neely.
"It belongs to us by ties of blood. It
means n pledge of servlco to the
service men in the nnme of those they
left behind. In the holding of thnt
legacy. God helping, 'wo will not be
found wanting."
IS LEGION LEADER IN SOUTH
Florida National Committeeman
One of the Most Active
Workers in the State.
Is
Dr. David Forster, of New Smyrna,
Fla., who has heen re-elected national
committeeman of
tho American Le
gion from Florida,
Is ono of the Le
gion's lenders In
the South. lie
hns heen a nation
nl committeeman
since the first con
vention in 1010.
Doctor Forstor In
resident surgeon
of tho Forstef
sanitarium ut New
Smyrna. Ho wns
horn October 2-1, 1870, nt Fayette, Mo.
Ho received his enrly education thero
and his medical training nt St. Louis,
later doing postgraduate surgery In
large hospitals In tho United Stntes
nnd in Europe. He wns organizer and
(lrst chief physician of tho St. Louis
Maternity hospital at St. Louis, Mo.
Ho served In the medical corps during
thft war.
Sure.
Relief
6 Bell-ans
Hot water
Sure Relief
RE LL-ANS
Wr FOR INDIGESTION
FRECKLES gss
Nebraska Directory
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REPAIRS FURNACES and BOILERS
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leew.EDWARDSm.i.d.cl
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OMAHA'S PIONEER
HOTEL
HILL
Opened Sept. 1st, 1920
Omaha's Newest;
Most Modern
and Finely
Appointed Hotel
"Soft Water"
Sixteenth at Howard
Centrally Located
Moderate Rates
Room Without Bath 91 .50 and Up
Room With Bath S52.EO and Up
Paxton Hotel $2.00 and Up Doable
POPULAR PRIDED CAFE
Streetcars pass the door from all depots.
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Let Ua Make Your Next Auto Top, Seat Corera.
and Side Curtains, Alto Upholstering
Engdahl, The Auto Top Man
ENGDAIIL'S AUTO TOP CO., 1718 Cms St., Praia, Nth.
Quick Springand Wheel Service
Wheels for all cars or trucks made or re
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for GUARANTEED SPHINQS for all makes
of cars and trucks. Telephone or write us
your wants. Irnm-sdlate attention Riven all
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CONANT HOTEL, COMPANY
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Our reputation of 20 years fair dealing
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TENTS
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Get oar Prices. Thiy tra Rltht
American Tent and Awning Co.
JOth and Farnam Sts. Omaha
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DR. TODD
DENTIST
4th Fl. Barker BUViSth and
Farnam Sts., Omaha, Neb.
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Because they're rightly made."
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I77TCTTTH
