Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 March 1917 — GEORGIAN SILVER [ARTICLE]

GEORGIAN SILVER

By LOUISE OLIVER.

Alex looked down at the little girl beside him with a calm, qfiiet scrutiny which might have conveyed a diversity of impressions upon any who noticed. But for the enlightenment of the few who knew not Alex, I shall explain that he was quietest when most delighted, and he was indeed thankful to his hostess for putting him beside this sweet little violet of humanity.' ' He dreyy a long breath and waited for her to speak. He didn’t know the girl and he hopeffishe didn’t know hiin. Otherwise sin- might be like the others ; overtulkative, unnatural, and apt to overdo. He was too modest to appreciate the fact that, as the best ctf.tch i n th e ma tr i i i.toni aI < sea, he Was apt to he offered bait in generous quantities ami </f jniinite varieiy. Dorothy looked around the dining room with wide eyes, then up mt him with a smile.; “I can’t believe I'm awafce,” she said. “No?” It was an invitation to go on. '

“No. They say that sometimes a wish is father to a thought. Maybe I’ve just wished for something like this so #ften th*C now 1 think it’s true. Maybe I’m not here at all —only thinking I am.” - "What does it matter? Maybe I’m thinking all this too.” “I was just thinking.” she remarked in the interval before the soup, “that It’s a shame Bob couldn’t be here. He’d love it so. But Aunt Jane said he couldn’t come, that’s all there was to it. Aunt. Jane said it was kind of Mrs.. Dexter to ask one of the poor Virginia relations without ringing in the three of us. . You see, there’s Robert, and myself. The boys are dears; you ought to know them. Bob’s my twin.”

“He must be a dear," ventured Alex. She laughed, but colored nevertheless. He changed the subject. “Are you fond of old silver?” he asked. “I’ve been admiring those Georgian candlesticks. The pattern is very rare.” “I’ve been collecting bits here and there,” be went on. “No doubt you can tell me some wonderful about old s< gilver. Most Southerners can. But one thing I have discovered’for myself, that Southerners may part with their homes, their clothes, and even their souls, but their silver —never. I know where there are some splendid collections in the South, but you pan’t get them."

Dorothy’s appetite for food suddenly disappeared. She laid down her fork and looked so distressed that Alex wondered what dreadful thing he had said. “I want to —-to tell you,” said the girl final Iy, “where ’ I "happen to know you may find a beautiful collection of Georgian silver. It is at Berni’s, on Fifth avenue. It all came from one family, and it seems to me the things ought to stay together.” Then suddenly?and brightly, as if to put a distasteful thought behind her, “I wish you could know Wally and Bob. Poor Bob!” * . . “Why poor?” “Oh. he loves nice things so. We all do! But I really meant it literally, you -know. We are poor, very. You see that’s why I’m—” , She stopped. Virginia pride was uppermost. “Nothing,” she answered his eager inquiry. “I thought I could tell you, but I can’t.” A painful flush had spread over her face, and Alex had an uncomfortable feeling that tears were near. Something was giving this little girl a great deal of unhappiness, he had discovered. and suddenly he had a desire to chase ihe clouds away from the serious dark eyes, and to see the dimple come and >go in her lovely, smooth

cheek. - • . . " The next day he stopped in Berni’s. And there was Dorothy herself, batless, coatless and in the plain black garb of a clerk. She colored furiously when she saw him. Alex was puzzled. Was the story of Virginia, then, merely a happy fiction, manufactured to entertain a dinner partner? If so, it was good. “Good afternoon,” he said; “I understand there was a fine collection of old Georgian silver here. May I see it?” “Certainly I” Dorothy led the way to a table on which was an array that. ( made Alex fairly jump with astonishment, ' "It’s splendidl” he cried. “Whose was it? Where did it come from? I never saw anything like it.” “The silver is mine—all I have.- But the boys must go to school, and it must go. I won’t let anyone else sell it. That was one stipulation I made to Berni, that I must approve the purchaser. When anyone else comes along, I double—treble the price.” “But I must have it I Do you approve of me?”

She nodded. “But the collection isn’t complete. There is something else that will have to go with it before I take it.” “What is that?” “You. I always know what I want instantly, and I could have told you that last, night. You’re -the loveliest girl I’ve ever known.” He reached for her hand. Dorothy did not draw it away, but Instead a deep, steady light datVned in her eyes and the dimple Alex so longed to see appeared in her cheek. “I wonder if this is ready true, or if I’m just thinking it is,” she said. “I hope it’s true for us both,” he whispered. ~~