Smyrna times., 1908-11-11
THE BLUE
BOWL.
By TEMPLE BAILEY.
Copyrighted 1908, by Associated

lleI SululuS DlONu uelI' ne DSCduS dl
once u worshiper at the shrine of old
china-and of Clarice
1.-The Claibornes are as poor aSchurch |
MICE" his landlady informed him when |
he asked about the people who lived |
in the gray mansion on the hill. The |
neighbors roundabout here don't think |
that Clarice and her aunt have enough |
to eat, and yet they won't sell a thing.
And they've got some old furniture
that they could get most any price
for. and their china-why, one man Of
fered old Miss Claiborne 5000 for a
blue bowl, and she wouldn't take it,"
Il wonder if l could see it?" Beverly
asked. thinking of the girl at the gate.
Maybe" said his landlady doubtful
ly. "They don't care to meet many
people. They used to have money, and
now that they haven't the old lady
shuts herself up there and Miss Clarice
doesn't see anybody"
But Beverly was not to be daunted,
and three days later he knocked at
the Claiborne front door,
Clarice answered the knock She was
even more beautiful than the first time
Beverly had seen her in a faded gown
of pink gingham.
81 beg pardon" Beverly said, "but
my landlady has told me of b0wl-a
blue BOWL am interested in old china
and hoped l might see it."
Clarice looked at him gravely.
Its not for sale" she said. "and l
am not sure that you can even look at
it. I'll have to ask Aunt Matilda"
"Of course" Beverly agreed prompt
ly, land if you don't mind I'll sit on
the porch while l wait and look at the
view. It's wonderful. You must be
able to see three states"
1--WE can," Clarice said slowly, "and
that's the worst of it,"
He looked at her in surprise.
Don't you like the view?" lie de-
manded.
r. 81 hate it, she said vehemently. ITS
dreadful to look out into the world
and then to be shut up-here"-
Then she blushed hOtly.
"Oh l beg pardon" she said. 81
shouldn't have said that l forgot l
was speaking to a stranger"
you are not speaking to stranger,
Beverly told her "Just think for a mo-
ment that I am a long lost brother or
the ancient mariner or anybody that
you'd have a right to tell your troubles
to. Why, l feel as if know you better
than any girl I've ever met, and YET
we have seen each other only ten min
utes."
Clarice sighed. 81 feel that way
too" she admitted. 'but-nOw I'd bet
ter go and ask Aunt Matilda"
When she came down her cheeks
were flaming.
"She says you can't see it" she sale
mournfully.
"Oh. can't I?' Beverly's tone wa:
stubborn. 'Well. l shall see it-an(
you-as often as WISH
Clarice shook her head. You don
know Aunt Matilda" she said hope
lessly.
81 know her kind" Beverly stated
81 used to read about dragons ant
wicked stepmothers and godmothers fl
my fairy books and of beautiful prin
cesses shut up in castles. This will
simply be bringing it up to date. And
while I'm not sure that will fulfill al
the requirements of Prince Charming
I'll do my best"
Clarice gave him a flashing glance.
"Oh. I'm sure she began. and the
the smile frOze as a voice came frOr
above
"Clarice, Clarice." it said. "eome u
at once"
"Its Aunt Matilda Clarice said i
a frightened tone and vanished.
Beverly bore himself jauntily as h
went down the walk. What was a mer
aunt TO stand in the way of his inter
tiOns? He was thirty two, rich, and b
had waited all these years to find tn
ideal woman. And here in this quit
town where he had come to rest and t
fish he had discovered her. and h
should marry her in spite of any oil
aunt dragon.
But as the days went on he foun
! that it was not an easy thing to col
J Quer Aunt Matilda. In the first plac
he could not meet her. She was as il
/ visible as a witch. and. except for ht
voice calling Clarice from behind tn
window curtain whenever Beverl
stopped at the gate there was no tai
. gible evidence that she existed at all
"You see, 1t doesn't do a bit of GOO
i for you TO keep coming" C!arice tol
o him desperately one morning when 81
met him on the way to the postOfIic
''She always calls me away. and the
she scOlds and scOlds. She says
haven't any pride" And her lips qui
cred.
"If l dared ask you to meet II
somewhere" Beverly said. "but
course it wouldn't do"
NO." Clarice said, II couldn't
that-and-yOu see, Aunt Matilda ge
crazier and crazier over her old chiI
and she ought to sell it. We haver
enough to be comfortable-we haven
- always enough to eat"
"Oh, by Jovey' Beverly said.
can't have her starving you. "
know"