The Press., 1911-09-20

''I never said wanted to marry Je- rome Barclay. I-I-can't bear him!' flashed Elsie. with unusual spirit.
 Mrs, Parsons turned a cold face to- ward her daughter. 'T thought it was understood" she said severely, "that you was to marry Jerome. He said he wouldn't take no for an answer, and he says you can keep hired help and you needn't do stroke of work If you don't want to. He can afford to have you live like lady. He left di'mond ring for you to wear, and he told me to fire ahead and get the clothes ready. He says he knows you will be ready. I don't want to inf1u- ence you. Elsie. but I've had to work so hard all my life it seems as if I couldn't have you let such a good chance go by" She looked appealing V at the mutinous face of her daugh- .er.
 "I wouldn't mind working hard for Jome folks" half sobbed the girl, turning her eyes away.
 Mrs. Parsons sighed and resumed ter picking of the dead leaves from the geraniums. "I didn't know that Rob had given you the chance to say yes or no," she said bitterly.
 ''Fiddlesticksr' sniffed Miss Alvaret- ta, with toss of her head. "I guess Rob and Elsie know whether they want to marry each other without any highfaluting talk about it. Rob Har- ris is poor, but he's smart as a whip and bound to make his mark in the world. He's got more ginger in his little finger than Jerome Barclay has in his whole lazy body. 1 don't be- lieve in interfering with other folk S business, and I shan't influence Elsie either way, but I think it's only fair she should have a chance. and here it is''
 Miss Alvaretta held out the bit of wedding cake in it's twist of paper and dropped it in her niece's outstretched hand. ''Elsie Parsons, you take that cake and put 1t under your pillow to- night If you dream about Rob Har- J II to marry him and nobody else. If you dream of anybody else reckon it's your duty to marry them whoever they are. There! I've got to be go- ing. Gamaliel will be wanting his milk"
 With a pressure of Elsie's hand and a defiant glance at the thin disap- of cfc Ixyo- retta marched out of the room.
 When she had disappeared through the aisles of leafless trees Mrs. Par sons turned around q hope you're not going to take any stock in that foolishness, Elsie"
 Mother, I'm going to have my chance" she said quietly. 'tI'I prom ise to abide by whatever I dream about tonight. If I dream about Je- rome Barclay I'll tell you the truth"
 ''I'll do the best I can by you. Elsie, whichever way you happen to dream," said Mrs. Parsons after a long pause.
 ''Thank you, mother" said Elsie, and then they talked of other matters and Elsie's lovers were not mentioned again that afternoon.
 After supper there came a scratching and moving at the side door, "It's Gamaliel." said Elsie as she arose to admit Miss Alvaretta's big black catsl ''I suppose he's come over to spend the night
 '"The most ungrateful critter that ever lived, remarked Mrs. Parsons as she placed a saucer of milk for the unexpected guest. "Alvaretta waits on that cat hand and foot and five nights out of the week he runs over here to sleep I shouldn't think you'd want him sleeping in your room. FL sic"
 While she undressed Elsie thought of the wedding cake and of what she might dream while it's magic lay so near her head. but she forgot it after all until she was about to step into bed. Then she groped in the darkness and found the twisted bit of paper on the bureau and tucked it under her pillow.
 She thought consistently of Jerome Barclay, while she tried to banish him from her mind, and so she fell asleep and dreamed of him-clear, vivid dreams of automobile rides around the country and into the ad- jacent cities as Jerome Barclays wife; dreams that were so real that she re- membered every detail of each one when she awoke to realization that her test had failed to grant her hearts desire. Not once had she even thought of Rob Harris in the misty land of dreams.
 Gamaliel yawned sleepily on his cushion and bounced off indignantly IS the door was cautiously pushed open and Mrs. Parsons face was thrust in.
 well. Elsie. what did you dream" she asked. with assumed lightness.
 Elsie sat up in bed and swept the ,air hair back from her dejected face. | T dreamed of Jerome Barclay, moth IT," she said heroically. "So I'll mar