Smyrna times., 1911-09-27

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 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. don't be
lieve in interfering with other folks
business, and l shan't influence Elsie
either way. but l think it's only fair
she should have a chance. and here
it is
Miss Alvaretta held out the bit OF
wedding cake in its twist of paper and
dropped it in her niece outstretched
hand. Elsie Parsons. you take that
cake and put it under your pillow to-
night. If you dream about Rob Har-
ris you can take it that it's your fate
to marry him and nobody else. II
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-
proving back of her sister, Miss Alva-
retta marched out of the room.
When she had disappeared through
the aisles of leafless trees Mrs. Par
sons turned around. Il hope you're
not going to take any stock in that
foOlishness, Elsie"
Mother, I'm going to have my
chance" she said quietly. ''I1 prom
Use to abide by whatever 1 dream
about tonight. If l dream about Je-
rome Barclay I'll tell you the truth"
'I'll do the best 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 mewing at the side door Its
Gamaliel." said Elsie as she arose to
admit Miss Alvaretta's big black cat
81 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. 1 shouldn't think you'd
want him sleeping in your room, FL
sie.''
While she undressed Elsie thought
of the wedding cake and Of what she
might dream while its magic lay so
near her head, but she forgot it after
7lluntil 'salJ was ;. about to step into
bed Then she grOpelad in the darkness
and found the twisted bait of paper OF
the bureau and tucked it unG5.ar~9r
pillow.
She thought persistently of jerome
Barclay, while she tried to Danish him
from her mind, and so she fell asleep
and dreamed of him-clear, vivid
dreams of automobile rides around the
surrounding 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 a 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 yaYned sleepily on his
cushion and bounced off Indignantly
as 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
fair hair back from her detected face.
81 dreamed of Jerome Barclay, moth
err" she said heroically. $50 I'll mar
ry him just as l said would"
Mrs. Parsons advanced into the room
and picked up a scrap Of paper from
the floor. whats this?" she asked.
"What did you do with the cake. FL
sie?"
The girl stared and then slipped her
hand hastily under the pillow and
drew forth a screwed up piece of pa
per. Here it is-nO-why. mother, l
made a mistake and put curl paper
under the pillow instead of the wed
ding cakew The color came into her
cheeks and her eyes danced as they
had not done In months She was
getting some of her old time spirit
back. There isn't any charm about
dreaming on a curl paper, is there,
mOther?" she asked demurely.
mo. there isn't" said Mrs. Parsons
shortly. ''Elsie. believe that CANA
liel ate that cake. See, this is the pa
per with a few crumbs left in it I
found it near his cushion. Therel
See him eat the rest of ity' She look
ed resentfully at Gamaliel as he swal-
lowed the remaining crumbs and Lick
ed his lips appreciatively.
Il forgot to say, Elsie, that Rob
Harris is downstairs waiting to see
! you. He says he can't go till he does.
expect your Aunt Alvaretta had
something to do about getting him
over here. He looks powerfully wor-