The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-10-03
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
TIE HOUSE OF DREAMS.
BY Annie Henrichsen.

by Annie Henrichsen.
A torpedo, hurled with the full force
OF round, tanned arm, struck the
elephants die and exploded A show
or of torpedoes followed the first one
a dozen young men and women push
+ q through the crowd at the curb to
hurl their noisy missiles at the ele-'
phant The great animal, the star al
traction of the circus parade, logged
has way along the street undisturbed
by the bombardment.
The girl who had thrown the first
torpedo was leading the bombarders.
y he crowd on the sidewalk was laugh
ing and cheering. The FRANKS of the
residents of the summer colony OF
Lakemoore were the chief joy of the
permanent inhabitants of the village.
The leader of the orpedo throwers
ran down the street crashing her mis-
siles against the unconcerned elephant.
A torpedo flew from her hand and
exploded at the feet of n man stand
ing at the edge of the sidewalk.
The girl turned to see where her
torpedo had struck. The man was
looking at her with amusement and
curiosity. Her merry face sobered.
The box Of torpedOes in her hand drop
ped TO the ground. One of the men
Ran her party picked it up and handed
Ut to her. But she shook her head.
turned from the bombarded elephant
and the man watching her from the
sidewalk and disappeared in the crowd.
AT one Of the summer cottages Grace
Audrey met Ralph Norman.
I'VE have seen each other before"
Norman remarked.
NT;e-
elevated. There was a supercilious
note in her voice.
Il saw you circus day at the pa
rade"
rs it possible?'' she asked, indiffer-
emily.
Two weeks later Ralph Norman was
Pei. ~ { 1T '"9 summer no
All morning he and Grace Audrey
had been sailing in her boat. Norman,
who had been sitting in the stern of
the boat, left his seat to adjust the
sail. A sudden puff of wind struck
the sail The boat tipped far over and
Norman was in The water
Grace pulled down the sail and the
boat stopped. But Norman was not
swimming. Once h erose to the sur
race. Then he sank again. Grace
caught up the oars and rowed the boat
toward him. AS he rose a second time
she saw that his eyes were closed.
she jumped into the water, caught
) him by the collar of his coat and drew
him to the boat. With one hand she
hedl his head above the water, with
the other she chung to the boat. Peo-
pie on the shore had seen the acct
denc, and several boats were coming
toward them.
A nhour later Grace and Norman
sat on the beach at Lakemoore. They
wore dry clothes, and Norman's head,
which had been struck as he fell from
the boat, was bandaged.
You will have to marry me-" Nor
man said decidedly. When a woman
saves mans life she always marries
him. 1--WE loved you since the first
time i saw you. You weer throwing
torpedoes a an elephant and"
And you loved me because l was
acting like a spoiled tomboy." The
girls face was white; her hands were
clenched. Il shall never marry YOU.
Please-please don't speak to me again
OF your love for me. 1 can't stand it.
l won't listen"
That afternoon Grace Audrey walk
ed through the streets of summer
homes, past the villages and out into
the country. A mile from the village
she came to house which stood back
from the road. 1t was a large, ramb-
ling house, with wide verandas. Vines
grew over the verandas and roses
climbed 20 the wondows. GIaiestic old
trees spread their great branches over
the house and made a thick shade on
the green lawn. There was no sign
Of human life about the place
Grace sat down on an old bnch in
corner Of the veranda. Long, goldr-
en- lances thrown by the setting sun
lay across the lawn. Occasionally a
BIRDS bedtime chirp broke the silence.
Grace, what brings you here?"
Ralph Norman stood beside the We
randa.
What brings you?' she retorted.
This house is empty. No one lives
here. 1 came here because-be-
cause"
He drew himself over the railing
and sat down near her. Tell me.
Grace, why YOU the here. Give me the
real reason"