The Red Cloud chief., 1912-09-05
AN OLD SILVER LAMP
Love Note Ten Years Old Brought
to Light.
BY ALICE oRMOND.

Lethridge stepped into the hallway
OF the deserted house. Linen shroud.
ed the upholstery. dust lay velvety In
the corners. There was a faint odor
Of mildew. The house had been closed
since his grandmother's death, almost
nine years ago. When last he quit
ted the place. thought Lethridge. he
was q boy OF twenty-five. smooth.
checked. bright.eyed. surcharged with
enthusiasm. Now, after his nine busy.
successful years in the Orient. the
familiar surroundings brought poign'
antly to mind the change In himself
a change made up largely Of the re.
linQuishing. one by one. Of his boyish
dreams. How the old house brought
them back! These faded walls had
seen the destruction Of the bravest
dream Of them all Here II had met
It's death. and since then, absurdly
sentimental as II may seem. nothing
had quite filled the gap It left, moth
ing had made him forget II.
How the memory Of Polly Hayden
stayed with him. and yet he had not
seen her again since the farewell re-
ception given him here by his grand.
He had been almost confident. then,
that she cared for him. although there
was his old classmate. Wade Barrow,
who was regarded by onlookers as
having an equal chance with himself.
On learning Of the sudden luck
which was to send him on his ap.
pointment to Japan. I.ethridge had
gone to Polly and asked her to marry
him. II she would consent his plan
was to return for her in year. She
had hesitated at first-it was such
an important decision. she insisted.
and she wanted to be quite sure-but
she promised to give him his answer
the evening Of the reception. He had
gone away happy. full Of hope. And
then came the bitter disappointment.
Polly had come to the reception
how lovely she looked. he recalled
but very early she had gone away
with Wade Barrow without word OF
explanation. leaving no message. He
had been hurt. piqued. and had sailed
his heart.
Three months later a letter from
home told him OF Polly's approaching
marriage-to Barrow. Lethridge sent
her very beautiful print for wed.
ding present. received cordial note
in thanks, and that was all. Nothing
remained OF the friendship except q
haunting memory Of the girl.
Slowly he wandered through the
desolate rooms. reviving old and
sometimes painful recollections. Al
last he drifted into a little study al
the back Of the house and down in
worn leather armchair before a
library table. Over the center Of the
table was swung a Greek lamp ol
dull silver Lethridge looked up al
It with pleased recognition. II was
a graceful thing. He had always ad
mired It when he was a boy Perhaps
he would take II back with him.
He started into listening attitude
A step sounded in the hall. Who could
II be? There was not even a care
taker in the house. A shadow fell
across the doorway. Lethridge rose
with an astonished exclamation as a
slender. black.gowned woman ap
peared in the doorway and stopped
still with a frightened expression In
her purplish-gray eyes.
MRS. Barrow!" said Iethridge in
amazement.
Frank" There was no hesitation
In her use of the first name. II
had no idea you were in America
When did you reach homer"
Yesterday. I came straight over
to look at the old place. You know
II has been shut up since my grand.
mother died. which was Just after |
went away. But you? didn't
dream of seeing an old friend here
Mrs. Barrow looked . little embar.
rassed.
""I borrowed the keys from your
cousins" she said. II came to look
for something left here IA long
time ago"
~ see! Perhaps ! can help you
hnd It. suppose you've lived in New
York right along?"
Except for the last year and half
which I've spent roaming about Eu
rope. !. too. have Just come home
But tell me about yourself. How does
It feel to be famous?"
Lethridge shrugged his shoulders
I'm not conscious of any particular
thrills" he replied smiling.
you are married of course! IT.
stupid Of me to ask. but I've had little
news Of you lately"
Indeed. no. I've not even been in
love-"
mo? Surely you're Joking"
Not since the fair Polly Hayden
banished hope forever from my
breast" he answered lightly.
II! What do you mean BY thaty'
she inquired curiously.
why. the usual thing. You
haven't forgotten the last evenins
here. In this very houss-how you
we're to G1vo me an an0WAr IN n nan