The circle banner., 1917-06-08
GEORGIAN SILVER
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

which might have conveyed diversity
of impressions upon any who noticed
But for the. enlightenment of the few
who knew not Alex, | shall explain
that he was quietest when most de-
lighted, and he was indeed thankful to
his hostess for putting him beside this
sweet little violet of humanity.
He drew a long breath and waited
for her to speak. He didn't know the
girl and he hoped she didn't know him.
Otherwise she might be like the 9TH
ers; overtalkative, unnatural. and apt
to overdo. He was too modest to ap-
preciate the fact that, as the best
catch in the matrimonial sea, he was
apt to be offered bait in generous guam
titles and of infinite variety.
Dorothy looked around the dining
room with wide eyes. then up at him
with smile. ST can't believe I'm
awake" she said.
MOP" 1t was an invitation to go
| on.
mo. They say that sometimes
wish is father to thought. Maybe
I've just wished for something like this
so often that now | think it's true.
Maybe I'm not here at all-only think
ing | am"
"What does it matter? Maybe I'm
thinking all this too"
ST was just thinking" she remarked
In the interval before the soup, 'that
It's a shame Bob couldn't be here. He'd
love it so. But Aunt Jane said he
couldn't come, that's all there was to
it. Aunt Jane said it was kind of Mrs.
Dexter to ask one of the poor Vir-
ginia relations without ringing in the
three of us. You see, there's Robert,
Stonewall and myself. The boys are
dears you ought to know them. Bob's
my twin"
HE must be a DEAR" ventured Alex.
She laughed, but colored neverthe-
less.
He changed the subject. ''Are you
fond of old silver?" he asked. I've
been admiring those Georgian candle
sticks. The pattern is very rare"
'Ive been collecting bits. here and
there" he went On. "No doubt you can
tell me some wonderful things about
old silver. Most Southerners can. But
one thing l have discovered for myself,
that Southerners may part with their
homes, their clothes, and even thes'
souls, but their silver-never. l know
where there are some splendid collec-
tions in the South, but you can't get
them"
Dorothy's appetite for food suddenly 1
disappeared. She laid down her fork |
and looked so distressed that Alex |
wondered what dreadful thing he had |
said.
81 want toto tell you," said the
girl finally, "where / happen to know
you may find a beautiful collection of
Georgian silver. 1t is at Berni's, on
Fifth avenue. 1t all came from one
family, and it seems to me the things
ought to stay together" Then sud-
denly and brightly. as if to put a dis
tasteful thought behind her. 'T wish
you could know Wally and Bob. Poor
Bobl"
"Why poor?"
"Oh, he loves nice things so. We
all dol But really meant it literally,
you know. We are poor, very. You
see that's why Pm" She stopped.
Virginia pride was uppermost. "Noth-
ing" she answered his eager inquiry.
81 thought I could tell you. but |
can't"
A painful flush had spread over her
face, and Alex had al uncomfortable
feeling that tears were near. Some
thing was giving this little girl great
deal of unhappineSs, he had discov-
cred, and suddenly he had a desire to
chase the clouds away from the seri-
Gus dark eyes. and to see the dimple
come and go in her lovely, smooth
cheek.
The next day he stopped in Berni's.
And there was Dorothy herself, hat
less, ceatless and I'm the plain black
garb of clerk. She eolored furiously
when she saw him.
Alex was puzzled. Was the story of
then, merely happy fiction.
to entertain a dinner
partner? If so, it was good. Good
afternoon" he said; ST understand
here was a fine collection of old
Georgian silver here. May / see it?"
"Certainlyp Dorothy led the way
70 a table on which was an array that
made Alex fairly jump with astonish-
nent.
"It's splendidl" he cried. Whose
vas it? Where did it come from? 1
lever saw anything like it."
''The silver is mine-all l have. But
he boys must go to school, and it
must go. 1 won't let anyone else sell
{. That was one stipulation l made
o Berni, that I must approve the pur-
haser. When anyone else comes
llong, l double-treble the price,"
"But l must have It'll Do you ap-
,rove of me?"
She nodded.
"But the collection isn't complete.
There is something else that will have
o go with 1t before ! take it,
"What is that?"
"You. I always know what want
and I could have told you