Smyrna times., 1917-02-28
GEORGIAN SILVER
BY LOUISE OLIVER.


which might have conveyed a diversity |
or 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 a smile. 81 can't believe I'm
awake" she said.
mop" 1t was an invitation to go
on.
mo. They say that sometimes a
wish is father to a 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"
81 was just thinking" she remarked
in the interval before the soup, "that
if,c ho noI hr
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. "Pve
been admiring those Georgian candle
sticks. The pattern is very rare"
''Tve 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 their
souls, but their Silver-never. I know
where there are some splendid collec-
tiOns in the South. but you can't get
them"
DOrothy's appetite for food Suddenly
disappeared. She laid down her fork
and looked so distressed that Alex
wondered what dreadful thing he had
said.
II 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, II wish
you could know Wally and Bob. Poor
BObw
"Why pOOr?"
"Oh, he loves nice things so. We
all do! But / really meant it literally,
you know. We are poor, very. You
see that's why I'm" She stopped
Virginia pride was uppermOst. ''NOth-
ing" she answered his eager inquiry
81 thought 1 could tell you, but
can't"
A painful flush had spread over heI
face, and Alex had an uncomfortable
feeling that tears were near. Some
thing was giving this little girl a great
deal of unhappiness, he had discOv
cred, and suddenly he had a desire tC
chase the clouds away from the seri
GUS dark eyes, and to see the dimplt
come and go in her lovely, smooth
cheek.
The next day he stopped in Berni's
: And there was Dorothy herself, hat
less, coatless and in the plain blacl
garb of a clerk. She colored furiouslI
when she saw him.
Alex was puzzled. Was the story o.
Virginia, then, merely a happy fiction
manufactured to entertain a dinne
partner? If so, it was good. "GooC
afternoon" he said; 81 understand
there was a fine collection of oil
Georgian silver here. May 1 see it.?
Certainly" Dorothy led the wa.
to table on which was an array tha
made Alex fairly jump with astonish
ment.
"Its splendid" he cried. "Whos
was it? Where did 1t come from?
never saw anything like it."
'The silver is mine-all have. Blu
the boys must go to school, and
must go. won't let anyone else sci
it. That was one stipulation I mad
to Berni, that must approve the pun
chaser. When anyone else come
along, double-treble the price,"
'But 1 must have it. Do you az
y prove of me?"
= She nodded.
"But the collection isn't complete