The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-03-10
GEORGIAN SILVER
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

Alex looked down at the little gil
beside him with a calm, quiet scrutin
which might have conveyed diversit
| of impressions upon any who noticed
But for the enlightenment of the fey
who knew not Alex, | shall explain
that he was -quietest when most de
lighted. and he was indeed thankful t.
his hostess for putting him beside thi
sweet little violet of humanity.
He drew long breath and waited
for her to speak. He didn't know thu
girl and he hoped she didn't know him
Otherwise she might be like the 9th
ers; overtalkative, unnatural, and ap
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. II can't believe I'm
| awake" she said.
"No?" It was an invitation to go
on.
"No. 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"
II was just thinking" she remarked
in the interval before the soup, that
It's shame Bob couldn't be here. he'd
love 1t 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 DEAR" ventured Alex.
She laughed, but colored neverthe-
less.
He changed the subject. Are you
fond of old silver?" he asked. "Tve
been admiring those Georgian candle
sticks. The pattern is very rare"
"I've 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 have discovered for myself,
that Southerners may part with their
homes, their clothes. and even their
souls. but their silver-never. l know
where there are some splendid cOllec-
lions 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.
81 want toto tell you," said the
girl finally. where l 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, 81 wish |
you could know Wally and Bob. Poor
Bob!"
"Why poor?"
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 l could tell you. but |
can't"
painful flush had spread over her
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 desire to
chase the clouds away from the seri-
ous 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
ess. coatless and In the plain black
yarb of a clerk. She colored furiously
when she saw him.
Alex was puzzled. Was the story of
Virginia, then, merely a happy fiction,
to entertain a dinner
If so. it was good "Good
afternoon" he said; 81 understand
here was a fine collection Of old
Georgian silver here. May l see it?"
Certainly" Dorothy led the way
o table on which was an array that
made Alex fairly jump with astonish-
nent.
ITS splendid |" he cried. Whose d
vas it? Where did it come from?
lever saw anything like it."
1.-THE silver is mine-aIl l have But
he boys must go to school, and it
must go. won't let anyone else sell
t. That was one stipulation l made
o Berni. that l must approve the pur-
haser. When anyone else comes
long, | double-treble the price,"
"But l must have It'll Do you ap-
rove of me?"
She nodded.
"But the collection isn't complete.
here is something else that will have
0 go with it before | take it,"
"What is that?"
"You. l always know what | want