Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-10-09
GEORGIAN SILVER
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

| Deslue MIN Win n calm, quiet scrutiny
which might have conveyed a 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 q
his hostess for putting him beside thi'
sweet little violet OF humanity.
He drew a long breath and waite
for her to speak. He didn't know N
girl and he hoped she didn't know him
Otherwise she might be like the otL
ers; overtalkatlve. unnatural, and apr
to overdo. He was too modest TO apl
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 dlningI
room with wide eyes, then up at himl
with a smile. II can't believe TmI
awake" she said.
"NoT It was an invitation to go
| on.
"NO. They say that sometimes a
wish is father TO thought. Maybe
I've Just wished for something like this
so often that now l think it's true.
Maybe I'm not here at all-Only think
ing l am"
"What does It matter7 Maybe I'm
thinking all this too"
81 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 lsi ow them. BOb's
my twin"
"He must be a dear," ventured Alex.
She laughed, but eoIored 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"
"Pve been collecting bits here and
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 sllver-never. 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
81 want toto tell you" said the
girl finally, "where | happen to know
you may find a beautiful collection Of
Georgian silver. II is at Berni's, on
Fifth avenue. II 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 dis
tasteful thought behind her, II wish
you could know Wally and Bob. Poor
Bob"
"why poor1"
"Oh, he loves nice things so. We
all dol But really meant 1t literally,
You know. We are poor, very. You
see that's why I'm" She stopped.
Virginia pride was uppermost. Moth
Ing" she answered his eager inquiry.
II thought I could tell you. but I
can't"
A painful flush had spread over her
face, and Alex had an uncomfortable
feeling that tears were near. Somes
thing was giving this little girl a great
deal of unhappiness, he had discop-
cred, and suddenly he had a desire to
chase the clouds away from the sef-
Gus dark eyes, and to see the dimplS
come and go in her lovely. smooth
cheek.
The next day he stopped in BernI'G
And there was Dorothy herself, hat
less coatless and in the plain black
garb Of a clerk. She cOlored furlously
when she saw him.
Alex was puzzled. Was the story Of
Virginia, then, merely a happy fiction,
s H s:Srsd to entertain 2 dinner
partnerI n SO, Il was good. Good
afternoon" he said: 81 understand
there was q nDe collection of old
Georgian silver here. May I see tips
Certainly" Dorothy led the way
to table on which was an array that
made Alex fairly jump with astonish-
ment.
Its splendidi" he cried. who's
was 1T Where did II come fromf ID
never saw anything like It,"
The silver is mine-all have. But
the boys must go to school, and Il
must 60. won't let anyone else sell
t. That was one stipulation I made
70 Berni. that must approve the pur-
;nAser. When anyone else comes
llong. 1 double-trebls the prieA"
But must have IL Do you APP
prove of mel"
h..