Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-05-31
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
bine years ago. When last he quit
ted the place, thought Lethridge, he
was 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 backl These faded walls had
seen the destruction of the bravest
dream of them all Here 1t had met
Its death, and since then, absurdly
sentimental as It may seem, nothing
had quite filled the gap 1t left. moth
ing had made him forget 1t.
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.
mother on the eve Of his departure.
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, Lethridge 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 flrst-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
next day with a miserable load on
his heart.
Three months later q letter from
home told him of Polly's approaching
marriage-to Barrow. Lethridge sent
her a very beautiful print for a wed.
ding present, received cordial note
in thanks, and that was all. Nothing
remained of the friendship except o
haunting memory of the girl.
Slowly he wandered through the
desolate rooms. reviving old and
sometimes painful recollections. At
last he drifted into a little study at
the back of the house and down In
a worn leather armchair before a
library table Over the center Of the
table was swung a Greek lamp OF
dull silver. Lethridge looked up OF
1t with pleased recognition. II was
a graceful thing. He had always ad'
mired 1t when he was boy. Perhaps
he would take It back with him.
He started into listening attitude.
A step sounded in the hall. Who could
It be? There was not even a care
taker in the house. A shadow fell
across the doorway. Lethridge rose
with an astonished exclamation as
slender, black-gowned woman ap.
peared in the doorway and stopped
still with a frightened expression in
her purplish-gray eyes.
MRS. Barrow!" said Lethridge 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. 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-7 didn't
dream OF seeing an old friend here"
Mrs. Barrow looked a little embar.
raised
IT borrowed the keys from your
cousins" she said II came to look
for something left here "a long
time ago"
81 seel Perhaps can help you
find It. I suppose you've lived in New
York right along7"
Except for the last year and half,
which I've spent roaming about Eu.
rope I, too, have Just come home.
But tell me about yourself. How does
II feel to be famous?"
Lethridge shrugged his shoulders
I'm not conscious Of any particular
thrills" he replied smiling
you are married, of course7 It's
stupid OF me to ask, but I've had little
news Of you lately"
Indeed, no. I've not even been in
love"
Nor 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 that9"
she inquired curiously.
why, the usual thing. You
haven't forgotten the last evening
here, in this very house-how you
we're to give me an answer to a per-
tinent question I had asked you
WE'LL got my answer and stepped
aside That was all"
you got my answer"
THE most conclusive kind. You
went of before I could get a word
with you alone, went with the man
you really preferred and left no mes
sage. By the way, was It that you
dreaded TO infict the wound OF tell
ing me the truth, face to face? I've
always wondered"
She was staring at him, wide-eyed,
one hand grasping the edge Of the
table.
Then It is trusi You never got