Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-07-19

going to catch It." he grlnned to HIM
self humorously, as he passed on,
from that spoiled darling of the rich"
And Miss Wedgewood's temper was
not soOthed by the little Jap servant
who informed her that Mains
not be in until two o'clock. 1t was an
outrage. 1t was his business to be In.
However, she was determined to see
him, and she went back promptly at
two o'clock.
1t was said Of Mains that nothing
could surprise him, but he was sur
prised when Irene Wedgewood was
ushered into his studio that afternoon.
"Why-why,' she caught herself
saying, you're the man l ran down
this morning."
"And you were terribly angry e
you did it," laughed Mains.
Irene W~edgewood smiled up into
Mains eyes, engagingly. "Tve come
toto persuade you, Mr.. Mains, to
persuade you toto reconsider, ana
undertake the furniture for my music
room. I'm Irene Wedgewood, and Mr..
Howard Colby is my architect"
Eyes, Colby spoke Of that yester-
day." said Mains. lawfully sorry, you
know, but 1 don't operate a furniture
factory, Miss Wedgewood-just a lit
tie shop down below Eighth 1
only employ twenty men, although
they're the highest paid artisans in h
world. I'm sure you understand that
If l do not restrict my output its value
will deteriorate. l really cannot I'M
dertake any more work for a long
time"
But she was paying little attention
to what he was saying as she moved
about the room eagerly touching this
piece and that, wondering and ex-
claiming over the loneliness of his
things.
"And you made them ALI" she
asked.
"Yes, most Of these are originals;
made by my own hands," he smiled
81 have other things here. Would you
like to see them?"
I'D love to-" said the once naughty
Miss Wedgewood.
And he led her down the hall where
there were other rooms containing odds
and ends of Mains-Made things. But
just then came a man who must be
seen, and Mains excused himself and
left her to roam about as she chose.
Ten minutes later he returned, to find
her in the back room, where was b
o~rangewood boudoir set. She had flung
her hat away and was sitting before
the dressing table where the afternoon
sun streamed through the window.
Mains was startled to see her there,
for he usually kept this room locked.
These things were sacred to Mains,
and not for the eyes of the casual OBJ
server, but when he caught the picture
of her there as her regal young head
dropped slightly under the weight Of
the halo of her pale bright hair, he
stopped in the doorway.
"You are the first woman" he said,
softly, who has ever looked on these
things
'Oh, I'm sorry" she glanced up
startled, and arose contritely. They
they are the loveliest things I've ever
seen."
Eyes" he said, looking down into
her eyes, 81 wanted them to be. For
seven years I've been making them,
bit by bit, in my little shop upstairs
making them, you know, for the dream
girl who might some day be foolish
enough to-love me-" He smiled visit
fully.
"She would have-have to be a very
wonderful dream-girl to be worthy OF
of such thoughtfulness and-and
sense of beauty said Irene Wedge
wood, as she stepped hesitantly past
him into the hall. And a few moments
later she left, the original intention Of
her visit to Mains completely forgot
ten.
Two months later when Irene
Wedgewood went out to superintend
the arrangement of the furnishings of
her new house, she found a certain or
ange-wood boudoir set already I'M
packed in the room adjoining her bed
room. For an instant she held her
hands over her surprised eyes and
then looked again. Star-eyed and with
flaming cheeks she ven to the tele-
phone, before when Sne SAT TOT some
moments in deep thought, then sud-
denly she changed her mind, for she
slipped into her coat and drove her car
furiously back to town.
At five that afternoon she entered
Mains studio rather breathlessly.
"Pve come" demurely said the once
imperious Miss Wedgewood, ito pay
for-for the boudoir set"
Mains smiled down into her eyes,
standing close. at vas a fancy Of
mine to send it. You were the first
woman to see it, and-and so were en-
titled to have 1t. It's value isis en-
tirely other than fnancial-so you see.
money cannot pay for it"
II didn't mean money" A tear
-r.---l 9o--, ha. ahaoE ST thnnOhf-