Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-08-18
Day Dreams
BY GEORGE E. COBB

1t was as if she possessed the treas
ure of the world that Olive Morse
kissed little square box she had just
received by mail. There was haste, a
futtering excitement in face and man.
ner, as II the act was stealthy and
guilty, and evidently harsh call had
something to do with her precipitancy.
Olive FASTENED downstairs to confront
her spinster aunt, Selma Brooks, sour,
chilling, severe as usual.
did you get some mail?" challenged
Miss Brooks peremptorily.
'Yes, aunt" replied Olive. 1T was
a letter from my old school chum, Net
ia Deane. She has married Warren
Nagel."
about time, should think =" snap
ped Aunt Selma. ''Been engaged for
three years. Well, don't let that put
any nonsense in your head. am going
TO pass the day with Mrs. Wadhams."
Olive suppressed sigh of relief.
Her hand lovingly caressed that little
box through the folds of her dress.
She had not told her aunt that a letter
was not all that the postman had
brought. She could scarcely repress
her joy at realizing that she was TO
have full day to herself. AS she
thought Of the letter Meta had writ
ten her and the box and its Enclosure
che nntiofv,of Ix,n f11nl
with girlish dreams Of romance.
Olive had received her first piece Of
wedding cake, for it was that the box
contained. She longed for Aunt Selma
to depart whilst she might hasten to
favorite nook in the woods, where she
could read and reread that gushing
letter. so full of Joy and hope. It was
spot inclosed with vines-a veritable
lady's bower and one where she
was sure to be free from intrusion,
where she could rebose on the most
veivety Of green swards and dream the
blissful hours away.
Olives correspondence with her girl
hood friend was the only variation in
an otherwise bleak and dreary exist
e1sce- Shut out from social pleasures
Of every kind, she had lived n fancy
and sympathy the existence Of Meta,
following step BY step the events in
the experience of her friend and long
ing for the actual companionship Of
the outside world that seemed so sun
shiny and sweet. When her aunt had
gone Olive put on her outing cap and
crossed the meadow in the direction of
the woods. Her eyes were bright, her
cheekssng as she reached the Sc
rquestered spot where she had spent
so many peaceful hours weaving the
day dreams that had become radiant
part Of her life.
Olive sat down on a little knoll in
her sheltered hideout and read over
the letter that told of her dear friends,
wedding. Then she uncovered the box,
carefully folded back the paper lace
surrounding the dark rich square Of
cake, broke off corner and laughed
outright 'as the old-fashioned cenceit
came to her mind that if she would
make pillow of her apron and place
the box under 1T and dream on the
cake her future husband would come
to her in rs! her sleep:
Insensibly she drifted into somewhat
filmy visions. She must have slept for
an hour when she awoke and her eyes
half Enclosed. The vines at one end
of the nook were drawn aside and
there stood revealed in the bright sun
light a young man arrayed In the
silken garb of chevalier of an age
long gone by, jeweled sword at his
side, jaunty hat with pure white
plumes set upon his head. The face
Olive would never cease to remember.
She smiled and the intruder smiled
back. She sighed deliciously, for to
her it was surely fancy-a dream in
this hour of fantasies. Then whistle
outside and the handsome
chevalier faded away like spirit in
thin air.
Olive closed her eyes, smilingly re-
calling her dream, longing for world
where dreams come true. When she
went home she wrote long letter to
Meta, reciting the incident of her
phantom lover" and felicitating over
the ideal sutton that fancy had
brought to her.
Mrs Wadhams has her hands full
with ten transient boarders," recited
her aunt, when she returned. There's
a party Of movie people acting out a
play for the author. He's the main
actor, too. We saw them play part
Of tia Spanish play. think, for Mr..
Davenal, the principal character, wore
a regular court suit just like I've seen
In pictures, .plumed hat, blue silk coat,
jeweled sword. Why, what is the mat
ter. Olive"
"Oh. nothing. aunt" declared Olive.
cry Of enlightenment.
Tell me more about him-them," and
IN a few minutes Olive was assured
hat her cavalier visitor was an actu-
Atty.
Two nights later she knew it. She
was awakened from sleep to find the |
,oom full of smoke; outside all was
lglare. Some one dashed into the
apartment with the quick command:
WRAP yourself up in the bedspread
and I'll try to get you to safety. The
house is on firev' And amid the flame
.adiance Olive recognized the intruder
If her woodland bower.
Raymond Davenal was just roman
lie enough to see the workings Of des-
my in these two odd meetings. Res
.uer, and her idesi, 70 Olive he became
he center of ALI hef thoughts after !