The Crittenden press., 1920-08-24
Day Dreams
BY GEORGE E. COBB

kissed little square box she had just
received by mail. There was haste. a
fiutterlng 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 hastened downstairs TO confront
her spinster aunt. Selma Brooks. sour.
chilling, severe as usual.
'Dld you get some mail?' challenged
Miss Brooks peremptorily.
"Yes, aunt" replied Olive. ut was
q letter from my old school chum, Net
Ia Deane She has married Warren
Nagel."
About time, l 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 tina. little
box through the folds OF her dress.
She had not told her aunt that 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 inclosure
she anticipated twelve hours filled
with girlish dreams of romance.
Olive had received her first piece Of
wedding cake, for II was that the box
contained. She longed for Aunt Selma
TO depart whilst she might hasten 10 a
favorite nook In the woods, where she
could read and reread that gushing
letter. SO full Of Joy and hope. II was
u spot inclosed with vines-a vertable
lady's bower and one where she
was sure to be free from intrusion.
where she could repose on the most
yelvety 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.
ence. Shut out from social pleasures
OF every kind, she had lived In 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
cheeks aglOw as she reached the Sc
Questered 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 OF a corner and laughed
outright as the .ad SId;faShi9nsa ;fisl esqsfli
make n pillow OF her apron and place
the box under II and dream on the
cake her future husband would come
to her in her sleep.
Insensibly she drifted into somewhat 1
nlmy 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 young man arrayed In the
silken garb Of q chevalier OF an age
long gone by, a 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 II was surely fancy-a dream In
this hour OF fantasies. Then whistle
sounded outside and the handsome
chevalier faded away like spirit In
thin air.
Olive closed her eyes, smillngiy re-
calling her dream. longing for world
where dreams come true When she
went home she wrote a long letter to
Meta. reclting the Incident OF her
~phantom lover" and felicitating over
the Ideal sultor that fancy had
brought to her.
Mrs. Wadhams has her hands full
with ten transient boarders." reclted
her aunt. when she returned. There's
u party Of movie people acting out Z
play for the author He's the main
actor. too. We saw them play a pan
OF it--s Spanish play, think, for Mr..
Davenal, the principal character. wore
u regular court suit Just like I've seen
in pictures, plumed hat. blue silk coat,
jeweled sword. Why, what Is the mat.
ter. Oliver
"Oh, nothing. aunt" declared Olive,
suppressing q cry OF enlightenment.
Tell me more about hlm-them." and
In few minutes Olive was assured
that her cavalier visitor was an sctu.
ality.
Two nights later she knew II. She
was awakened from sleep TO find the
room full Of smoke; outside all was
aglare. 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 In on frel" And amid the flame
radiance Olive recognized the intruder
OF her woodland bower.
Raymond Dayenal was just roman.
tic enough to see the workings OF des.
tiny In these two odd meetings. Res.
cuer, and her ideal, to olive he became
the center Of all her thoughts after
that, and when she wrote again to her
friend Meta II was TO announce that
she had become engaged to Raymond
Davenal, "the author OF the most pop.