The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-04-28
THE DAILY
SHOR I STORY
ROSE OF DREAMS
ByiIIaura Reid MONTGOMERY

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~ YER Since Fred, the hand
some son Of Mays employer,
MIRA. Jerome, had returned,
the girl had gone about . bit list
lessly. Fred Jerome had dazz-
ling smile and an easy air OF cor.
diality about him that made him q
faYortte among the women ser
yants. To May he seemed O per-
son set apart from the common
herd, and she treasured Up his
careless words TO ponder over.
Seems as though you never
have time TO go walking with me
any more May" Jim had told her
Sunday afternoon, when she had
refused to go to Lincoln Park with
. him.
May had looked at him with
somber eyes. II was true; since
she had seen Fred Jerome she had
Z constantly compared Jim to him
4 and to Jim''s disadvantage. Jim
was fine, sober young fellow.
chauffeur for the Jerome family.
He had saved his wages and was
already watching the newspapers
for Advertisements for real estate.
May knew that IL she married jim
she would be fairly certain OF be-
ing mistress OF snug cottage, but
the magic Of spring had turned her
head completely. In the gay warm
breezes that swept across the
grounds that led down to the very
edge Of the lake May woye silly
dreams as fragile as the delicate
yleayes Of the tulips that pushed
Fnquiring heads through tho bud
k2ding grasses.
His manners are SO wonderful
he might have stepped out OF that
scene In the movies where the
Young lord returns homo" she
thought as she busted the writing
table in the great library whore
Fred wrote his poems, "hIs
hair.'
Haven't you finished in here,
aMay7" came the dispIcased voice
otsthe housekeeper. "The family
will be down for breakfast In a
fewSminutes."
Nearly through, Mrs. Sims"
returned May absently. Doesn't
q seem that something wonderful
night happen on a day like this?
Hear that robin?"
hear a mouse nibbling In that
corner!" cried the other crisply.
Got down there and SEE
D The silk skirt Of the housckeep-
err rustled out for she heard Mrs.
derome"s voice in the hall and
there was, apparently, something
wrong.
Fred jerome lounged in. re-
peating some words OF poetry
aloud, and the little maid. crouch
ed behind the couch In search OF
9 possible mouse hole, clasped her
hands.
whispered, her head on one side,
listening for more pearls
The sibilant sound aroused the
poet. who is there?" he de-
r1anded testify.
Just May, sir," and the girl
emerged from tho shadowy corner.
What do you mean by hiding
like that" he began, but paused
as he read the undoubted admira-
ton in tho young face beneath the
4 AIRY cap.
"oh, sir, won't you say that
Again." she gasped.
I say, why are you hiding be-
hind that couch?"
May crimsoned. Somehow the
J 1lention OF possible mice seemed
40 common, SO closely connected
with her mental position In the
household, "I-" She paused,
cropping for Aowery words, some
thing in keeping with tho lines
she had just heard him repeat,
words that told Of Jasper and jade,
Of tropical skies studded with
burning stars and deathless love,
but she could think Of no words
that would make sense and still
conceal that vulgar word mouse. :"
Well?" he prodded.
y was 1ust-dusting," she said
family. "Your poetry, sir, is SO
pathetic. l love It."
Flattered, he looked at her
more fully. Through the fraii
pocket OF her sheer white apron he
saw bit OF paper. the lavendar
paper that he used for his best
poems. AS she saw his eyes re-
nain fixed upon the pocket her
own eyes unconsciously followed
and she nervously pulled out the
paper.
s't-found this on the floor. :"
she said simply. Il was going to
copy It"
"You may keep It. May" he
said grandly. "You have dis
eliminating mind for a-er-
maid"
N And this little incident did not
lower him in Mays eyes. Jim
cared nothing for poetry, not the
slushy kind. He liked the whole
come jingles that appeared in
newspapers, but as for limp vol
Jumes in purple and gold tolled
leather he waved them aside,
"Let's get down to brass tacks.
gtrlie," he had admonished her.
We're living in real world, and
I'd rather read good book on
mechanics. Won't be long now
before I can start In on a little
repair shop OF my own, and then
But May had gone off into one