The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-06-08
The Rose of
Dreams
By LAURA MONTGOMERY
G, isla. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate

returned, the girl had gone about DIT |
listlessly. Fred Jerome had dazzling |
smile and an easy air Of cordiality |
about him that made him a fayorite |
among the women servants. To May |
he seemed a person set apart from the
common herd. and she treasured up
his careless words to ponder over.
Seems as though you never have
time to 90 walking with me any more,
May" Jim had told her Sunday after
noon, 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 constantly com
pared Jim to him, and to Jim's disad-
vantage. Jim was fine, sober young
fellow, chauffeur for the Jerome fam
lily. He had saved his wages and was
already watching the newspapers for
advertisements for real estate. May
knew that II she married Jim she
would be fairly certain Of being mis-
tress OF a snug cottage, but the magic
OF spring had turned her head com
pletely. In the gay warm breezes that
swept across the grounds that led
down to the very edge OF the lake May
wove silly dreams as fragile as the
delicate leaves of the tulips that
pushed inquiring heads through the
budding grasses.
Ills manners are so wonderful he
might have stepped out Of that scene
In the movies where the young lord
returns home" she thought as she
busted the writing table In the great
library where Fred wrote his poems;
his hair"
Haven't you finished In here,
Mayr came the dlspleased voice OF
the housekeeper. THE family will be
down for breakfast In few minutes"
Nearly through, Mrs. Sims" re-
turned May absently. Doesn't 1t seem
that something wonderful might hap
pen on day like thisf Hear that
robinr
'T hear mouse nibbling In that
eornerl" cried the other crisply. "Get
down there and see"
The silk skirt Of the housekeeper
rustled out, for she heard Mrs. Jer-
OIIle NOlCt lnt uhu "ucf
apparently, something wrong.
Fred Jerome lounged In, repeating
some words Of poetry aloud and the
little maid, crouched behind the couch
In search Of a possible mouse hole,
clasped her hands.
isn't that wonderfully" she whis-
pered her head on one side, listening
for more pearls.
The sibilant sound aroused the poet.
"Who is thereT" he demanded, testify.
"Just May, SIR" and the girl emerged
from the shadowy corner.
"What do you mean by hiding like
that" he began, but paused as he
read the undoubted admiration In the
young face beneath the airy cap.
"Oh, sir, won't you say that againr'
she gasped.
81 say, why are you hiding behind
that couch?"
May crimsoned. Somehow the men,
tion of possible mice seemed so COM
mon, so closely connected with her
mental position In the household. II
-" she paused. cropping for flowery
words, something In keeping with the
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"
"well7' he prodded.
'T was Just-dusting.1 she said
!, family. your poetry. sir, is 30 pa
| thetic. love It."
I Flattered, he looked at her more
fully. Through the frail pocket Of her
r sheer white apron he saw bit OF
: paper, the lavender paper that he used
for his best poems. AS she saw his
D eyes remain fixed upon the pocket her
4 own eyes unconsciously followed and
she nervously pulled out the paper.
) "I-found this on the floor" she
D said simply. "I was going to copy IT,
!. "You may keep It, May" he said
I grandly. "You have discriminating
I mind for a-er-mald."
. And this little Incident did not lower
, him In Mays eyes. Jim cared nothing
D for poetry, not the slushy kind, HI
; liked the wholesome jingles that ap
peared In newspapers, but as for linn
volumes In purple and gold-tooleC
leather he waved them aside.
Lets get down to brass tacks
!, grille" he had admOnlshed her "We'r'
living In real world and I'd rathe
read good book on mechanics
Won't be long now before can star
!. In on little repair shop Of my own
: and then"
a But May had gone OFF into one o
n her recently acquired habits OF day
:. dreaming, and Jim, seeing that sh
q had ceased TO listen, had walked alonI
!. beside her In a puzzled silence.
q And while May still fingered In tn
library long after the poet had de
q parted In search Of bacon and eggs
: Jim was polishing his car and wish
4 Ing May would run out to the garag
q so they could chat.
Q As May crossed the wide hall tw
4 la r.. 4 - faA