The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-07-03
HOUSE O. DREAMS
BY DOROTHY r. scovILLE

THE villagers all wondered why any
! = one should want to build in such a
lonely place. But, then, them artists
are queer folks, anyway" was their
verdict when they saw Hall Crane and
observed his ways.
The cosey little bungalow that came
to nestle in the pine woods at Caul-
dron Cove was a good half-mile from
the little fishing village, and there was
no one living nearby save old Mat
Coles, who was deaf and hermit and
whom people rarely saw.
When the cottage was nearly fin
I ished. Rhea Lowe came to the village.
She was tired of the city and Its ways.
and wished a quiet place to write and
to rest. Shortly after she arrived the
old schooner. hauled up on the edge of
Cauldron Cove, by the pine grove, be-
gan to show signs of rehabilitation. A
gay little sign swung from the bowsprit
one day. "Ship o. Dreams" 1t had been
christened.
A few days after the christening
Hall Crane came to live in his little
place. And strangely enough gay lit
tie sign appeared there also. House
o. Dreams" had come to life.
One morning as Rhea Lowe was sing
ing at her work firm knock sounded
at the door of the forward cabin. She
admitted Hall Crane.
Miss Lowe, believer" he said, with
polite GOODNESS.
Il believe you have the advantage
she suggested.
Hall Crane. I own the bungalow up
the beach," he answered. I've come to
make business deal with you. I de-
sire to be alone here and do not want
neighbors.
"Wiu you please name your price on
this placer" he asked with impersonal
fnality.
Miss loves eyes cleaned danger
ously. 81 do not care to sell and, fur
thermore, neither do care to be trou-
bled with neighbors. And at least you
could be original with the name Of
your house." she added. with flare of
anger.
His eyes narrowed. 1.-THE name of
my house was settled upon long before
1 observed yours" In the end they
parted with mutual dislike.
"Egotistical, cynical, selfish old bach
elor!" thought Rhea Lowe. Just be-
cause he's gotten stung once he's made
up his mind not TO be nice to any girl.
I'd like to show him. Then she
laughed.
"Egotistical, cynical, selfish old
maid I" thought Hall Crane. Just be
cause she's gotten stung once she's
| 4 - ~, NJ %no
man, I'd like to show herr Then he
laughed.
One morning Hall Crane received
note from Rhea Lowe. You may have
my Ship O. Dreams" 1t read. Il won't
need it any longer" Suddenly he put
on his coat and went out of the house
toward the Ship O. Dreams. He went
quickly up the gangway and knocked.
No answer. He pushed open the door.
The cosey little cabin was empty. A
cold fear gripped him as he came up
on the deck.
He instinctively looked toward the
rock that hung over the cove. There.
facing the sea, was wind-blown fig
ure. He ran up the beach and as she
moved toward the edge of the rock he
| gave SnOut OF alarm.
Don't do that!" he begged. She
turned slowly toward him.
You mustn't do thing like that.
It's wrong" he rebaked sternly She
remained silent, but her lips curled
with scorn. "Er-really, there's no rea-
son for being so rash, and" Then he
kissed her
"Mr. Crane!" she gasped.
-Rhea-please forgive me. Miss
Love-" he said stiffly.
She looked down at the sand to hide
the imps of laughter in her eyes. Eyes.
OF course. It's really of no conse-
Quence. anyway. Nothing is" she fin
ished in discouraged voice.
He watched her. puzzled. "Oh. but
there are worthwhile things in the
world still I" he hastened to assure her
There is love-" he said in low voice.
rs there?" she mocked well. some
never find it,
I'm House O. Dreams they would"
Perhaps"
They were at the ship now. Good.
by and thank you," she said as she
went inside. He went away with a
strange sense of having been cheated,
Of vague disappointment. He had for
gotten to speak of her note. But that
did not seem important to him now.
Then he realized that his House o.
Dreams was failure. In spite Of his
making it ideal in every way and Of
planning to keep his enjoyment to him
self. he knew there was something
lacking. What fool he had been!
On the boat Rhea was also thinking
things over. She had not intended to
jump OFF the rock at all. 1t was mere
ly place of vantage to watch the
surf. But when she realized that he
thought that she was about to jump,
she let him believe so, in hope that 1t
would awaken him. but the awakening
had been of short duration.