Smyrna times., 1926-10-13
A Silver Heart
Love Charm
(copyright.)
By CLARISSA MAcKIE


The dressmaker was silent as she
took some quick jerky stitches, and
finally folded the dress In white tissue
paper and packed 1t in a box "Waft
minute, Emily" she said, and hur-
ried out of the room. Emily could
hear the little woman moving about
the upstairs rooms. Then down she
came, holding something clenched In
her hand. Emily" began the dress
maker, years ago when I was young
and gay like you, Emily, was con-
sidered the best dancer anywhere
around, Nowadays, folks say I'm an
old maid because was disappointed
IN love, but mark my words, Emily,
there's more married women disap-
pointed In love than there are old
maids. ! wasn't really disappointed
In love but the only man / would
marry had a nasty temper Just like
mine, and we quarreled over the silli-
est thing-thisw She opened her
hand and displayed a small heart
shaped trinket of tarnished silver.
How prettyi" exclaimed Emily.
1T came from Persia or some such
outlandish place." answered Aramin-
ia. "My cousin, Alexander Douglas,
was a sea captain and he brought 1t
home and he told me 1t was a love
charm-he told me If I'd write the
name Of the man I loved on a bit of
paper and put 1t In there, I'd certain
ly be married within a year to the
right man. Well, did that, and wore
1t to a party under a dress that was
about like yours here, allowing for
changes in style, and when I was
dancing with the right one, the charm
tumbled out and he picked it up. OF
course couldn't explain 1t, and he
was Jealous when said my cousin
had brought it-and so we quarreled
and he married another girl, and
here I am, happy as clam at high
tide" Araminta laughed cheerily
over the last words, but her eyes
were misty.
II want you should wear 1t tonight,
Emily" she said as the girl left. you |
tell me afterward-if you meet Mis-
ter RightI'
After she was all dressed for the |
party, Emily thought of the love
charm and tucked 1t inside Of her |
dress. 1T will please the dear old |
thing" she thought sympathetically.
Her own feelings were rather ruff1ed |
about the neglect of Stanley Case
since he had returned from New York |
why did Stanley avoid herr She
admitted to herself that Stanley was
her Mister Right" but resolved to
forget him as soon as possible.
The Alisons' birthday party for |
Bertha Alison, who was seventeen. |
was a countrywide affair. Emily |
Rice saw old friends whom she had |
not met for ages, and among them was
Captain Case, Stanley's father, |
handsome, gray-haired man Of sixty,
now a widower. Stanley was there,
too, and he came straight to the dark /
haired girl in the rosy frock.
1.-THE sweetest rose of ALL" whis-
pered Stanley boldly.
Emily's laugh tinkled. but she was
happy. AS they passed Captain Case,
Emily noticed that he was staring at |
her rose-colored frock, and It hap
pened that she pulled out her hand
kerchief just then, and something sill /
yer and rose flew out with it and
rolled across the floor. Emily had an /
impression that Captain Case picked
1t up. When they came around the
second time, he stopped them and
drew them aside. Stanley looked puz-
zled.
You lost this didn't you EmilyT'
asked the captain, giving her the love
charm.
Emily blushed Yes. thank you.
Captain Case. Someone lent 1t to me
to wear this evening. It came from
Persia" she added beginning to feel
embarrassed at the handsome cap
tain's silence.
II know-rve seen Il before-thirty /
years ago." he said. 'Tt busted of my
engagement with my first little sweet
heart-a mighty nice little woman.
Emily, but of course nothing so hand.
some as Stanley's mother. She was a
woman TO be proud OF"
Emily was suddenly speechless with
embarrassment, but the old captain
was garrulous. TITS a love charm.
Stan," he said teasingly. snow, Emily,
I'm surprised that a pretty girl like
you needs thati"
"She doesn't" said Stanley, so
promptly that the old man laughed.
'T haven't had time to tell her yet
about my new 1ob--and everything"
Don't delay, lad" said hts father
seriously. "And don't make fool of
yourself by being Jealous Emily, my
dear, maybe you'd let me have the
charm, seeing as you don't need it."
'It really isn't mine, Captain Case.
Perhaps you can guess" she stopped
suddenly. The charm was Araminta's
secreti
The captain was fumbling with the
charm and suddenly It opened on a