Evening star., 1927-05-29

I'm sorry to have dragged you
way out here for nothing, sir"
1t was Ollie's voice-Ollie's.
Perfectly all right. can under
stand,'
Ollies laugh was embarrassed. "I
didn't know I'd feel this way about II.
Haven't been in the place for over a
year. OF course, it's nothing but
white elephant on my hands. but
somehow--well, ] reckon I'd just
rather not have the money than sell
, it,"
Sell it, Margery's hands fiuttered
upward to cover her mouth. Sell it.
Sell her house!
She pushed open the door
Good heavens, MARSHALL
From the top step of the dim. steep
staircase that led to the attic, she
saw the faces of the two men, white
and strained in the sunlight below.
their eyes wide in a sort of strange
fear. Then Ollie made a step forward.
"Margery? Baby. Is that you?"
Her breath caught, as her eyes met
his.
Ollie, here in this house of his an
cestors-where he belonged! Shed
| thought it was her house!
"Ollie--'' Her voice faltered, and.
as he stumbled up the stairs toward
her. she heard the voice Of the other
man:
Great heavens. thought she was q
ghost!'
Ollie's arms were about her. and. as
they descended the stairs together.
she felt that never before had she been
really close to him. Ollie-here!
'I don't know what she's doing
here" he was explaining, land I as.
sure you that l was just as scared as
you were. but, anyway, this is my
wife, Mr.. Emerson"
The stranger contemplated Margery
obviously. PLEASED to meet YOU
I'm sure" he siad dryly. You GER
tainly gave me a turn He moist.
ened his lips with his tongue.
Margery was not looking at him.
Her eyes chung to her husbands face.
"Ollie-you were going to sell it
and you couldn't"' she whispered tri-
umphantly.
He nodded.
You couldn't sell it,"
Suddenly she turned from him, and
stood erect and graceful, in her ruffied
crlnoline. Her lips curved into the
gracious, charming smile of a hostess,
as her eyes met the eyes Of the
stranger. II don't know what we're
thinking Outstanding here on the
attic stairs" she apologized. Wouldn't
you like cup of tea, Mr.. Emerson"
She moved away from her husband.
and, graceful. gracious, mistress of
her white-pillared Southern home.
she descended the stairs ahead of
them. past the portraits Of her hus-
bands ancestors.
Wont you take Mr.. Emerson out
on the gallery. Ollie?" Magnificently,
she swept them past the unfurnished
living rooms.
The two men stood waiting silently,
not looking at each other. Down from
the grove the sweetness of the flow
erS drlfted, mingled with the scents OF
Jasmine and honeysuckle, and beyond
the lower garden. the blue river
tapped softly against the shore, sway
ing its burden of water hyacinth.
X X X
"TM sorry to have been so long"
Like the fragment of a dream.
she advanced through the doorway of
the old house. her crinoline swaying
gently back and forth, her little feet.
in White satin slippers, treading care
fully. as she balanced the tray.
Ollie took the tray from her silent
ly. and his eyes and the eyes of the
stranger sought hers as they stood
there.
'Of what were you thinking" asked
Ollie.
II was thinking" said AIargerv
softly, looking at Ollie. "of how dreams
come true"
Her eyes brimmed with happiness
at seeing him therein HIS own house
the host. m
L vas thinking" said Ollie. looking
at Margery. ''of how wonderful it n
to know how to dream" j..
The breeze carried through the pill
lars of the old porch the fragrance OF
many flowers, the silver green moss
that dripped from the branches of the
tall oaks stirred gently and there was
no longer any dream, only the living
loneliness of reality.
fCopyright. 1927