The Coolidge examiner., 1935-12-13
CHAPTER /

suggestive of cool, pleasant after
moons than were neighbOring houses
surrounded by elaborate gardens
and fancy hedges.
That is, as to its front lawns. At
the back there were flowers aplen-
ty, and now, in early October, there
were chrysanthemums, golden glow,
cosmos, and other autumn blooms,
which mingled with the sumac and
asters until the place was mass
of color.
The house itself had a great
front expanSe, with columns from
pediment to porch, whose main rec
tangle had wings connected by COW
cred passages so large as to be real
ly rooms.
In the garden, two girls were
walking: Perilla Fairfax, daughter
of the house, who would become a
bride tomorrow, and Hilda Sheldon,
who would be her maid of honor.
"JuSt think, Hill, this is the last
day Lowell Terrace will be my
homei"
Nonsense, your home as much
as ever! You'll have two homes,
that's all. Three, in fact, when you
get your city home in shape"
All the homes | want, anyway.
You know, I'm marrying Corey for
his money, that's all.'
"Of course, l know. It's what
he's marrying you for that 1 can't
tell"
Il can give you that bit of infor-
nation, if you want it," and Corey
Maiden came down the steps of the
back porch.
Maiden was older than his bride
to-be. He was about thirty-eight,
while Perilla was twenty-four. Yet,
for some reason, they had from
their first meeting felt congenial-
ity of tastes and opinions, which
had quickly grown TO friendship
and as quickly on to love.
Maiden, extremely rich, thought
of his money only to give it to 9TH
ers or use it himself for pleasure
or profit, never for ostentation.
Perilla, beautiful but not vain,
cared for her beauty only because
it pleased her fiance, and brought
her the loving praise of his lips
and eyes.
A handsome man was Corey NAL
den, living in Richmond, where he
we'll suited the role of country gen
tleman. He lOnged for the day
when he would take his lovely bride
to Virginia.
John Lowell, owner of Lowell Ter.
race, was southerner. He was
not the father of Perilla. She was
the child of Mrs. Lowell and her
first husband, Charles Fairfax. Of
a romantic nature, she had named
the baby Perilla, and her other
child, boy, Malcolm.
The two Fairfax children had
grown up happily and at peace with
the family, and two years after the
death of their father, they had ac-
cepted new parent with calm ap-
proval and good-natured welcome.
Malcolm, though two years older
than Perilla, had no romantic lean
ings and looked upon her wedding
as a joke.
Perilla, on the other hand, was
making a solemn ritual of it, and
Malcolm guyed her for it.
We'll, my turtle doves" he said,
coming round the corner of the
house, mot ready yet to change
your plans and give up your mis-
taken ideas?"
Not yet, Malky," returned his
sister, "but when We do, I'll let you
know"
What time you leaving the
house, Pril?"
Don't know, I'm sure. What
time, COrey?"
"Oh, about four or fve," said the
prospective bridegroom.
That's the fun of going in your
own car" said Hilda. You don't
have to go till you're ready. Get
off that brick wall, Perilla: you'll
catch a cold"
Perilla jumped off the low wall
and, going into Corey's arms.
nestled there.
OF course her speech that she
was marrying Maiden for his money
was a great joke, and Hilda under
stood it as such. Perilla. accus-
toned to wealth, gave little thought
to the great fortune of the man She
was about to marry.
Perilla, at tWenty-fOur, was, like
most of her generation, worldly
wise, but she had a keen sense of
humOr, which made her a general
favorite, and kindly generous ma
ture, which brought her crowds of
friends.
Until meeting Corey Maiden, she
had seen no man she cared for
especially, but he had captured her