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Show - 52 - CHAPTER VII A few weeks later the family was sitting on the veranda of the big old house. The bright^colored green and yellow pillows On the wicker chairs and couch, and the gaily patterned cloth spread over the table blended in with the orange andgold colors of autumn on display everywhere in the garden. The accumulation of leaves were knee-deep under the trees and Dixie's sharp little barka could be heard where she was burrowing into them. Dinner was always served early on Sunday afternoons, directly after church, and everyone was relaxed. It was well into Fall now and the weather was beautiful, as it could only be in San Francisco, at that time of the year. Jim was enjoying his after dinner cigar while Athena was busy as usual with her crocheting. For years she had been working on her daughters' doweries as her mother had done for her when she was a young girl. Two beautifully carved old teakwood chests had been brought over from the Orient by their father on one of his business trips, when the girls were very young. This was, indeed, a labor of love for their mother. Ettch one contained bath towels, fine linen sheets, pillow slips and table cloths trimmed in richly patterned roBes, daisies and scalloped edging. The embroidery was infinitely fine, and gracefully stitched in satin threads were the names Victoria and Penelope. Packed away in barrels, up in the attic, were two beautiful sets of fine porcelain china. With them, neatly wrapped in soft material, was the should Sterling silver, that a young bride have to start life as a married woman. The girls would smile when their mother made these plans for them, but secretly they were pleased that their parents loved them dearly and made provisions for their future years. "This will be our first holiday season at Gaven House," said Athena. "We must have a family reunion." Penny were elated at the thought. "It was such fun when the clan congregated and celebrated in the old |
