The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-12-09

irreproachable knight of the carpet, forgot
himself and stared OF course he and Dick
had talked about woman but certainly
not such woman as this Besides, Dick
had said ga person, and somehow Level
Ign had got it into his head that it was
man-some kind of professional uphol
STEERING fellow, who would take the matter
off his hands.
Floyd felt quite upset when he found him
self face to face with a pretty girl who was
evidently lady.
have no plans at all, Miss-er-Gris-
com |" he said, hurriedly. "That is just
why want to get rid of planning. You
can do as you please. Have all the bills
sent to me- and when you are through, I'll
pay you whatever you think is right.
Mr. Floyd was aware that this was
not what would have been regarded as o
prudent business arrangement but then he
never could talk business to women, and he
had no idea what the decorating would cost
anyhow. He simply wanted 1t OF his
hands, and he was rich enough not to care
how much he paid for shifting the RESPONSE
bility.
81 have some things in here,s he said,
opening the door of large lack ROOM
which was used to store the things be had
picked up in many years of travel. az
don't expect you to buy any pictures or
bric-a-brac. have oil of those which
want but should like you to arrange
these things artistically and supply suitable
surroundings"
Gertrude stood upon the threshold, with
flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes. Never
had she beheld such treasures of beauty,
gathered in one spot. There were beautiful
statues, bronzes, wrought armof, costly
paintings, Oriental rugs, exquisite vases,
fine carvings in wood and ivory; indeed
there seemed to be a perfect museum of art
there.
OH" she cried, clasping her hands
with delight, =" it will be such pleasure to
work with such materials !"
You care for such things then ?" said
Floyd, with smile at the eager, excited
face, in which was reflected already the
light of artistic inspiration. Nearly
all of these things have n story"
Before he had thought of doing so, he
had begun to tell her about some quaint
things, and found in her such az interested
listener, such keen sense of beauty and
enjoyment, that he talked on, and the
morning slipped away unheeded.
81 declare ~ he exclaimed at last, "it is
twelve o'clock Would you have time to
go down and look at the house now, Miss
Griscom? / think you told me you had
never been inside of it."
This is how they came TO go through it
together, and Gertrude persuaded him that
he must take personal interest enough to
watch the progress of the work. II would
be more satisfactory TO her.
So every few days he came down to soc
how things were getting along.
1t took some time, but the work was done
at last, and there came a day when Floyd
moved in, housekeeper and all, to take pos
session of his bachelor quarters.
Then he gave n little dinner, to which he
asked Dick Caruthers anil his wife, and
Miss Griscom.
The house was beautiful. Mrs. Caruthers
raved over it, and as they four sat down to
the elegant little dinner-table, she whisper
ed to her husband that Miss Griscom look
ed very well sitting opposite TO Mr.. Floyd.
As for Llewellyn, it seemed quite natural
to him that she should be there.
He had become used to seeing her fitting
about the house and now, when he thought
that she was there perhaps for the last time
he felt strange pang of regret. The place
would seem very dreary without her.
This fact must have been borne in very
strongly upon Mr.. Floyd's mind, for when
Dick and Mrs. Caruthers left that night, he
walked home with Miss Griscom.
Their ways were opposite, so the party
broke up on the steps, but Llewellyn lin
gered there when his friends had gone.
shall not let you leave my house, Miss
Griscom, he said, hurriedly, "uniess you
promise me you will return to it. 1t is not
complete without you"
"I-Mr. Floyd, I-should be most hap
py," she stammered, "if-"
want you to come there to live he
persisted. 1.-THE only thing which the
house lacks is a mistress. Gertrude, will
you accept the position by marrying me ?"
He could not make love yet awhile, this
proselyte of Cupid's; but he meant love,
and since Gertrude did, too, he bore the
brunt of his friends teasing by recanting
completely.
A Benedict he became, though he still
says he never intended to.