The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-08-20

to know is whether you would be
willing to undertake the entire furnish
ing OF new house. 1t is Mr.. Floyd s
house refer to-"
II he had asked her to furnish the
queens palace, Gertrude would not
have been more surprised; but she
had tact enough to assume an air OF
commercial Indifference, and said very
quietly:
"les, sir; l would be willing to do
that"
"Very well,' said Dick. "Then you
may consider yourself engaged, Can
you call upon Mr.. Floyd morrow?
His office is No. 239, Blank street.
do not think he has any ideas on the
subject, but he will tell you what he
expects of you. l am very glad you
are willing to undertake the matter.
Good morning."
The front door had hardly closed on
Dick, before Nelly jumped up with a
wild shout of triumph, caught her
sister round the waist and whired her
about in a wild fandaneo.
"Nell-Nell!" she cried laughngy;
"stop for mercy's sake"
"Oh!" cried the breathess girl, "isn't
this splendid? Gertrudeyour fortune 5
made. You won't have to fool over
that fancy work any more. This Mr.
Floyd is a great swell. and very rich,
too, dear, and it's a great thing Tor
you to furnish such house as his"
So the two sat down gleefully, and
exchanged fluctuations, and the next
morning Gertrude went to call on Lie
wellyn Floyd.
He kept an office open Just to attend
to the management OF his own large
estate. When Gertrude entered, he
was writing busily; but he rose, with
q look OF unveiled surprise, when he
beheld Il pretty girl enter his Office.
~ am Miss Griscom, Mr. Floyd" F."
she began, the fresh color deepening
vlsibly in her cheeks. 81 am the per-
son engaged by Mr.. Caruthers to fit
up your new house, and | called this
morning to learn what your plans
We're In regard to it,
For few moments, Llewellyn
Floyd, the irreproachable knight OF
the carpet, forgot himself and stared.
OF course he and Dick had talked
about q woman, but certainly not
such woman as this,
Besides, Dick has said "a person., y
and somehow, Llewellyn had got it
into his head that it was a man
some kind OF a professional upholster.
ing fellow who would take the matter
off his hands.
Floyd felt quite upset when hefound
himself face to face with pretty girl
who was evidently a lady.
81 have no plans at all, Miss-er-.
Griscom" he said, hurriedly. THAT
is just what l want to get rid of-plan.
ming You can do Just as you please
Have all She bills sent to me, and When
you are through, I'll pay you what
ever you think is right"
Mr.. Floyd was aware that this was
not what would have been regarded
as a prudent business arrangement
but then he never could talk business
to women, and he had no idea what
upholstering ought to cost. He sim
ply wanted it off his hands, and he
was rich enough not to care no y much
hepaid for shifting the responsibility.
81 have some things in here, " he said,
opening the door OF a large back room,
which was used to store the things he
had picked up in many years OF trav-
el. "I don't expect you to buy any
pictures or bric-a-brac. | have all OF
those which want; but | should like
you to arrange these things artistical-
ly, and supply 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, hronzes,
wrought armour, costly paintings,
oriental rugs, exquisite vases, fine
carvings in wood and ivory-indeed,
there seemed to be q perfect museum
OF art there.
oh" she cried. clasping her hands
with delight, ''it will be such a pleas
ureto work with such materialsl"
you care for such things, them"
said Floyd. with a smile ut the excit-
ed face in which was reflected already
the light OF artistic Inspiration.
Nearly all of these things have Il
story"
Before he had thought OF doing so
he had begun to tell her about some
quaint things, and found in her such an
listener-such keen sense
OF beauty and enjoyment-that he
talked on, and the morning Slipped
away UNDECIDED.
81 declared" he exclaimed at last,
sit is twelve o clock, Would you have
time to 90 down and look at the
house now, Miss Griscom? | think
you told me you had never been inside
it."
This is how they came togo through
it together, and Gertrude persuaded
him that he must take personal inter.
est enough to watch the progress Of
the work. 1t would be more satisfac,
tory to her
So every few days he came down to
see 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, house
keeper and oil, to take possession ol
his bachelor quarters.
Then he gave aittle dinner, to which
he asked Dick Caruthers and his wife
and Miss Griscom.
The house was beautiful. Mrs. Car
uthers ravcd ever it. and ns they fou
sat down to the elegant little dinner
table. she whispered to her husband
that Miss Griscom locked very well
sitting opposite Mr.. Floyd.
AS for Llewllyn, it seemed quite nat
ural 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,
that night, he walked home with Miss