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

n NUMAN y lNfLU ENUE.
"And SO you are building that pref
ty cottage all oryourself, Llewellyn?"
said Dick Caruthers, from across the
club-taple where he dined with his
friend Floyd. II declare, old fellow,
that's shame. When came home
and found you were putting up a
house, l was sure you had forsworn
bachelorhood and come to your
senses"
"Not much," said Floyd laughing.
II shall not do that till I've taken
leave of them. No, Dick, I'll never
marry. But l want home OF my
own, just the same"
"But home isn't anything without
a wife, demonstrated the happy Ben
edict.
Floyd puffed several scornful rings
of smoke in the air.
"1 believe you're in love yet, old
man" he said quietly "After moon
ing two whole years over Europe,
you We got it just as bad as ever"
"Worse," said Dick boldly. l tell
you, Lew, you will miss the greatest
happiness that can befall aman if you
-,'
"Spare me, Dick cried his friend with
comical aversion. Let us talk about
the house. 1t is all done, you know,
ready for furnishing. That's the only
.hlng I don't like about it. l don't
want to have all the trouble OF buying
carpets, and curtains, and matching
one thing and another. These shop
people drive me mad"
"You're not gong to do it YOURSELF"
cried Dick in horror. "My dear fel-
low, have a very good opinion OF
your taste, as mans taste goes; but
that isn'tin our line, you know. You'll
make botch OF it ifyou try. Ahouse
needs woman's decorative touch.
upholsterers may do their best, but
it isn't like having the graceful sugges-
tlons OF feminine taste. Women are
our household fairies. You can't Gre
ate q home Llewellyn, without having
a woman s influence in it somewhere. :"
''Women be h-ugged," said Floyd
impatiently.
Then he added, with sudden rise
and fall of his hopes.
II have a housekeeper: but I don't
suppose she'd do?"
'sDo." said Dick, scornfnlly, I should
say not. Do you think the arts would
flourish under such patronage? No,
IN tell you what, Llewellyn, | know a
person who will do the whole thing up
for you in proper shape and it will
cost you very little, too"
II don't care what it costs, so you
get somebody said Floyd recklessly.
I'm sick OF being run after to buy this
and that. For the past month my
life has been u burden to me. Every
body in town knows Pm going to furn-
ish my house, and haven't a mo-
ment's peace. What with men who
want to sell me patent gas fixtures,
and steam radiators, and wall paper,
and carpet tacks, and heaven knows
what, wonder l haven't lost my
mind"
Dick laughed.
"Never mind!" he said, enthusiast
cally. "I'll get somebody to attend
to all that for you-and | promise
you'll be pleased, too. Do you agree?"
ITO anything, my dear fellow"
"All right, then' -
So the bargain was concluded; and
hall an hour later the two men passed
by the window where Nelly Grlscom
sat, painting a spray of autumn-leav-
ed woodbine on screen OF India mat
ting.
"There goes that Mr.. Floyd who is
building the new house, Gertrude" she
said, quickly.
And a tall fair girl, who was sewing
by the fire, looked after the two men
curiously.
II wonder what he is going to make
out OF it inside?" she SAID. "It is such
a pretty house! hopehe won't spoil
1T; but men are more apt to have ideas
OF architecture than about interior
decoration"
~ wish he'd let you furnish it,"
said Nelly wistfully. you'd make
perfect paradise OF it, Gertrude. 1t
would be such fun, too, buying all OF
the things with somebody else's
money. And, then, you would be
actually launched in the business OF a
decorator. 1t would be great deal
better than working under IL firm that
buys up all your new ideas for mere
song, and sells them at premium" :
Gertrude sighed, but soonforeot the
passing wish she could not crafty.
She was sewing on q plush table
cover, ordered by Dorynga and steiff.
The quaint applications in Turkish
design were very interesting, and Mr..
Floyd's house had quite passed out OF
her mind, when there was a knock
at the door that announced Mr.. Ca
ruthers.
miss Griscom, / believer" he said,
bowling to Gertrude and handing her
his card. "I understand that you
are willing to undertake interior deco
rations?"
81 have, done some work of that
kind" said Gertrude, modestly, her
heart all in flutter, while Nelly's
brush hung suspended in the air in an
expectant hush. II have helped in
the festival decorations at st. Mat
thew's and II
Il am quite satisfied as to your