Warren sheaf., 1898-09-08
THE FOLDING DOORS
BY J. A. FLYNN.

music-room is somber green,
whilst the drawing-room is decorated
in merry pink. When her guests are
changes their mood by passing them
through the folding doors.
Upon the afternoon in question she
received me in the music-room; so my
usual gayety deserted me, and CONVEX
sation seemed to flag.
II have often wondered,'' she said,
suddenly, after l had sighed three
times, why you quarreled with Thea
Lester. Forgive me for alluding to a
painful subject"
"Oh-er-certainly," I responded,
awkwardly. didn't want to discuss
the subject, and Ishould probably have
found way to change it if 1 had been
fortified by pink environment.
''The fact is, my dear Mrs. Haviland,
didn't quarrel with her." My hostess
shook her pretty head.
You don't mean to tell me that it
was Thea's fault? I simply can't i'm
agine her quarreling with anybody"
II ''Of course she wouldn't. That's just
it!" Thea is outwardly placid. "Still
Life" my irreverent young sister used
Ito call her. Nevertheless, there are
charming. depths within.
''Then, if you didn't quarrel with her,
and she didn't quarrel with you, how
lever did you quarrel with one an
!other?" 1 shook my head and looked
into the conservatory.
eve didn't exactly QUARREL said.
''We thought it better to part; at least,
that is what we said."
"Ah, we'll! am letting my curiosity
run away with me. We will talk of
something else. Come, say something
amusing?"
I tried to think Of something clever
to say, but everything that came into
my head seemed trivial or inapprc-
pirate, so l sighed for the fourth time
1T was thoughtless of me 10 raise
sad memories" said Mrs. Haviland,
gently. "You must forgive me, Mr..
Richmond. You see am so interested
in you BOTH" I bowed.
Both in their respective ways ap-
rreciate your kindness, I am sure."i
She is an excellent little woman, whose
only weakness is a mania for .marrys
ing off her friends.
'It was in this house." she continued,
almost tearfully, |'in this very room, if
I am not mistaken. that you and
Thea" fs ,.ss4as7t5 8$ 88sstls
se Yes; it vas She left Us alone for,
two hours, the good little soul! . ?.
"You both gave me your conf lence
.-then!" She is one of those nice lit
tile women whom everybody confides in,
iyou know. 7-a 5 q &sr.Ma art 4 N
'''Believe me, should confde in you
now, if there were anything to confde;
but there isn't" didn't want to talk
to anyone about it, either E5e.S@ Ii
She shook her head slowly. "When
you talk about-it-as if it were a.
mere nothing, know that you are not
in earnest, Mr.. Richmond" she said, re-
proachfully. &s.$A : VI II 5.@ IL
twirled my mustache uneasily. She
was evidently determined to know all.
about it, and somehow she always gets
her own way. ....
1.-The simple TRUTH said, my dear
Mrs. Haviland, is that Thea and I found
out that we were absolutely different
in tastes and opinions"
''Of course! that is the proper thing"
'She is as serious as-this music
room of yours"
"Most people consider it a charming
roo1n.''
"Certainly. Thea is the most charm
ing of women-with one rival" She
smiled and held up her hands deprecat-
ingly. ''My respect and admiration
have not lessened in the slightest
II am glad of that" she cried, clasp
ing her hands. "But it makes me re-