The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-09-03
THE FOLDING DOORS
BY J. A. FLYNN.

MUSHROOM 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 MUSHROOM; so my
usual gayety deserted me, and CONVEX
sation seemed to flag.
81 have often wondered she said,
suddenly, after l had sighed three
times, why you quarreled with Thea
Lester. Forgive me for abiding to a
painful subject"
"Oh-er-certainly," 1 responded,
awkwardly. l didn't want to discuss
the subject, and l should probably have
found a way 10 change it if | had been
fortified by a pink environment.
The fact is, my dear Mrs. Haviland, 1
didn't quarrel with her" My hostess
shook her pretty head.
"You don't mean to tell me that it
was Thea's fault? 1 simply can't i'm
agine her quarreling with anybody"
'Of course she wouldn't. That's just
it'll" Thea is outwardly placid. Still
Life" my irreverent young sister used
to call her. Nevertheless, there are
charming depths within.
Then, if you didn't quarrel with her,
and she didn't quarrel with you, how
ever did you quarrel with one an
other?" | shook my head and looked
into the conservatory.
I'VE didn't exactly quarrel" l said.
1--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"
l tried to think of something clever
to say. but everything that came into
my head seemed trivial or inapprC-
pirate, so | sighed for the fourth time.
1T was thoughtless of me TO raise
sad memories" said Mrs. Haviland,
gently. You must forgive me, Mr..
Richmond. You see | am so interested
in you both" 1 bowed.
Both in their respective ways ap-
p~reciate your kindness, l am sure"
She is an excellent little woman, whose
only weakness is a mania for marry
ing off her friends.
1T was in this house." she continued,
almost tearfully, in this very room, if
l am not mistaken, that you and
Thea"
"Yes; it was" She left US alone for
two hours, the good little soul.
You both gave me your confidence
them" She is one of those nice lit
tie women whom everybody confides in,
you know.
Believe me, 1 should confide in you
now, if there were anything to contide;
but there isn't" l didn't val to talk
to anyone about it, either.
She shook her head slowly. when
you talk about-it-as if it were a
mere nothing, l know that you are not
in earnest, Mr.. Richmond" she said, re-
proachfully.
Itwirled my mustache uneasily. She
was evidently determined to know all
about it, and somehow she always gets
ner W way.
The simple truth,".I said, my dear
Mrs. Haviland, is that Thea and l 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
room"
Certainly. Thea is the most charm
ing of women-with one rival" She
smiled and held up her hands ~deprecat-
MY respect and admiration
have not lessened in the slightest"
Il am glad of that" she cried, clasp
ing her hands. But it makes me re-
greet all the more that you-oh! why
should you?"
Because I, on the other hand, am as
light as-your pretty pink ROOM"
"As attractive in another way" she
observed, with a complimentary smile.
We'll, the long and short of it is that
Thea was always green and l was al
ways pink; and neither could change
the other
why need you try?" I laughed a lit
Tie.
Thea is quite a missionary, you
know. OF course, she was bent on re-
forming me-
IAN impossible task! But you might