The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-14

ooh, child, you're crazy. The cellar
is damp and dark, and Mrs. st. Clair
would be mortally afraid of rheuma-
tism. and. besides. / don't propose to
entertain city company in the cellar!
But mamma, 1 mean to make it all
pretty and attractive. Just come down
and look at It,"
Unwillingly, Mrs. Curtis let herself be
dragged down by her energetic daugh-
ter, and when she felt the cool, moist
air, she began to think there were some
possibilities in her daughters plan.
Now, you go up stairs, mamma. and
don't bother, or think about this and
when it's all done, I'll call you"
Then Kitty told Mike OF her enter
prise and the handy man-of-ap l-work
| entered into the spirit of 1t with great
| enthusiasm.
The part of the cellar which Kitty pro-
| posed to utilize was directly under the
parlor and of the same size and shape.
1t was scrupulously clean, with hard
| cement floor and whi.e-washed brick
walls, and had large bay window. AS
| a safeguard against rheumatism, Mike
| brought great pile of old newspapers,
and laid them thickly over the floor. Then
! he spread down the white linen crash that
| just fitted the parlor floor for dances and
secured It by heavy weights in the
| corners. Then, following Kitty's instruc-
| lions, and aided by her willing and en-
| ergetic self. he brought down several
| wicker chairs and tables, and the rattan
couch from the veranda, which Kitty COW
| cred with large, white linen sheet, drap-
ing IL prettiy at the corners and adding
| several white pillows. Then she asks
Mike to bring down from her own room
| two large, cool-looking etchings in white
| frames and hang them on the cellar walls.
| Further decorations were two or three
pale colored posters representing sea
| views or mermaids, and here and there
/ Japanese fan. The windows were high
and small, with iron gratings. These
were easily arranged with fresh sash
curtains of dotted Swiss. The ceiling
| was the worst, for II was Of rough, brown
| rafters, but with a little thought and
| some trouble II was canopied with four
| sheets, which added greatly TO the
| white effect Kitty was striving for. Also
an unslghtly post which held up
a beam was twisted WITH white cheese
cloth. with sprays Of green asparagus
pinned on and a palm in a green jar
| diniere was set against it On the wicker
| table she placed some fans the current
magazines, one or two white bound books,
and glass bowl of white peonies sur
rounded with cool, green leaves. Then,
| still mindful Of Mrs. st. Clair's possible
rheumatism, she spread green and
| white Japanese rug beneath the most
| comfortable rocker, and another before
| the white-draped couch. Finally she step
| ped into the adjoining room, which was
| the laundry, to wash her hands, and all
at once she had another brilliant idea.
Why not lunch in the laundry? The
dining room was so sunny and there
could be no comfort in eating the dainty
| luncheon mamma had ordered IL the
guests were TO be sunstruck during the
| meal.
After a short consultation with the
cook, Kitty and Mike went to work
again. It was easier this time, for the
laundry was plastered and ceiled; the
stationary tubs. when covered with a
| spandy-clean tablecloth, made a fine
| sideboard, and the laundry table did
very well for four people to eat from,
| while spotless, shining damask and fresh
| white flowers, quite disguised the lowly
piece of furniture. Chairs were brought
| from the dining room and few rugs and
| decorations were quickly put in place.
| Then Kitty flew up stairs TO dress.
Wear a white gown, mamma" she
/ said, "and haven't you a white dressing
| saoque that you can lend 10 Mrs St.
Clair. for she can't go into my white
| parlor in a dark dress"
| When Kitty appeared again, in thin,
white muslin dress. with palegreen rib
bons, she found the newly-arrived guests
| in her mothers room.
"Oh." exclaimed Mrs. s. Clair, III it
had been anywhere else but here, I
| wouldn't have come I'm nearly dead.
The cars just crawled, and the sun fairly
| burned through the windows Ethel
could dress more coolly, but 1 had to
wear this black silk, and / feel as II =
should suffocate."
"Won you lay aside your waist" said
Mrs. Curtis. "and wear this white lawn
sacque? There are no other guests and
you will be cooler and more Comfortable
"Oh. thank you" said Mrs. st. Clair,
gladly. Indeed. / will"
Then the party went down to the par
Tor.
Dear me-" said Ethel, 'It's no better
down stairs than II is up, is II? But,
perhaps. IL we sit down and fan awhile,
wen feel cooler"
The city child really looked pale and
dropping
Then Mrs. Curtis said: ut Is not
usuI to entertain guests in the cellar, but
Kitty insists that 1t is much cooler there:
so IL you are willing, suppose we go
down and try It,"
YES" said Mrs. St. Clair catching
at any chance of relief, do let us go.
I'd be willing to sit on potato barrel.
or a wheelbarrow, IL could get away
from this heat"
50 Kitty led the way and when her
mother and the visitors saw the white
room" they expressed the most amazed
delight.
"Oh." exclaimed Mrs. st. Clair. taking
the comfortable chair which Kitty Of
fered her. how perfectly lovely this Isl
think / shall stay right here until Oc-
tober."
Saved I have fallen into a grotto.'"
cried Ethel quoting Jules vernes hero.
as she threw herself on the couch and
looked as contented as she had previous
ly looked miserable.
Mrs. Curtis felt as IL a great burden
had been lifted from her shoulders and
experienced the satisfaction that every
hostess feels when her guests are COM
Portable and happy.
Kittys head was nearly turned with
the compliments paid TO her cleverness
and ingenuity, and when luncheon was
announced, and another surprise awaited
the guests In the cool, pretty laundry,
their delight knew no bounds, and they
voted Kitty an enchantress.
Nearly Ali.-Mrs. Naybore: Did your