Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-11-06
CHAPTER VII.

From the very first step he made
inside the outer nall, with its oaken
nail-studded door, tesseIated pave
ment, and diamondpaned windows,
Armathwaite felt that the atmosphere
of this spick and span mansion was
as different from that of the desolate-
looking, rambling old house in which
he had passed the previous night as
light from darkness. The inner hall
was panelled and rooted with oak, the
floor was of pardueterie, the walls
were laden with trophies of elk-horns,
boars' tusks, and Enthusiastically mod
ern armour A great fire burned in a
high tiled fireplace, square brass Ian
terms hung from the roof, and the sun
1 light streamed through stained glass,
and made the armour shine and the
tiles of the fireplace glitter, until the
incomer was dazzled whichever way
he looked. Armathwaite was instant
ly and strongly conscious that he pre-
ferred the mouldy old hall at the
Crosmonts house. with its faded, buff
colored walls, and the untidy border
Of guns and coat-standS and fishing
rods, to this brand-new medieval
splendor; although the wide oak stair
case. with its ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
banisters, and the woodwork round the
doors, met with his approval, and
some tapestry hangings, arranged
curtainwise before one wide doorway
which were said to have belonged
to Marie Antoinette, but the history
OF which did not become authentic
until their arrival in Regent street
gave a harmonious resting-place to
the eye from the glittering brightness.
Lady Kildonan glanced at him
doubtfully.
you didn't like this place, | see"
she said with a dubious look at one
particularly overpowering arrange
ment OF weapons and banners crossed
behind huge brass shield. Nor do
much. think. My grandfather built
this house, and filled it with mahogany
chairs and tables that were neither
old nor interesting. So gave one of
the big London upholstery firms carte
blanche, and told them above all not
| to make IL gloomy. They've overdone
the Afghan guns, l think 1t looks
like a shooting gallery. three shots a
penny"
But her disappointment was only a
| joke TO her. She darted through the
Marie Antoinette curtains with the
graceful agility which recalled to
Armathwaite's mind the movements of
greyhound and leading him along
passage which was evidently re-
production of convent cloister,
opened the door of one of the rooms
with an arch pout of penitential de.
! mureness.
For what we are about to receive
~ she whispered and sprang into
! the room like ray of sunshine
1t was the morning-room. entirely
IN the taste OF fashionable London
room. with brentwood furniture and
I plush-betasselled cushions. japanese
vases and Japanese screens, reed
curtains and dried bulrushes, with an
antique" cabinet, and a lot OF little
Urcscme tables, laden with objects of
no value TO the owner ar to ANYBODY
else, Half a dozen figures sprang up
IKE Jacks in the box from different
parts of the room as Lady KiIdonan
came in, and Armathwaite recognized
each individual by the hasty sketch
ne had received. Only the master OF
the house and the accomplished arti.
hcer IN oranges were absent. Mr.
Mason. his fingers still encountered
with skein Of wool which he had
been obhgingly assisting one OF the
ladies TO wind, ambled up to his host.
ess at once in a burst of enthusiasm.
told her that the morning air had
made her look quite too lovely" and
led the feminine chorus of WELCOMING
small-talk with the precision of a pre