New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-13


harsh laugh. as the gate swung wide Lady,
We dashed through into dark avenue wind
ing under trees dripping with moisture. The
woods advanced close TO tn -E7d on either side
thick overgrovn. melanchcly looking
You'll not be mindin' old Pat. miss" apollo
getcalIy; hes an ugly divil"
/ made no reply I did mind old Pat
The long avenue was InOnotonous unchanging
No attempt had been made 10 open UP views
yet felt sure we were following a high ridge
commanding. but for the impenetrabie wood
land, prospect Of the river. At last there
came an opening in r. trees: We passed mass
Of buildings the hit long garden wall
and in another NOM t stopped in front OF
large square house.
Highgrove Hall a red brick mansion
three stories in height a ponderOus structure
with great windows. and broad veranda en-
crcling it on three sides on the east the side
away from the river. what had once been
veranda had been built W to make new room.
The window looking toward the front in this
addition was heavily shattered but through
glass door which led from it TO the veranda
shone bright pink glow Evidently the occu-
pant of this ROOM finding the day too dark and
dreary, had had recourse 10 lamplight. Inside
the glass door hung pink silk curtain. This
was the one cheerful object anywhere to be
seen.
: To the east OF the house a steep. rocky
knoll. surmounted by a grove OF pines. This
the driver pointed out to me. saying it was the
grove for which the house named As he
spoke the heavy front door swung open. a tall
salOw faced young man appeared on the
threshold and languidly invited me to enter and
sit down
''Pn see to your trunk" he said. with air OF
gentle endurance of the evils OF life My amt
your horse awful wet. Larry This damp goes
right straight to my throat" Then in answer
TO some remark OF Larry's: oh you're a tough.
you are-in every sense of the word
The hall into which the butler ushered me
very large and handsome. running the length OF
the house. The end opposite the front door was
entirely Of glass. through which one caught
glimpse Of distant woodland. One might have
seen more had not mass of palms and flower
/ ing plants. in big, green tubs. filed this i'm
mense window. They formed charming back
ground. however. for beautiful marble statue
| of Fortune with her wheel which stood before
! them. The goddess looked as though just
emerging from this bower OF greenery 10 smile
/ a greeting to incoming guests. graceful figure.
with the air of being the presiding genius Of the
place.
The floor Of the han OF white marble-in
great square blocks-and the lofty frescOed cell
| ing was supported by slender pillars of the
same cold shining stone; six on either side.
! Two rooms opened of the hall on the left-the
river side OF the hOuse-but their doors
! Shut to the right, but one at the back OF the
| hall. the space in front being occupied by
great staircase. 1t rose massive yet graceful in
| its deep recess. to a broad landing above which
/ was large window OF stained glass. There 1t
| branched to right and left. winding to the
| ond story. Underneath the window. in a spa
| cious niche, cleaned another white statue-the
Venus de Medici
! So far the hall was perfect-imposing in its
| spaciOusness and cold severity of marble-but
4 the furnishings We're barbarous and out of keep
ing. Between the pillars were broad dtvans.
covered with rich red satin or white-and-goId
brocade, piled high with luxurious cushions
while above them great mirrors in broad gold
frames covered the walls nearly 10 the ceiling.
rejecting the marble pillars. great staircase and
smiling Venus. until one lost ones self in end
less vistas.
On the white hoor-a shining floor OF Ice II
might have been-were strewn richly coIored
rugs. tiger skins and one great polar bear skin.
this last not out of place on the icelike marble.
Because Of the Oriental magnihcence might
have imagined myself in the hall Of some Ind
ian potentate-a mighty rajah! was so much
interested It did not seem long before the butler
reappeared. coming from the back Of the recess
me with slow and languid tread. and. remem-
bering he one whom I 10 hold
authority I looked at him curiously. He was
tall. slender and melancholy looking, but with
something comic in his Appearances If the air
of detection might be an afectation merely. His
brown hair was worn long IN front. TO allow OF
it's being arranged in a lovelock. curling loosely
over his high. saIow forehead His eyebrows
were raised as if In constant surprise that any
one should care to exist in so sad a world. and
his long nose seemed contenptuously adrooP IN
its profound disgust with its surroundings
Madam viii see you now, Miss Dean" he
drawIed. as he approached adding. as rose and
followed him across the hall: It's one OF her
bad days-but you needn't mind-rooms to let
you know And he tapped his forehead sig
nihcantly.
He led me 10 the door from which he had Just
entered the hall. TO the left OF the staircase at
the back Of its recess. and knew it led to the
part Of the veranda that had been closed. He
opened il, and I found myself in a narrow
passage with three dOors-besides that by which
I had entered-leading from IT. The butler.
noticing my glances OF interest. pointed with his
long thumb from one TO the other. saying:
This to the left. pieazza; in front, Madam's
maids room-oh, she's caution. she is,-that
one. down the entry. Madam's apartment
And finging open this last with much cere-
mOny. he ushered me in. saying. inpresstvely.
Miss Dean. Madam
I entered-and found myself in a new world.
Go b. continued1
TRANSFERRED TO GOVERNORS ISLAND,