Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-08-23
CHAPTE.t X.

To reward the enduring who read
politely through the garish revel of
the preceding chapter, covers for IA
are now laid with correct and tasteful
quietness at the sophisticated board of
that fine old New York family, the
Milbreys Shaded candles leave all but
the glowing table in a gloom discreetly
pleasant. One need not look so high
as the old-fashiOned succeed ceiling.
The family portraits tone agreeably
into the half-light of the walls; the
huge old-fashioned walnut sideboard,
soberly ornate with it's mirrors, its
white marble top and its wood-carved
fruit, towers majestically alOft in
proud scorn of the frivolous Chippen-
dale fad.
Jarvis, the accomplished and incom-
parable butler, would be subdued and
scholarly looking but for the fragrant
scandal of his pOrt-wine nose. He
gives finishing little fillips to the white
chrysanthemums massed in the central
epergne on the long silver plateau,
and bestUWs a last cautious survey
upon the cut-glass and silver radiating
over the duh white damask. Finding
the table and its appointments fault
less, he assures himself once more
that the sherry will come on ire
proachably at temperature of 60 de-
grees; that the Burgundy will not fall
below IS nor mount above 20; for Jar
Wis wOts of a palate so acutely sensl-
tive that it never fails to record a
variation of 50 much as one degree
from the approved standard of tenn
perature.
How reStful this quiet and reserve
after the color and line tumult of the
Higbee apartment There the flush
and bloom of newness were oppressive
shop. Here the dull tones and decor
Gus lines caress and soothe instead Of
overwhelming the imagination with
effects too grossly literal. Here is the
veritable spirit of good form.
Throughout the house this contrast
might be noted. 1t is the brown-stOne,
high-stoOp house, guarded by a cast
iron fence. built in vast numbers when
the world of fashion moved north to
Murray Hill and Fifth avenue a gen.
Grafton ago. One of these houses was
like all the others inside and out, built
of unimaginative "builder's architec-
ture." The hall, the long parlor, the
back parlOr or library, the high stuc-
coed ceilings-nOt only were these alike
in all the houses, but the furnishings,
too. were apt to be of a sameness in
them all, rather heavy and tasteless,
but serving the ends tnat such things
should he meant to serve, and never
flambOyant. OF these relics of a SIM
pier day not many survive to us, save
in the shameful degeneracy of board
ing houses. But in such as are left,
we may confidently expect to find the
traditions of that more dignified time
kept unsulIied;- find, indeed, as we
find in the house of Milbrey, a settled
air of gloom that suggests insolvent
but stubbornly determined exclusive
ness.
Something of this air, too, may be
noticed in the surviving tenants of
these austere relics. Yet it would
hardly be observed in this house on
this night for not only do arriving
guests bring the aroma of a later
prosperity. but the hearts of our host
and hostess beat high with a new
hope. For the fair and sometimes I'M
certain daughter of the house of Mil
brey, after many ominous mutterings
delays, and frank rebellions, has de-
clared at last her readiness to be a
credit to her training by comforting her
family prestige, distinction of manner
and charms of person upon one
equipped for their suitable mainten.
ance.
Already her imaginative father is
ravishing in fancy the mouldiest wine
cellars of continental Europe. Already
the fond mother has idealized a house
in "Millionaires Row" east of the
Park, where there shall be twenty ser
wants instead of three, and there shall
cease that gnawing worry lest the
treacherous north setting curren
sweep them west of the Park into one
of those hideously new apartment
houses, where the halls are done il
marble that seems to have been SLICED
from a huge RoQuefort cheese, anC
where one must vie, perhaps, with ;
shop-keeper for the favors of an ir
reverent and materialistic janitor.
The young woman herself entertain
privately a state of mind which sh
has no intention of making public. l
I is enough, she reasons, that her actor
should outwardly accord with the hes
traditions of her class; and, indeed, he
family would never dream of demand
ing more.
Her gown tonight is of orchar
green, trimmed with apple blossom!
a single pink spray of them caught i
her hair. The rounding, satin grace c
her slender arms, sloping to the opa
: tipped fingers, the exquisite line froI
ear to shoulder strap, the melting ripe
ness of her chin and throat, the tende
: pink and white of her fine skin, tn
, capricious, melting tilt of her sma
head, the dainty lift of her short nos
these allurements she has inventor
led with a calculating and Statistic
eye. She is glad to believe that ther
9 is every reason why it will soon b
! over.
l And, since the whole loaf Is motor
: iously better than a half, here is tn
i engaging son 0f tho houca aIcp firml