Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-02-27
CHAPTEAt K.

CHAPTEAl x.
THE PATRlCIANS ENTERTAIN.
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 falaily, the
Milbreys. Shaded candles leave all but
the glowing table in a gloom Giscreetly
pleasant. One need not look so high
as the old-fashioned succeed ceiling
The family portraits tone tgreeably
into the half-light of the walls; the
huge old-fashioned walnut s:leboard
soberly ornate with it's mirrors, its
white marble top and it's wocd-carved
fruit, towers majestically aloft in
proud scorn of the frivolous tChippen-
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 bestows last cautious survey
upon the cut-glass and silver radiating
over the dull white damask. Finding
the table and it's appointments fault
less, he assures himself once more
that the sherry will come on ire
proachably at a temperature of so de-
grees; that the Burgundy will not fall
below IS nor mount above 70; for Jar
Wis wots of a palate so acutely sensi-
tive that it never fails to record a
variation of so 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
to the right-minded. All smelt of the
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 builders architec-
ture." The hall, the long parlor, the
back parlor or library, the high stuc-
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 that such things
should be 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 unsullied;-to find, indeed, as we
find in the house of Milbrey, 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 un-
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 house
in "Millionaire's 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 current
sweep them west of the Park into one
of those hideously new apartment
houses, where the halls are done in
marble that seems to have been sliced
from a huge Roquefort cheese, and
where one must vie, perhaps, with a
shop-keeper for the favors of an ir.
reverent and materialistic janitor.
The young woman herself entertains
privately a state of mind which she
has no intention of making public. It
is enough, she reasons, that her action
should Outwardly accord with the best
traditions of her class; and, indeed, hex
family would never dream Of demand
ing more.
Her gown tonight is of orchard
green, trimmed with apple blossoms,
single pink spray of them caught in
her hair. The rounding, satin grace OF
her slender arms, sloping to the opal.
tipped fingers, the exquisite line from
ear to shoulder strap, the melting ripe.
ness of her chin and throat, the tender
pink and white of her fine skin, the
capricious, melting tilt of her small
head, the dainty lift of her short nose,
these allurements she has inventor.
led with a calculating and satisfied
eye. She is glad to believe that there
is every reason why it will soon be
over. @3'- -. :,.=, 4 .s. *s.s E