Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-17

at this time of day meant tea, but al
most Immediately footman came
through the glass wall, carrying a tray
with nothing on it except tall tumblers.
There were straws sticking out OF the
tumblers. and as the man moved l
could hear faint tinkle of ice.
For minute l was bitterly disap-
pointed, because the thought of tea
nad supported me for hours. But
when l tasted the stuff in my glass l
wasn't disappointed any longer. Ii
had two or three strawberries, some
bits of pineapple, and white grape
bobbing about on top, and 1t was full
OF chopped ice. 1 don't know what 1t
was, for nobody mentioned its name,
and / was ashamed to ask, lest 1t
might seem too ignorant; but 1t was
good, and tasted as If 1t might have
a little wine in it, mixed with
fizzy water and other things. When
ent girl; quite merry and so friendly
toward Mrs. Ess Kay. l had never
thought her such nice woman.
laughed at almost everything that she
and Sally said, and said some rather
funny things myself. Still, I'm not
sure that as regular thing ! wouldn't
rather have tea.
We sat resting for some time, though
I wasn't tired at all now. l could
have run a mile, but suddenly | felt a
little sleepy, and l was glad when
Mrs. Ess Kay proposed TO go to our
rooms. Leaving the fountain court we
came into hall. hung with tapestry,
and from it wide stairway led us up
to a gallery, lighted from the top.
which runs all round the house. with
the doors of the bedrooms opening OH
from 1t.
Mine is so gorgeous that l haven't
Known one thoroughly comfy moment
| Il it since l came, except at night
when I'm asleep.
One would think, as Battlemead Il
| banked among the finest old Tudor
| places in England. and people come OF
| Thursdays and give shillings to see i
| "a very good thing for us, though it:
| extremely announcement. as it pays fol
| all the gardens and all the servants
| wages that it would be grander thar
quite new house, in a country like
| America. But Battlemead, even in it
| palmiest days, must have been shabby
beside Mrs. Ess Rays home in New
York
Our grandest bedroom, the on,
where Queen Elizabeth slept, is quit
dull old hole compared to Mrs. Els:
| Rays splendid room. Mine, at home
has all the furniture covered with fad
ed chintz, and the curtains are mad,
of plain white dimity. But l love thu
deep window seats where l can cur
| up among cushions, with a cataract o
roses yelling the picture of the terrace
with it's Ivy covered stone balustrade
the sundial, the two white peacocks
and far away, the park with blu'
mist among the trees. And / haven
learned yet to love my beautiful room
at Mrs. Ess Rays, though l admire /
| immensely-admire to the verge o
| awe.
It's pink and white and silver. Tn
l carpet Is plHh anu IceiS liht lilOSS, IL
you step. The wall is covered witt
pink and silver brocade. except wher
there are panels with Watteau-like pic
lures. The curtains are foamy lace
with the pink and silver brocade fall
ing over them. The furniture look
as if ii were made of ivory; there's
mirror in three parts, reaching from
the floor half way to the ceiling, s
that you see yourself in front and tw
profiles, like astral bodies, thing
which I've always wanted to cultivate
as they would be so nice for trying o.
dresses, or making calls on dull people
On the dressing table is another min
ror, an oval one, framed with pin
roses, each of which has an electri
light hidden in its heart, and the bed
spread is of pink and silver brocad
to match the hangings. with a largt