The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-09-03

very, very big"-here she laughed
and | am very small. I am sure a
little woman ought to live in a little
house. to be comfortable. But I have
a very good doctor-so kind and
cleVer-he says it is only want
or tone and a little heart
weakness-that's all. Come AMI
nave some tea-there's a fire at this end
of the room"
She led the way TO a sort OF "cozy
corner" where light and warmth were
concentrated near a teatable set out
with Queen Anne silver and Sevres
china, and sitting in a low chair oppo-
site her, Fame watched her in compass
sionate silence.
IF she had looked a child before, she
seemed more than ever one now-she
had grown so thin and pale and fragile,
that it seemed as If the merest puff of
wind would blow her out of existence
altogether. Her little hands, waxen-
white and delicate. were scarcely equal
to the task of lifting the teapot to pour
out the tea, but as she busted herself
with her hospitable duties, a faint color
came into her cheeks, and her eyes
sparkled more brightly.
Isn't this a huge room?' she said, as
she passed Fame his cup. Its meant
for hundreds of people, you know-peo-
pie in powdered wigs n court suits.
1 don't think 1t accommodates itself to
modern life at ALL"
1T is, indeed, enormousi' and Fame
glanced up and down and round about
him. 1.-The ceiling appears to be fres-
coed"
"Oh, yes, 1t is wonderful. Quite hor-
rid, In my opinion-but Mr.. Afingham
says II Is marvellous. Any number of
fat goddesses and Cupids. You will see
it much better by daylight. We v
no gas in this room. because it would
spoil the f~rescoe-that is why 1t is al
ways so dark. To light it up we should
have to put candle in all these four
big Venetian chandeliers, and each one
of them holds two hundred lights"
mo economy in candles there." said
Fame, laughing.
/ mo, indeed! But, of course, we
never have occasion to light 1t up-we
} never give parties; there are not enough
| people in the neighborhood to come to
} them, If We did,"
2 How far are you from sandring-
' ham?' he inquired.
"Oh, a long way. We are just con-
0 veniently out of the reach of everybody
: worth knowing, and everything hat is
going on"
n And she laughed, a trif1e bitterly.
= at must be rather dull at times" he
said. studying her changed face atten-
4 lively. you hould get some friends to
come and stay with you-a jolly house
party"
"Oh, Mr.. Allingham would never hear
: of such a thing" she said, quickly. He
! bear to AVE a number of people
about him. My mother came down for
{ a short time in September, but she de
!, clared the house was damp and gave
her rheumatism. She went back to
London after about a week, and then I
u fell ILL.,"
: What was the matter with your" he
asked, sympathetically..
{ She shrugged her shoulders.
"All sorts of things-fainting fits,
weakness. nerves-disag reeableness gem
orally. Here is Harold"
= She broke off her conversation with
Fame directly her husband entered the
room, and seemed to shrink into her.
self like a sensitive plant too roughly
handled. A~llingham himself was the
same as neutrality-suspicious. in dress.
demeanor II what is understood by a
portion of society as "gentlemanliness."
He greeted Far with exactly the COR
rectly measured air of eordiality-
namely, that of the wealthy host and
encouraging patron-and it was an air
that CALLED the young artists pride con-
siderably, though he was careful, for
Mrs. A~llingham's peace and comfort, to
show no offense He certainly could not
complain of his entertainment. He had
= a suite of rooms to himself, and per-
n feet liberty of action; he .breakfasted.
:. lunched and dined at a table appointed
a with the costliest luxuries; a carriage
was at his disposal whenever he
needed it; and Mr.. Allingham had.
Z furthermore, given him the choice OF
any horse in his stables, should he care
! for riding. He had engaged to make
: two dozen sketches of Dunscombe Hall
u from all the different points of view.
n and when once he began his work he
became almost entirely engrossed in it.
The place was undoubtedly n fine OBJ
v ject for any artists study-its archi-
lecture was well-nigh perfect. and all
n the surroundings were eminently pic
n turesque, though indubitably of O soli-
n tary and melancholy character. He did
- not see as much of Mrs. Allingham as
If he could have wished; she was often
n ailing, and though she invariably ex-
T. erted herself to appear at dinner, there
d were times when she was not equal
70 even to the effort. and her husband.
y seated in solitary state at his glitter
le ins board, would make formal excuses
ID for her absence.
a My wife is very young" he would
IT explain ponderously. "and is therefore
inclined to give way to any trifing all
II ment The doctor assures me she Is
suffering merely from a little want OF
II tone, and the autumnal air depresses
n her; there is nothing at ali serious the
= matter"
Is SHE looks extremely i'll said Fame,
e impulsively.
It you think SOP" and Mr.. dillingham;
d smiled indulgently. II expect you are
:, not accustomed to the ways of women;
e they put their looks on and off as
n easily as their gowns. In her present
4 nervous condition of health it quite de-
4 ponds on Mrs. Allingham's own humor
re as to whether she looks well or Hit
: has nothing whatever TO do Will any
lie actually real organic mischief"
l. Fame swallowed a glass of wine