The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-02-13

fa.slnd>found som 80 - bargains; but
you know can no, be false to my
Trust. To watch Aunt Rebecca Win
ter without seeming to watch, Of
course, for the aged always resent the
care which they need) is my chief
object in this trip; therefore when Mr..
Arnold (whose father she knows, but
the old gentleman is travelling in Eu.
rope with his married daughter and
her family when the young Arnold
urged us all to come and spend a
couple of weeks with him, could not
very we'll refuse. Though stranger
to me, he Is not to auntie or BERTHE.
The house is his own. left him by his
mother who died not very long ago.
At first. remained at the Palace with
BERTHE and Archie; BERTHE seemed SO
disturbed at the idea OF my going and
Aunt Rebecca was very liberal, in
sisting that was just as much her
was running away; and the end Of 1t
was (she has such a compelling per.
sonality. you know that she went
with Randall and ]. S. to Casa Fuerte
(Strong House-and you would call
it wel.named could you see it, it is a
massive structure!D while we others
remained until Sunday. On account
of what have limited in regard to the
designs of certain lady was not
sorry to have BERTHE under another
roof. He has a fortune of his OWE.
you know. and reputation as well.
Wealth and position at one blow GER
tainly would appeal to her, an obscure
dependent probably Of no family ut Is
not romantic name) and BERTHE is
very well.bred and rather handsome
with his black eyebrows and gray hair
and aquiline nose. | have been very,
very worried. but feel relieved as to
that. Melville, she Is flying at higher
game. In this house Is multimillion-
aire, in fact the fourth richest man
in the United States, Edwin S. Keatch-
am. He is ill-probably with appendi-
citis, which seems to be the common
lot l asked the doctor--of course.
very delicately-and he said: well,
not exactly. but" and smiled very
conndentially, and begged me not to
mention Mr.. Keatcham's illness or
even that he was in the house. "You
know" he said that when these great
f1nanciers sneeze. the stock-market
shakes: so absolute secrecy, please.
my dear madam" Don't mention 1t to
a soul. will you? OF course ] haven't
seen the invalid; but I've seen his
valet, who is very English; and have
seen his nurse. Who do you suppose
she is? Janet Smith! Yes: you know
she has been a trained nurse. Was
there ever more artful creature! But
Mr.. X. is none of my affairs; he will
have to save himself or be lost. Once
she Is his wife we are safe from that
designing woman. I am quite willing
to admit his danger and her fascina.
ton. Now. Melville. for once admit
that I can be just to woman whom l
dislike.
This house is sumptuous; I've love-
~ bathroom and beautiful huge
closet with a window 1t must have
cost mint OF money. I have been
told that Arnold pere made present
Of 1t to his wife: he let the architect
and her draw all the plans Of It. but
he insisted on attending to the con-
struction himself; he said he was not
going to have any contract work or
"scamping." such as am reliably in
formed has been common in these tow
ering new buildings in San Francisco;
he picked out all the materials him
self and inspected the inspector. 1t
has what they call reinforced con-
crete" and all the beams, etc, are
steel and the lower story is enormous
ly thick as to walls. in the genuine
Mission style. He said he built for
earthquakes. The house is all in the
Spanish hidalgo fashion. I wish you
could see the bas-reliefs and the
carved furniture with cane seats Of the
seventeenth century, all genuine; and
the stamped leather and the iron grille
work-rejas they call it--all copied
from famous Spanish models from To
ledo: you know the ancient Spaniards
We're renowned for their rejas. The
pCLui cS dI Z uHC~dl soVduISI, uOII
know half the names of the artists,
but they are all old and imposing and
some Of them wonderfully preserved.
The electric lights are all in the shape
OF lanterns. The patio. as they call
the court around which the house is
built. reminded me Of the court in Mrs.
Gardeners palace in Boston. only 1t was
not SO crowded with objects and the
pillars are much thicker and the trop-
ical plants and vines more luxuriant
on account of the climate, suppose.
It is all certainly very beautiful.
There is great arched gateway for
carriages-which reminds me. do be
sure to send the Horses into the coun-
try to rest. one at time: and have
Erastus clean the stable properly
while they are gone. You can keep
one horse for golf; but don't use the
brougham ever; and why not send the
surrey to be done over while am
gone? Is the piazza painted yet?
How does the new cook do? Insist
upon her cooking you nourishing food.
You might have the Bridge club of an