The Washington herald., 1909-04-04

entrance OF the Kings Court. on the
drive in this wonderful place? Oh,
Kate. There's nothing Ike it in Chi
cagor'
The exterior OF the building, IN light
pressed brick and stone was strewn with
ornate balconies. none large enough 10
hold a chair. A castellated turret reared
itself proudly above a corner Of the pile,
flashing defiance at the ferryboats. and
expressing the landlords yearnings for
harmony between the building and its
regal name. That no taste might be Of
Tended, all styles Of architecture had been
combined. Here were Byzantine columns
supporting Greek pediments; windows
with the white sashes and square panes
we call colonial: French windows. and
small windows with little loaded panes
OF yellow beveled glass The doorway.
with its massive grille, was near-French-
Renaissance relieved, or rather. weighted
down, by heavy caryatides. which might
have suitably adorned the best Carnegie
library of useful knowledge that our
broad land boasts. To speak OF the hall
way as impressive belittles IT. It's great
stone walls breathed the substantial dig
nifty Of a medieval castle. In a vast
terra Gotta freplace-replica Of a stone
one from a French chateau-Iay three
chill lOgs-also replicas.
The cornices of the hall were carved
with tasty fern design Of uncertain
origin; the ceilings reverted to Greek
squares A strip or carpet ran a scarlet
course from the door to the wash-stand-
marble steps. and thence 10 the elevator
The color Of the carpet was repeated
that is, within three shades-ln several
bits Of velvet, embroidered with gold
hons, which adorned the walls Placed
here and there were solid mission chairs
with leather cushions. A cherry telephone
switchboard. a shiny brass chandelier of
ornate pattern, and two coIored BOYS ar
rayed Ike South American generals. in
hirdli6e uniforms OF robin 's-egg blue and
canary yellow. completed the effect The
whole Of this magnihcence was surround
ed by tail, spiked iron fence Of not en-
tirely un-Florentine design Nan had
been right: Chicago has no such apart-
ment buildings-as yet
In Kate's snug nest on the ninth floor
the two sat on a cushioned window seat
that overlooked the river and the drive
talking and watching until Mans trunk
came When Howard arrived they dress
ed, dined nurriedly, and presently were
driving down brilliant Broadway. ali
three wedged in the unelastic seat of
brougham. Gordon was awaiting them
at the theater. On the moment when
she met him IN the lobby Nan decided
that here, in the life, was the creature
OF the stories But a little later on.
observing him more closely, she saw
that he was not precisely the "six feet OF
pink well-valeted American young man
hood" she had met in fiction. For one
thing. he was a little older. as a sprink-
ling Of gray about his temples testified,
and for another he was much more hui
man. Without looking in the least Ike
the young Hercules who accompanies the
''Golfing Girl" the Yachting Girl" the
Christmas calendar, Gordon managed
somehow TO be well built and handsome.
which didn't seem to weigh on him At
all
The stage box in which they sat pos
sessed the advantage OF having cost dou-
bic the price OF four good seats. besides
commanding fun view Of almost half
the stage-and all the make-up-together
with glimpses of white walls behind the
scenes. men working lime lights, and idle
performers chatting in the wings. Nan
had been In theaters-even in boxes-be-
fore; but this was New York; The even
ing was blur 70 her-a blur Of song.
costume, and rhythmic music. with Cor
don seated back Of her. putting in trench
ant little comments now and then. Re-
fore the play was over he and Nan were
having little jokes together. They even
had bet. Gordon wagering a box OF