Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-09

Fifteen years was long time. There was
something pleasantly tangible in the thought
that this well ordered house or another like
it might shelter him as long as that. But he
felt restless and i'll at ease. 1t didn't seem fair
to Jamison, or even to O Dowd. He decided
to go back to New York as soon as he could
and help get the new shop into working or
der. Of course for the present his plans
must be uncertain. Convention would
hardly permit him to spend his honeymoon
in overalls.
His toilet finished. he found himself sitting
in the big Morris chair beside the fireplace,
facing the door that led to his wife's apart
mentS. The door was of white enamel, with
a cutglass knob like the other doors of the
study; but the mere fact that, like the for
hidden door of Bluebeard, it was the one
door that must not be opened, gave it a mys-
terry and interest like nothing he had ever
before experienced. Once he fancied he
heard light laugh and the sound of hur-
rying footsteps. She was happy again! She
had never laughed like that when she was
with him. He tried to picture her in the
dainty informality of her own rooms, the
real Natalie Invested of the veneers of for
mality she wore for him alone. What were
her rooms like? He was sure that there he
would find the impress of her personality he
guessed at but SO little knew,-the color of
the walls and drapery, the pictures and
books she would choose, her photographs.
her silver and jewelry, and all the other
dainty knickknacks, symbols of the life
of the woman of her class. 1t was wonder
full door, the gate of Paradise-with the key
thrown away!
Down stairs Leontine brought word that
Mrs. Garriott had a. headache and asked to
be excused. He had expected that and was
| oil n no
seated in Oliver Judson's armchair at the
head of the table. Here he discovered that
Bradley had an assistant in blue and gold
with a potatobug waistcoat, who followed
in the buffers steps placing dishes and re-
moving others in an endless round of unob-
trusive activity. Four times only was the
silence broken, when Bradley questioned
"Sherry, sir?" followed at appropriate pc
RODS by "Burgundy?" Champagne? and
"Pert?" to all of which Garriott nodded
gloomy aquiescence. He ordered coffee on
the terrace and went out to smoke. meditat-
ing gravely upon certain scriptural passage
referring to the respective merits of herbs
and STALLED OK" But a very dark and
stout cigar soon contributed share in the
argument, and he lay in a long wicker chair
with sleepy eye on the wistful moon, in a
state of cheerful lethargy which defed the
tooth of Time.
In the gloom below him lay the tennis
courts at his left stretched a wing of the
building he had not seen before. the guest
chambers evidently, at the edge of the
woods was the squash-racket house, and
beyond in a field were some jumps where
Natalie schooled her hunters. CARROT
wondered hazily where the track and golf
links could be concealed. Down in the har-
Dor he could hear the hum of motors and
saw lights skimming the water in the direc-
ton of the village. What chance was there
here to fall on evil days? The balmy air
came up from the Sound and stirred the lilac
bushes to perfume.
7 ALLY he watched the smoke of his cigar
- float upward in the moonlight until it
drfted to a window among the vines. There
he was drowsiy aware of face, at least he
thought he was, emerging from the shadows.
So he sat up and looked around.
Hello" said the face.
Brooke was sure he must have been dream
ing. Was she really making an effort to be
friendly? "Hello!" he replied
''Are you lonely?"
eyes. How is your head?"
Better, thank you. Isn't it heavenly
out?"
"Greatl Won't Won come down."