Barbour County index., 1910-12-07


A woman's counsel brought US first to
woe.-Dryden.
Watt" she said I'VE shall have
candles" She clapped her hands
sharply, and again there entered the
silent old serving woman, who, obedi-
ent to a gesture, proceeded to light
additional candles in the prism stands
and sconces. The apartment was now
distinct In all it's details under this
additional flood of light. Decently
as / might | looked about l was
forced to stifle the exclamation of sur
prise which rose to my lips.
Here certainly was European luxury
transferred to our shores. This In SIM
pie Washington, with it's vast white
unfinished capitol, its piecemeal miles
OF mixed residences, and novels!
fancied stern Andrew Jackson or plain
John Calhoun here!
The furniture I discovered to be
exquisite In detail, of rosewood and
mahogany. with many brass chasings
and carvings. after the fashion of the
empire. and here and there florid orna-
mentation following that of the court of
the earlier Louis. Fanciful little clocks
with carved scrolls stood about. Here
and there a divan and couch showed
elaborate care In comfort. Beyond
lace-screened grille saw an alcove-
doubtless cut through the original par
kition wall between two of these hum
BILE houses-and within this stood a
nigh tester bed, its heavy mahogany
posts beautifully carved, the couch
itself piled deep with foundations of
I know not what of down and spread
most daintily with a coverlid of am
ber satin, whose edges fringed out al
most to the floor. At the other ex-
tremity, screened off as in a distinct
apartment, there stood small couch,
Napoleon bed, with carved ends,
furnished more simply. but with equal
richness.
One resented the liberties England
took in establishing this manner of
menage in our simple city, and ar
rogantly taking for granted our ignor-
Ance regarding it.; but none the less
one was forced to commend the
thoroughness shown. My first impress
sion was that of surprise; my second,
as have said. feeling of resentment
at the presumption which installed all
this in our capital of Washington.
presume my thought may have
been reflected in some manner In my
face. l heard a gentle laugh, and
turned about. She sat there in great
carved chair, smiling, her white arms
stretched out on the rails, the fingers
Just gently curving.
She had thrown back over the rail
OF the chair the rich cloak which
covered her In the carriage, and sal
now in the full light, in the splendoI
of satin and lace and gems, her arms
bare. her throat and shoulders white
and bare. her figure recognized gra
ciously by every line of a supert
gowning such as we had not yet
learned on this side of the sea.
She did not speak at first, but sa
and smiled. studying, l presume. t
find what stun / was made of.
BE seated, pray" she said at last
let us talk over this matter"
Obedient to her gesture, l dropped
into a chair opposite to her, she her
self not varying her posture and still
regarding me with the laugh in he
half-closed eyes.
what do you think of my littl
placer" she asked finally.
1.-TWO things, madam" said l, hal
sternly. 'If it belonged to a man, an
to q minister plenipotentiary, shoul
not approve 1t. If 1t belonged to lad
of means and desire to see the land
of this little world. should approve
very much
She looked at me with eyes slight
narrowed. but no trace OF perturbatio
crossed her face. l saw it was n
ordinary woman with whom we ha
to do.
at all events. l should say that tn
bird confined in such a cage, wher
secrecy is so imperative, would 6
times find weariness-would, in fac
wish to escape to other employment
You, madam looked at her direc
Iy-"are a woman of so much intelleC
that you could not be content merel
to live"
NO" she said. II would not be col
tent merely to live"
Precisely. Therefore, since I
make life worth the living there mus
be occasionally trifle of spice, b
of adventure, either for man or Won
an. crggest to you. as something o