Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-27
THE Boil ED DOOR
CHAPTER XXI.
Old Rose and Ivory

- Are 70" going to in the m0rng ,ono
it is. My holiday. is over"
ooh, very we'll" She tossed her head indiferently.
"Do you need me here?" 1t was stupid question
and merited no other answer than it received.
ooh, no, not at all. I'm never lonely except in
company.
She srolled into the drawing room and he followed.
vaguely conscious that for the first time that day
versation languished. Doubt was abroad again. She
went to the piano and her fingers idly the keys;
but when he asked her to sing she promptly refused him.
seemed suddenly very empty and cheeress and he sat
stify in Renaissance chair opposite and tired to make
help laughing. But there malice in her humor;
so he found himself smiling in return.
you're so dreadfully forma! she said.
Il always feel so in this ROOM.
cts too big for two." she admitted. II never sit
here except with visitors
"Then this is where belongI' he said gloomily.
There's your study-you can always 60 there. she
bantered.
Unless you're polite enough to ask me too"
Twill you Gomez" he said, frightening. Il was
"Why? Tvealready visited you without being asked"
TOGETHER they walked up the stairs. Natalie's
door at the top of the landing. For the first
time in his recollection stood ajar and he stopped in
lace. He had always had a wish to know what her
like, and she had noted the direction of
his glance he told her SO: So;
it's in frghtful disorder. Go to your study and I'll join
you presently And in a moment he heard the bolt of
the door moved and she stood cursyng in the opening
ENTER, Vulcan" she cried.
He turned, his face crimson It had slipped his mem
DRY that she knew what Abby called him. 1t seemed
that she not ready to let him forget Or did she
thus establish her own security by keeping her husband
on the defensive?
"Wel" she laughed "arent you comng7"
But he did not move, and only murmured That was
unkind Haven't humbled myself enough?"
mo- not yet. Not so much as t.
You have confessed only half have told you all,
he insisted.
She made no reply, and, turning abruptly, went back
toward her rooms; but she smiled at him over her
shoulder, and he followed
GarrOtt didn't know great deal about feminine
apartments He couldn't remember ever having been
in girls in his life; therefore he hardly pre-
pared for the dainty elegance of Nataies boudoir.
When he went in the door seemed though fresh
Killarney blossom had been brushed across his eyes.
The draperes of crisp, loosely hanging stuff,
in French design of which the predominating note
old rose. Flmy lace curtains peeped between The
furniture ivory color in the lines of the last French
Empire. But there English Colonial chairs too, of
the kind made for comfort well grace. couch
with pillows all the variants of the color scheme from
violet to pale pink drawn alongside the table,
which ormolu lamp with a magenta shade shed
warm glow In one corner was dressing table COW
cred with gold toilet articles of uniform design silver
photograph frames and mirrors; in the other corner
some bookshelves with few we'll chosen volumes.
There a subtle odor of lavender, which seemed
though it might be caused by the blending of the coors
The whole room harmonzed perfectly with Natalie
herself that it seemed part of her.
His wife sat on the couch and motioned him chair
near her. "Do you like my taste?" she asked. "The
furniture all made to my order. The pastel over
the mantel was done by Frenchman. Do you think
it is like me?"
She directed his gaze but it did follow hers to the
pastel. On the mantel shelf below the portrait in a
while she watched him, Wondering what he was going
to do he got up took the photograph and put it face
downward on the bookshelves
If you don't mind he said quietly. "Three is