The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-07-23


canvas. In the boudoir, one might
apply ones eye to the cracks between
the boards and view the panorama OF
family life next door. In sleeping
chamber or bath one must perforce
hear the most intimate of whispered
conversations IN the adjoining apart
ments. II one pinned for seclusion in
Wapiti. one must climb above timber
line to get 1t.
But Rose O'Hara was an expert.
enced traveller. She gave small thought
to the fnconyeniences and consoled her.
self instead with the wonderful views,
the marvellous contrasts. After direct
ing Ernestine, her maid. to hang bro
cade over the rough walls and to cover
the knot holes in the floor with rugs,
she leaned from a side window and
gazed with awed delight into the
depths of ravine with water tinkling
over the rocks and losing Itself with
d faint. musical splash In a pool a
thousand feet below Before the front
windows lay majestic picture OF
great, bald, blue ranges, the pines
marching up their bold rocky sides
straight to the timber line, and, far
above that barren expanse the peaks
of snow. From rear window she
could almost lay her cheek against
steep mountain. all rocks and scrub
pine and sage bushes. How she loved
1T! She drew in the cool, dry, pure
air in great limitations. 1t was all
magic and mystery.
Upon these ecstasies Ernestine pres
emily impinged, CONSERVATION, even
despair written all over hands, eye
brows, shoulders. God forgive her, but
she had been Ill in New York and had
not wished to trouble Mademoiselle, SO
she had rashly, time had proved how
rashly, asked Miss Hodgkins, the Sec
rotary. to attend to the packing Of the
trunks, and now, she herself had been
unpacking, and to her horror, oh, what
horror! she had discovered that there
was not one thing fit for Mademoiselle
to wear She could accuse no one OF
spite. but that even an English secre-
tary could have thrown beautiful
gowns into trunks after such
fashion,
That will do" said Rose O'Hara
peremptorily; and then, like all great
generals, she issued her commands
briefly and to the point: Find out
where the things may be most salts
factorily pressed and Numbered Give
the people to whom you send them
the least possible time to do them.
will take my meals here in my apart
ment until they are finished"
There was, naturally, but one place
to send them-the Snowflake Laun.
dry, and 1t maintained the high stan
dard Mrs. MacChesney had set for it.
Miss O'Haras beautiful and innumer-
able white garments were promptly re-
turned to her the next evening. The
mere daughters of dollars might wait;
but not the great singer The adver-
tisement OF her patronage was above
rubies, so the entire force of the laun-
dry was concentrated upon those ex-
quisite garments, and upon their
speedy return; they were admitted by
even the grudging Ernestine to be
laundered beyond criticism and pressed
with the most finished art Paris
coul7 offer nothing better Both she
and Miss Hodglsins forgot their dis
sensions in a trance of admiration
evoked ~ those robes.
Then, her more phlegmatic mind re-
verting to practical things, the secre-
tary picked up the bill CHANGING over
1t, she became violently doubtful of her
eyesight. She turned to Ernestine in
this moment of panic, and again there
was unprecedented unanimity of senti-
ment between them. The bill had
Medusa-like effect upon Ernestine, ap
Darently turning her to stone Then
without abandoning her pose of statu-
esque horror, she burst into roulades
and crescendos of dismay-c oloratura
1t vas moment of emotion not to be
wasted
With the slightest Of knocks, the
maid burst into the boudoir. There
Rose O'Hara reclined languidly upon
couch, an unopened novel in her
hand, listening indifferently to dis.
cussion between husband and wife in
the next room. and now and again let.
ting her attention wander to a large
knot-hole in the floor through which
she could view the lady In the room
below enjoying her siesta.
She looked up in astonished reproof
as Ernestine entered, closely followed
by Miss Hodgkins The pantomime
furnished by the former was most
artistically presented.
The singer reused herself to frown
upon this admirable portrayal OF men
tai disorder. What is it?" she asked
sharply.
"oh, they are beautiful, Mademoi-
selle, re clothes" exclaimed Ernestine,
but, mon Dieu! re bill! hat not re
min to hol' it."
With British calm, Miss Hodgkins
stepped past her and presented the
paper bearing the letter-head, Snow
Flake Laundry
Miss O'Hara took 1t with indifference
coupled with Impotence. Then, as
her eyes ran over the items and fell
upon the total amount, they widened,
her jaw dropped.
"Incredible!" she cried. Impossible,
This is some error This is surely the
bill from the jewelers. for my new
emerald necklace You, Miss Hodg-
kins, must be guilty Of this absurd
mistake
Quietly but firmly, Miss Hodgkins
repealed the insinuation. Again the
singer ran over the items of the bill.
and this time Indignantly: They
think" she said bitterly, chat be.
cause | am an opera singer, and be-
cause my press agent and manager