Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-14

BEG pardon" he said. "Is the care
taker aboutY
There is no caretaker."
"What-no caretaker?"
Not that l know Of"
The man stood thinking for a few
moments, the girl waiting for him to
proceed.
I'm going to look over the house
with a view TO certain changes
sent by the agentT"
mo; the owner"
The girl didn't like to admit him
without voucher, and she didn't like
to refuse him admittance.
81 am commissioned" she said. ito
lay out n plan for decoration and
superintend the work. If you are to
do the same with regard TO the
is no reason why you should not
take advantage Of my being here to let
you in"
Thank you very much. We may
gain something in the matter of eff
feet by looking the house over to-
gether."
How"
why, there should be harmony be-
tween the construction and the decora-
ton"
Il see. Perhaps something may be
gained, as you suggest"
They entered the main hall, passed
through the lower rooms. then up
stairs, then down again. the man look
ing for spaces fitted for enlargement,
the woman laying out a scheme for
decoration.
Il presume" said the man, that
you are acting professionally here"
In reply she handed him a card on
which was engraved Edna ]. Strang,
Decorator"
They fell to talking of scheme for
the principal suit of rooms on the
main floor She laid out one, and he
asked her how another he suggested
would Go-daTk green for one room, a
golden tan for another. She said the
/ effect would be too somber. Not with
white woodwork? he insisted She
caught his idea and looked at him sur.
priSed.
Il thought you were merely an archl.
tect," she continued.
Didn't l tell you that architecture
and decoration go together"
She pouted. She had been engaged
/ to decorate the house, and this build
or" had suggested a scheme of colors
that she felt obliged to adopt. An.
other faculty she noticed in him that
proved his artistic taste. AS they
passed through the rooms he pro-
nouuced the pictures hanging on the
walls daubs. One or two he pointed
out as exceptions, and Miss Strang
knew he was right.
The architect finished his inspec
tion and went away, but the next
morning he reappeared with u roll OF
paper on which he had laid out plans
for alterations. For awhile he busicC
himself with these plans. at the same
time inspecting the places where the
alterations were to be made, making
notes and changes. Then he JOINED
the decorator to suggest the color
scheme for the rooms opening into
those he proposed to add. In every
case she was surprised at his knowl
edge Of the subject and his taste
Then she found herself sitting in al
easy chair while. he sat I'm another IL
one Of the big drawing rooms listen
ing to him while he talked Of art. o
music. of SCULPTURE. OF painting, indi
eating by his words that he was az
adept in all He admitted to hav,
been abroad, and she was astonishec
NJ the variety of Information he haC
picked up on his trip. Then they fel
to talking again of the owner Of th'
place.
II have heard" he said, that he 1
fixing up this place TO settle III: tina
he is tired Of wandering; that hi
tastes are really domestic and he /
going to marry. I think there must b.
something In this last. for | can't Sc
why he should care to live alone In
place like this"
Did you hear he IS engagedF
NO but did hear that he didn'
pt@g0se to select wife from anon
the nigh hiers with whom be has bee
accustomed TO hnbnOb"
81 should think ne would wish on
OF his own class"
1t depends upon what you mean b
class am told that women we col
; slider the very highest Of the hig
drink cocktails and smoke cigarette
some Of them because IL is expected {
them by the set in which they NOV
others because they have formed II
! habit Of drinking and smoking just Ill
men"
Miss Strang shrugged her shoulders
They say that Blakeslee the Own'
. of the tumb!edDwn place. has sickenG
Of all that He wants 70 home. Il wi
| Of the SANE grade o!Erurity and r
/ fnement Is his mother. and childrC
= whom he may train up to be cred
10 their country"
Il shOGlCa; think a man with sur