The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1912-08-15
The Architect
He Worked HarmOni=
Ously With the
Decorator

time to time she made memoranda,
looking at walls. ceiling. corners. win
dow curtains.
While thus engaged there came a
rap on the old brass knocker without
No one was in the house except her
self, so she went to the front door
and threw it open. man in a dirt
colored suit stood on the porch with
his back to her evidently surveying
the place which had been obviously
neglected. The smaller trees and
shrubbery had not been trimmed for
a long while. The walks were over
grown with weeds. and here and
there broken limb was hanging
from tree Hearing the door open.
the man turned and. seeing young
woman in the opening, instinctively
raised his hat.
BEG pardon" be said. lis the care
taker ahOutT
There is no caretaker."
"What no caretaker?"
'NOt that 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 agent!"
''No: the owner"
The girl didn't like to admit him
without voucher, and she didn't like
to refuse him admittance.
IL am commissioned" she said ''to
lay out plan for decoration and
superintend the work. If you are TO
do the. same with regard to the
changes in the building | suppose that
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
tion."
II 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.
II presume" said the man. that
you are acting professionally here"
In reply she handed him a card on
which was engraved Edna j. Strang.
Decorator
They fell to talking of a scheme for
the principal suit of rooms on the
main floor. She laid out one. and he
asked her how another he suggested
would do-dark 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
II thought you were merely an archi
tect." she continued.
Didn't | tell you that architecture
and decoration go together"
She pouted. She had been engaged
to decorate the house. and this build
err" had suggested a scheme of colors
that she felt obliged to adopt. An
other faculty she n1iced in him that
proved his artistic taste. AS they
passed through the rooms he pro-
nOunced 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-
ton and went away. but the next
morning he reappeared with roll of
paper on which he had laid out plans
for altera tons. For awhile he busted
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 an
easy chair while he sat in another in
one of the big drawing rooms listen
ing to him while he talked of art. of
music. of sculpture. of painting. indi-
eating by his words that he was an
adept in all. He admitted to have
been abroad. and she was astonished
at the variety Of information he had
picked up on his trip. Then they fell
to talking again Of the owner of the
place
II have heard" he said. that he is
fixing up this place to settle in: that
he Is tired of wandering: that his
tastes are really domestic and be is
going to marry. think there must be
something in this last. for | can't see
why he should care to live alone in a
place like this"
did you hear be is engaged?"
mo. but / did hear that be didn't
propose TO select a wife from among
the high f1iers with whom he has been
RI hnh