Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-09-27
CHAPTER xI.-(continued.)

When he turned into Van Ness ave
nue. the Ryan house was one block
beyond him, a conglomerate white
mass, like a .crumbling wedding cake
slowly settling on a green lawn. He
surveyed It as he approached, noting
its ugliness with a musing satisfac-
ton. Its size and the bright summary
perfection of surrounding grass and
flower beds lent It impressiveness and
redeemed it from the position OF
colossal blight on the prospect to
which architect and builder had done
their best to relegate It. Prosperity,
q complaCent, overwhelming prospect
ty, was suggested not only by its bulk
but by the state of studied finish and
neatness that marked mansion and
grounds. There did not seem to be
whiting flower bed or withered leaf left
on a single stalk i'm the garden Dor
ders. Every winGow-pane cleaned
like a mirror innocent of dust or
blemishing spot. The marble steps up
which Cannon mounted were as snow
fly uRsullied as though no foot had
passed over them since their last alb
luton.
The door was opened by a China
man, who, taking the visitors card,
left him standing in the hall, and, deaf
to his queries as to where he should
go. serenely mounted the stairs. Can
non hesitated a moment, then hearing
a sound of voices 10 his right, entered
the anteroom that gave on that suite
of apartments into which Dominick
had walked on the night of the ball.
They were softly lit by the afternoon
sun filtering through thin draperies,
and extended in pale. gilt-touched
vista TO the shining emptiness of the
ballroom. The old man was advanc-
ing toward the voices when he sud
denly saw whence they proceeded. and
stopped. In the room just beyond him
Cornelia Ryan and young man were
sitting on a small. empire sofa, their
figures thrown out in high relief
against the background of silk-covered
wall. Cornelia's red head was In
close proximity to that of her com
panion, which the intruder saw to be
,rathed with a thatch of sleek black
hair, Gnd which he recognized as ap
pertaininsr, ha young man whose IA
Their had once been shift boss on the
Rey del Monte, and who bore the pat
ronymic of Duffy.
Cornelia and Jack Duffy had the
appearance of being completely en-
crossed in each others society. In
his moment of unobserved survey
Cannon had time to note the young
woman's air of bashful. pleased EN-
barrassment and the gentleman's ex
preston of that tense, unsmilinl
earnestness which attends the deliv
cry OF sentimental passages. Cornelii
was looking down, and her flaming
hair and the rosy tones of her face
shading from the faintest of pearll
pinks to deepening degrees Of coral
were LUMINOSITY vivid against the fla
surface of cream -colored wall behinC
her. and beside the black poll anC
thin. dark cheek of her companion
That something very tender was afoo
was quickly seen by the visitor, whC
softly vii hdrew, stepping gingerl.
over the fur rugs, and gaining the en-
trance TO the hall with a sensation o
.1urried alarm.
An open door just opposite offere'
refuge. and. passing through 1t witt
q forward questing glance alert TO
other occupants who might resent In
trusion, the old man entered SINAI
reception-room lit by the glow OF
hard coal fire. The room was differen
IN furnishings and style from those h
had left. 1t had the austere bleak
ness of aspect resultant from comb
nation OF bare white walls and lare
pieces Of furniture OF black WOO
upon which gold lines were traced 1
ornamental squares. An oldfasf
toned carpet was on the floor, and se'
eral tufted arm-chairs, begirt wit
dangling fringes. were drawn up 81
ciably before the fire. This burne
cheerily. red focus OF heat barrs
by the stripes of a crate, and su
mounted by a chastely severe whit
marble mantelpiece. He had been
the room often before and knew 1t fc
Mrs. Ryans own particular sanctun
When q celebrated decorator had bee