The Meeker herald., 1913-04-12
The ARCHITECT
He Worked Harmoni-
ously With the
Decorator
By F. A. mitchell


and there were q few valuable an
tique pieces. In her hand the girl
carried notebook in which from
time to time she made memoranda.
looking at walls. ceiling. corners. win
dow curtains.
While thus engaged there came
rap on the old brass knocker without
M one WAS In the house except her
Self. no she went to the trout door
aud threw It open. A man In dirt
coiored 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 a broken limb was hanging
from a tree. Hearing the door open.
the man turned and. seeing young
woman in the opening. instinctivsly
raised his hat.
Reg pardon" he said. -ls the care
taker alOut?'
There II no caretaker."
"Whnt-no caretakerr'
mot that l know Of"
The man stood thinking for q 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 a voucher. and she didn't like
to refuse him admittance.
81 am. commissioned" she said, ITO
lay ont a plan for decoration and
superintend the work. II you are TO
do the same with regard to the
changes in the building suppose that
IL no reason why you should not
take advantage Of my being here to Yet
you In"
THANK yon 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-
tiop.-.- a-5a = - - = IS Z. - 80, y
II see. Perhaps something may be
gaiued, 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 q scheme for
decoration.
Il presume" said the man. that
you are acting professionally here"
In reply she handed him card on
which was engraved Edna ]. 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. n
golden TIM for another. She said the
effect would be too somber. mot 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 l tell you that architecture
and decoration 20 together?'
She pouted. She had been engaged
to decornte the house. and this build
er" had suggested scheme Of colors
that she felt obliged to adopt. An
other faculty she noticed in him that
proved his artistIc taste. Az they
passed through the rooms he pro-
nounced the pictures hanging on the
walls daubs. One or two be 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 roll Of
paper on which he had laid out plans
for alterations. 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 M on his trip. Then they fell
to talking again OF the owner Of. the
place.
81 have heard" he said. that he n
fixing up this place to settle in: that
he Ii tired Of wandering: that bis
tastes are really domestic and be Ia
going to marry. think there must he
something in this last. for can't see
why he should care to live alone In
place like this"
did you hear he is engagedf-
NO. hut ! did hear that he didn't