The Washington herald., 1915-04-19

You won't find such sweep in many
apartments.
NO, that's very wonderful" ex-
claimed Helen.
ooh, l want you to see this table
YOU'RE interested in antiques. Chi
nese Chippendale. Look at those legs
and this Carving" running her hand
along the carved edge. Il had to pay
scandalous price-$325! But | just
had to have it for this corner"
I Even had the table been genuine,
which Helen doubted, it would not
! have been worth that Was she de-
liberately exaggerating, or had some
Inscriptions dealer induced her to
pay that much?
Now this is James bedroom"
leading the way into a large bay
Widowed room. 81 want you to no.
tice that chest of drawers; we think
that's very unusual piece. Those are
the original handles. Yes, isn't that
wonderful old bed? | love those
old testers, but James is so fussy.
he wouldn't have the curtains"
81 like little air when l sleep"
laughed Mr.. Lawson. Lena can
drape everything in the place ex-
cept my bed"
Ignoring her husbands remark,
Mrs. Lawson now opened the door
into her room, which was even more
luxuriously furnished. She showed
them everything, casually mentioning
the price of the most expensive pieces.
In the dining-room she cxpatiated
on the 5000 sidcboard and the Sher-
atom corner cabinet. filled with china
that she imprcssivcly informed them
was real Worcester. The guest room
and bath came next.
Straining nervously to cover War
ren's stolid, unresponsivc silence,
Helen kept murmuring: "How lovely,
How charming! How very attrac-
tive"
When the whole apartment had
been duly inspected AMI admired, they
returned to the library for tea. 1t
was e., over-elaboratc tea, served by
the smart French maid
"You really have wonderful
apartment" repeated Helen for the
dozenth time, feeling that she had
not risen to the occasion, that she
was still expected to say something
more.
"Yes, we think ii is" glowed Mrs.
Lawson. "But of course" with a
dcprecating laugh, cts not cheap.
What do you suppose we pay here?"
"Oh, I wouldn't have any idea,"
evaded helen.
"What would you say. Mr.. CurtisS"
turning to Warren with an air that
implied that here at least he would
he immersed
"Oh, / don't know the rents around
here" carelessly. "but should say
about $4,000"
-Four thousand dollarsw in shrill
Indignation. "Forr thousand dollars
for twelve rooms and four baths in
this neighborhood! Why, we pay over
twice that-$S, sooP'
"Oh, you do" Warren reached for
another tea cake.
Mrs. Lawson, nettled at his uncon-
Germ, launched into an affected &C
count of the care of such an apart
ment. Of course, they had to have
three maids, and it was really too
much for her to look after. She was
thinking of getting 4 housekeeper,
some one who would take the re-
sponsibility of of her; that she was
really not strong enough, etc.
At the first break in this f1ow of
egotism, Helen hastily made the
move to 90. She knew that Warren
was exasperated to the boiling-over
point, and she wanted to get him
away before he said anything rude.
Even in the hail. Mrs. Lawson had
TO call their attention to an old
carved chest that she had picked
up" in the south of France.
show You on Gsi sss Wv W. &c 60. ma,
Cairo. It's sixteenth century temple
rug and very unusual design"
Again Helen murimured her How
very interesting" and other over