New Britain herald., 1916-01-19
''Today l Was Fortunate" Li1 Said.
 ''Dicky Brought Me These"

tive as Lillian Gales living room.
 ,' I knew that she was a famous illus
 trator, so, of course, I naturally ex-
 pected to see evidence of artistic taste
 in her furnishings. But the reality exceeded my anticipation.
 I had only received a blurred i'm pression of splasEes of color as Mrs Underwood hurried me through tc her bedroom, and then out into the dining room for the after dinner coffee.
 But when we came out into the liv. ing room again, I stood short ano drew a long breath of admiration. Rather hits you between the eyes doesn't it, Madge?' Dicky said That's the way it affects everybody
 "It is wonderful, wonderful"
 said turning to Lillian. I did moi
 pointedly ignore Dicky, but I did no
 answer his comment. He had beer
 altogether too nonchalant and distan
 to suit me when I had come into the
 dining room It would not hurt him to be left to himself for little.
 No "JaIring Note.'
 She flushed with pleasure. "I am so glad you like it." she said heartily
 You see I have the space to start with, which is everything. That is the reason I took two floors of this DIE old house and had them remodelleo' instead of renting one of these modern atrocities with gas grates instead 'oA fireplaces"
 The result certainly more than Jus- tified your choice.'' I said.
 I was really lost in admiration or the room. It. was an immense thlng' evidently the reception room or the mansion in it's old opulent days. Every bit of it, ceiling, walls, wood work. even the floor. was ivory white. All this whiteness appeared to lead up to and center in the glean1ing white marble of an old-fashioned fire place.
 But the genius of it's mistress ap- peared in the draperies, the rugs and the accessories of the room. I could ina zine that in the hands of a woman less daring it would have seemed like a great white mausoleum
 But it was a perfect riot of color. The costly rugs under our feet had red, the deep, rich brown-red of autumn leaves as their keynote. From them the diapason of color upward through ruby-tfnted curtains at the windows, and scarlet draperies flung carelessly, yet with effectiveness, against the white walls, over the backs of couches and chairs, everywhere they were needed
 There isn't a jarring note any where" I said impulsively, as I faced l large tapestry over the fireplace, with it's olive tints shot with touches 1f red
 What a speech, Madge!" drowned Dicky. Did you imagine there would be jarring note with an artist like Lsl on the job?''
 Run Along Now"
 All my genuine pleasure in the 1 com was gone. I felt that Dicky was i, disappointed in my appearance before 1 his friends, that I had mortified him 1 by the tactless little speech, which I l had uttered with real admiration.
 l made no reply to him, but Lillian { ,cok up the gauntlet with flashing l oyes.
 See here, my Dicky bird,' she said scornfully, who gave you permission to chirp anyway? If you haven't any thing better to do than to twitter such rot as that, we'll excuse you for a while. Run along now. Mrs. Gra- ham likes my room, and Pm going 10 give her a chance to give it the once over, without Friend Husband to see if she turns just the tight phrase to suit his majesty
 Of course, I was grateful to Mrs. Underwood for thus championing me, put inwardly I resented, as I had so 5ften before, the proprietary air she assumed with Dicky, and the meek way in which he invariably obeyed Ter Or took her scoldings. If I had spoken to him with the manner she 1ad just used he would have been 'uriously angry, but at her words he simply grinned, although a bit un- easily, I fancied, and walked away to oin Harry Underwood at the other tide of the room
 Don't you love the furniture ?" sked Lillian, with such genuine en- husiasm for her own things that it liant sound like self-praise at all. "I he effect I wanted.''
 Perfect" I breathed, and meant he word. There were few pieces in he room, a high backed settee in the corner, a roomy couch drawn ID DetOlt lIle lIIe, d 1lall-uOZeT cOIn- ortable armchairs and rockers, and wo tables, a big reading table and a mailer one. Low bookcases occupied he wall spaces between the windows, nd a baby grand piano filled the pace at the side of the room opposite he fireplace.
 Every piece was white, of the same vory tint as the rest of the room he big couch and the armchairs were upholstered in crimson, cushions in ivid hues adorned the settee, while cross the ta bles were thrown scarves if soft crimson silk. Clear glass owls and vases of red roses were everywhere, on mantle, bookcases and he tables.
 "One of my follies,' said Lillian, as