The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-06-03
CHAPTER Ill.

1t was gray stone. with long roofs
of thick green slate. An architect who
loved the milder Gothic motives had
built what he liked: it was to be seen
at once that he had been left unham-
pered. and he had wrought a picture
out of his head into a noble and ex-
ultant reality. At the same time
landscape designer had played so good
a second, with ready-made accessories
of screen. approach and vista. that al
ready whatever look of newness re-
manned upon the place was to its ad-
vantage. as showing at least one thing
yet clean under the grimy sky.
Altogether. the new house was sue
cess. 1t was one Of those architects
successes which leave the owners
yelled in privacy: it revealed nothing
of the people who lived in it save that
they were rich. In our swelling cities
rich families. one after another, take
title and occupy such houses as for
tunes rise and fall-they mark the
high tide. 1t was impossible TO imag-
inc a child's toy wagon left upon
walk or driveway of the new house.
and yet it was-as Bibbs rightly called
it-"beautiful."
What the architect thought of the
"Golfo di Napoli." which hung in its
vast gold revel of rocco frame against
the gray wood of the hail. is to be con-
jectured-perhaps he had not seen it.
Edith. did you say only eleven
feet?" Bibbs painted. staring at it. as
the white acketed twin of a Pullman
porter helped him to get out of his
overcoat.
Eleven without the Frame" she ex-
planned. Its splendid. don't you
think? 1t lightens things up so. The
hall was kind of gloomy before
mo gloom uowr' said Bibbs.
This statue in the corner is pretty,
too" she remarked Mamma and
bought that" And Bibbs turned at
her direction to behold, amid grove
of tubbed palms. a ''Iife-size," black
bearded Moor. of plastic composition
painted with unappeasable gloss and
briIIiancy. Upon his chocolate head he
wore gold turban; in his hand be
held a gold-tipped spear: and for the
rest. he was red and yellow and black
and silver.
"Hallelujahr' was the sole comment
of the returned wanderer, and Edith.
saying she would find mamma" left
him blinking at the Moor. Presently.
after she had disappeared. he turned
to the colored man who stood waiting,
Bibbs' travelling bag in his hand.
'sWhat do you think of it?" Bibbs
asked. solemnly.
'Gran'w replied the servitor. ''She
mighty hard to dus'. Dus' git in all
'em wrinkles. Yessuh. she mighty hard
to dus'."
Il expect she must be-" said Bibbs.
his glance returning refectively to the
black full beard for a moment els
there a place anywhere / could lie
DOWN.
..Yessuh We got one mem spare
rooms all fix up TO- you. sub. Right
up staihs. sub. Nice ROOM
He led the way, and Bibbs followed
slowly. stopping at intervals TO rest
and noting a heavy increase in the
staff of service since the exodus from
the ''old" house. Maid and scrub
women were at work under the pa
tently nominal direction of another
Pullman porter. who was profoundly
enjoying his own affectation of beins
harassed with care
''Ev'ything got look spick an spar
TO the big doin's tonight" Bibbs
guide explained. chuckiing. "Yessuh
we got big doin's tonight! Big doin'sp
The room to which he conducted hi.
tagging charge was furnished in ever,
particular like a room In a new hotel
and Bibbs found it pieasant-thoush
indeed, any room with a good bes
would have seemed pleasant to hin
after his journey. He stretched him
self fat Immediately, and having re
piled Not now" to the attendant
offer to unpack the bag. closed his eye
weariIy.
white-Jacket. raciaIly sympathetic
lowered the window shades and mad
an exit on tIptoe. encouRterfng tn
lother white jacket-the harassed over