The Washington times., 1918-09-10

At the apartment 1 found Evelyn
Mason waiting for me. On the
black italian lacquer console tAbls
between the front windows stood Z
jar Of DUN pottery filled with deep
rcd peonieA They breathed . frs
gr<at welcome And Evelyn
bouncing upon me with Q flutter
Of kisses, put the welcome into
words b.
Greetings, Anne, deari I'm 90
glad to share in the making %
your first home. The posies are
Toms representatives, perhaps
Mrs. McCusick. the cleaning woman.
IS! This room Is washed out and
combed already, and she's working
her way back to the bed room via
the kitchenette. Wen give her q
few extra jobs and then run over TO
the Santvoort to have lunch with
Thomas, and he's coming back this
afternoon to give US the benefit OF
his masculine advice and strength"
Evelyn darted about eagerly and
helpfully, doing little odd jobs and
giving directions between sentences.
Wont Jimmy be delighted to
come home to this cory little nest
all feathered for him." she cried.
Her way OF talking seemed very
clever to ne-she purred like q con-
tented kitteni Her throaty little
voice. its quick catch with the tiny
scratch of malice back OF IT, were
very amusing, but decided was
very glad that Evelyn liked me.
Under her direction the trunks
were hidden away in a eurtained
corner OF the large, square bath
room The bags were slowed In
the deep window seats OF the bed
room. Presently all signs Of aust
moving in" were smoothed away.
The little icechest in the kitchens
cite was threaded by frost-covered
pipes-Evelyn explained the refrig-
Grafton plant-and the dumbwaiter
system of removing refuse. She
propelled me through q few simple
arrangements with the janitor, the
fruit vender, and the man who left
rolls and milk, and then I found
myself at the Santvoort-
After lunch Mr.. Mason TAXED ~
about on a shopping tour for linens
and household utensils. No one
expected me to think for myself
! felt like q very large baby sud-
denly come into possession Of .
most efficient Mr.. and Mrs. Fairy
Godmother. might have chosen
blue-striped bath towels. Evelyn
selected lavender.
When we returned to the apart
ment my arduous and brain-tAxing
share Of the work was unpacking
trunks. Evelyn insisted upon tack
ing mp shelf paper. washing china.
and putting my linen and enamel
saucepans in place. Tom Mason
took for his fob the arrangement
Of the living room They promised
that the rooms would be In apple
pie order by highland felt
vaguely disappointed
It would have been such fun -
have done a little OF the nest-build-
ing with Jim, but Jim was In
Washington with-his friendA
was lucky to have such kind friends
here In our little home-to-be-
There was one deep closet N ne
bedroom II had wide shelves built
IN and two clothes poles stretched
welcome coats and suits and dresses
the shelves on the right for JIm's
hats and shoes and boxes; those
opposite for my Belongings. When
/ had arranged them, the precious
intimacy of that cupboard shared
gave me my first feeling Of home
There were bis OF shouted con
Versation now and then, but for the
most part we worked In silence.
like old friends who understood
each other.
At last Mr.. Mason called that n
vas half past seven and that he
would like a little feminine COM
ment on his masculine home-mak-
ing ability and an hour on for sup
per. So Evelyn and I hurried to
the door OF the living room and
there q splendid picture greeted Us.
Tall, slim, black iron lanterns Of
ancient Venice were sending out
hame color lights from their hooks
between the windows. where cur
tains OF apricot silk shut out the
daylight. Thick white candles
burned on either side OF the white
stone fireplace in the north wall.
Cool and gray were the rugs on
he floor-soft and brooding was
he high, gray ceiling Candle
light fiickered over the apricot and
iull sreen damask of the chairs.
On the refectory table, which was
irawn up against the deep couch
n the south wall. stood a lantern
whose f1ame-colored light was man
led by the wings of iron birds. On
/ little cloth of damask there was
/ great bowl of black cherries and
mother of peaches. The fragrance
" coffee rose from an electric per-
,olator
1t was beautiful-and homeliks.
Tom Mason beened like a happy
boy at our praise.
Now. TIL run to the corner for
'ome sandwiches. and then wen
rave a house-warming supper
party he announced
At that my heart sank. How
,ould l take my first meal In the
lew home with any one but my
husband? But a minute later
'ealized how much 1 owed these
rood friends-a cold supper, after
III their work. was so little to Of
er, I determined to atone for my
moment OF ingratitude-
This Is my party-the first in my
lew home little thank Offering
o the good friends who have helped
ne make the home I'm going to
he corner for the eats" ] cried
With gay determination. from which
refused to bulge.
A clock in the village was chtnp-
ng S when l returned with my rur-
.hases. I noticed Il idly. I wonder
| can ever again listen idly
when a clock strikes 8.
Go BE C0atdBaeL