The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-23


deal about westchester. 1t was a pictur-
esque party to him. that house hunting
trip; but It was more than serious to
me. There wefe a great many signin-
cant happenings that am sure he read
quite wrong.
And a lot that he Just left out It's
tust like a mani He didn't read any
OF the individuals whom we met at all
right
Or any OF the social situations
Well, from my point of view the most
exciting thing we saw was a strange
and painted woman. I'd Just like to
have her explain herself to me!
Jonathan only said Rubbish when
explained her obviously criminal in
tentions
II was this way.
We walked down a clnder path from
the white gingerbread house we liked
toward a bit of woods. thinking that
from there we'd get better view. But
the path went beyond the woods to a
point where a lonely and beautiful house
was built with q tremendous array OF
greenhouses and things, and lawns and
garages. The waves were breaking on
the rocks at the foot OF the lawn, and
the sunlight came out for a few seconds,
making the whole place shine in glorious
beauty. And then the sun went behind
n cloud and the house looked sinister to
me. Positively weird. I didn't want to
go on and look about, the owner being
very evidently away. and the whole
place 30 surprisingly overhung with
some shadow of crime or something.
Jonathan Lacks subtIety.
You don't know anything about these
lonely places" / said to Jonathan. But
he Just whlstfed and pushed right on.
Lets get the caretaker to show US
about" he said.
Jonathan is maddening when any one
expects him to divine q really subtle
presence.
"stop your ridiculous romancing." he
ssid. SILLY"
So he made me so to the caretaker's
house with him. Just as we passed the
rbododendrons at tho curve In the walk
q sudden breath Of air passed through
them, and they all rustled together and
seemed to say "Hsst IL
We knocked on the door of the care
takers house and there was no answer.
And then there was a light In the cellar
that fiickered and winked and winked
and went out. And as Jonathan was
going to knock again. just as his knuckle
was about to strike the door. II opened
quite silently.
And such a face was within! Such n
face never saw anything so sad or
drawn with brick red paint on the cheek
bones. The hollow eyes were bright
with a sort of lost, avid herceness, a
greedy and despairing harshness. A
blue, thin hand fingered at a bit of lace
near the throat.
She looked at US once. closed the door
and slipped the latch. We turned to
leave, puzzled, and saw the coarse lace
curtain at the window lift. showing the
face OF an old man, her husband, cynl-
cal. mean and cruel.
A Deep and Dark Mystery.
The curtain dropped. and felt as
though l had seen deep into hideous
tragedy.
A great Newfoundland dog came
bounding over the. lawn barking and i
could have tainted at the reaction OF
feeling.
Jonathan was perfectly unmoved.
only little quieter.
"Disagreeable lot" was all he said.
As we passed the great house on our
way back to the road the sun came out
again. and within the drawing room,
through whose long windows we could
look. bright sunny patches followed each
other across the polished hoor--like the
footsteps OF some one who had gone.
never to return. But in a darker corner.
in white marble, great hideous statue
cleaned.
] put my face close against the glass.
The statue was an ugly female form.
And beneath It was carved deep the title
''Delilah."
whoever is master here, married a
young WIFE" said, "Johnathan. and
because she must love her own true
love, not Launcelot or another he
broke her bravo heart In this house.
and those two down there know I'll"
Rubbish" said Jonathan; some
breakfast food manufacturer thought he
could be as artistic IN taste as anybody.
And he prefers disagreeable caretakers
20 any other kind. That's ALL"
90 you see how much you miss when
you listen to Johnathan's tales OF our
Journey.
II Wasn't All So Tragic.
That was the only place where I had
any sense OF tragedy. There were other
amusing places.
Al Quaker Ridge the young man who
wanted to rent his farm persuaded
JcnnatNan in twenty minutes that he
Johnathan---would make an ideal farmer
The house was rather old and full OF
possibilities. ached TO rake out al
fhe interior decorations and burn them
and All II full OF bright color and soft
contrasts. and quite fancied taking over
the domain Of the sweet faced Wifi
who talked very little but obviously en-
5oyed our visit What baby she had
tool Toby must look like that soon, oil
will have failed In my obvious duty.
Johnathan was very authoritativ,
about raspberry bushes he had known
and spoke n whole lot OF garden Jar
ron I'd never heard him use about WE'LL
and things.
He was eatisned with himself and tn
whole world, I could see that Their
was lot OF swank In the way he wen
about the place.
We stopped at a modern little atrocit!
near the Post road where two snobbisl
old ladies forced US into the garnet 4
see the view and took open notes on on
possible responsibility, and on our point
o. prospective tenants--we having NJ
idea In the world OF renting their house
A few things a snob will succumb to
One of them is amusement In an idl
hour, no matter who provides II. ant
ono is to a prospect Of personal gain.
Our virtues Appraised.
While one OF the old ladies inquired
a. to our religion, with deep hints a
to the calibre OF our friends, our tast
In morning papers and our attitude
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