Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-03-30
stately, crowded rooms could
RlinnSad fhronkh onan doors

oS1ISAS' Sio"oeu Eoolas couIu We
isn't it ierce?" Biily said with a
helpless shrug. Rachael smiled and
shook her head slowly in puzzled
consent. Don't you suppose they
ever air it?" pursued the younger
woman in a low tone. The air had a
peculiarly close. dry smell.
1T wouldn't seem So" Rachae!
said looking at the life.sze statutes
mantel clock representing 4 Dutch
windmill. the mantel itself, Of black
marble. gilded and columned, with a
mirror in a carved walnut frame
stretching ten feet above it, the bead.
ed fire screen. the volunlinous win
dow curtains of tasselled rep and
the ornate walnut table across whose
marble top a strip Of lace had been
laid. Everything was ugly and ex-
pensive and almost everything was
) old-fashioned, all the level surfaces
OF tables, n1antel, and piano top were
filed with small articles, bits of ivory
carving from, China. leather boxes,
rnajolica jars. photographs in heavy
frames. enormous illustrate books.
candlesticks, and odd teacups and
trays.
Smiling .down-how Rachael knew
that smile. half-quizzical and half
tender-from a corner of the room
was a beautiful oil portrait of War
rem Gregory, the one really fine thing
in the room, By some chance the
painter had caught on his face the
very look with which he might. in
the flesh. have studied this dreadful
room. Rachael felt a thrill go to her
heels as she looked back at the cam
vas, and far down in the deeps of her
being the thought stirred that some
day her hand might be the one to
change all this-to make the wood
work colonial white. and The paper
rich with color, to have the black
marble changed to creamy tiles, and
the rep curtains torn away. Then
how charming the place would be
when visitors came in from the -lrot
street!
"a million apologies-all. my
fault" said Doctor Gregory in the
doorway. His mother, in rustlins
black silk, was O. his arm. She had
given up 9 cane today to use the
living support, and no lover could
have wished to appear more charm.
ing in his lady's eyes than did War
rem Gregory appear to Rachael as he
lowered the trail old figure to a chair
and neglected: his guests while he
made his mother comfortable.
He would have you think, now,
that, ] was the cause Of the delay"
said the old lady Ia a sweet voice. that
betrayed %curiously the weakness OF
the flesh and the strength of the
spirit. But / assure you my beauty
Is no longer a matter of gneet I'm.
portance to me-"
8 it was Greg who was curling
his hair?" Rachael asked. with one
lswift and eloquent glance for him be-
fore she drew a much-fringed has
sock to his mothers knee and seat
ed herself there with the confidence
OF q captivating child. IT always
Thought he was rather vain! But let's
not talk about him. we only make
him worse. Tell me about yourself?'"'
Mr.. Gregory was Q rather spirited
old lady. and liked to fancy, with the
pathetic conplacency Of the passing
generation, that her sense OF humor
cutie Kept up with the times. RAJ
lchaAl knew her well. ana knew all
ksr stories. but this only made her
t ea;e., p-le asz1aS eomnaniop; o., 81. shs
the past. and was content to be . lis
tsnSr: indeed. with 4 hostess far re-
movsdein type from herself 1t was the
only safe role to play. The CONVEX
sat1on was full Of pitfalls for this
charming and dutiful worldling, and
iRachael was too clever to risk 4 fall.
She was afraid Of the crippled lit
IAO Id tho O18 Co41f,
ana Warren Gregory was afraid. too.
Como mystss1ouS element in her re-
gard for them made luncheon. an OF:
deal for them both, although Billy's
healthy young eyes saw only an old
woman. tmpotent and alone; the
maids were respectful and plying,
and young Charles Gregory, who join
ed them ut luncheon, was obviously
unimpressed by his LSrandmorher's
power. but was smitten red and in
ariculate at the first glimpse Of Billy.
This youth. after silently disposing
OF several courses. finally asked in q
husky voice for Mim Charlotte Havi-
land. and relapsed Into silence again.
Rachael devoted herself to the old
lady.
Gbs had always hesn happy here, q
marked. favortte with Oh Mr1.
tGrsgory 70 whom her audacsus mem