Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-09

siA peopie-0ne OF whom was, of all J
others, the most important who could
POSSIBLY be met by any striving in
ventor in the field Of aeronautics.
The Carmichaels came home early
she from her Office, he from his garage
attic where he spent his days with his
models and calculations.
They dressed in good time she in her
Dig bedroom ut one side of the house
on the second floor, he in his on the
opposite side. Then, for the first time
that day. they met in one of the two
large reception rooms on the first floor.
IT was known as 1.-THE Red Par
lor. Just as Clover's room at Rich
mond (now occupied openly and Of
hcially, attached bathroom and all. by
sandal Meadows) seemed like the in
SIDE OF great golden tulip, so to walk
into this parlor was like entering a
flower huge and rose colored, Subdued
red was the carpet; a richer rose glowed
in the upholstery of the bcdlike Chcs-
tcrheld. Rugs, curtains, shades all
carried out scheme that was, this
ripping evening. warm. cozy and in
vitlng. Only Clover felt that it was
wrong for her. Rose color rcpclled
her, as blue repels some temperaments
She preferred the "Gold Salon" where
even the piano was painted in blues and
Colds and where the tawny amethyst
brocades soothed her passion for every
shade Of yellow; she had chosen II for
her own living room. Carmichael. how
ever, coming down first. had gravitatcd
toward the crimson padded fender stool
and the fire Of blazing logs in his own,
inc ked Parlor. So, as she had wished
Tor a word with him before dinner, she
had been obliged to 60 in there to find
him.
ITS rather stuffy In here, could you
open n Window was her first and
feminine comment.
Carmichael, manlike, loved fresh air
out Of doors. This soldier. who
mad slept nights enough in the freezing
open, considered (like Aunt Gertrude
OF "Milestones") that there was no
reason for turning drawing room
into a park.
However. he drew aside heavy tu.
lip, pink curtain, flung up window an
let in blast Of March air that rustled
the shenrcs of honesty and Cape goose
berry set in the Chinese vase between
the windows. The long yellow feather
OF Clover's fan waved also in this gale.
lie asked politely, rs that too much
for you?"
Not at all. like it. I never feel
drafts"
lie looked at her. She was, of course,
IN fuil evening kit; her golden bodice
no scanticr than most bOdices of the
epoch. but how much more perfect were
the arms and shoulders. the neck and
back that it displayed! Carmichael,
who quite lately had noticed shoulders
and necks, noticed these. lie ha,
looked at them n great deal lately
parity, OF course. because 1t had been
his part to take from them or 10 place
about them the wraps or furs that
Clover had worn when she had been
going about with him in Paris. They
were also, as Americans say. "caSy TO
look at those arms, firm and full,
those shoulders Of dimpling cream. They
were even, sometimes, not easy 10 look
away from. Once or twice he had had
TO remind himself, in the nick of time.
that he mustn't stare. Here WAS Il
woman at whom hc mustn't even look
much. SO now he looked away from
her ngain. lie thought feel drafts:
Could she ever feel auything!'
A Turning Point
She said, These people will be here
in twenty minutcs.'
Yes"
Just tell me quickly who it is |
have TO make myself specially nice to,
this General llcrvcy or Sir Algcr-
non!"
Oh" he said. 81 am sure you will
be very nice to both of them. 1t was
II great stroke OF luck our meeting Her
vcy in Paris like that. He's paved the
way for me, l know. a great deal
depends upon whether I can interest
this other man in the thing"
"The thing" was. Of course. always
and forever, the mast.
What is he like; Sir Alsernon. l
mcan!"
"Iic glittcrs rathcr," said Car
michael. "Personally | don't care for
him as much az do for llcrvey. But
he's pretty well got my fate in his
hands, when all's said"
~ Sec" said Glover Carmichael, and
she looked down the tortoiseshell han
die of her fan at her own white hands.
"You mean he's frightfully vain and
shows off incessantly."
"Oh. Lord, no. | wouldn't 80 so
far as to say that" protested Car
michael with all mans reluctance to
adopt woman's honester speech. He
isn't as quietly sound as llervey, per-
hans, but he has more influence.
hone to heavens / manage to enlist 1t
ON my side. ] only had that glimpse of
him when Hervey introduced me, at the
club last week. 4 good deal depends
upon this evening"
And as he stretched his long legs
over the rug tension was to be seen IN
every line aud movement OF his body.
nder that mask set by public school,
army, tradition and poverty upon his
face. there was anxiety. For, realize,
this was a turning point indeed. This,
their first official "party' at the Green
street house, was the first party OF the
most itself. This was the type of all
those things for which Carmichael had
got married. This was the evening of
thc mast; its own admirably appointed
house, its flowers, wines, beauty, con-
vcrsntion, hospitality. Without these
things to offer, Carmichael would still
have been cooling his heels in ante-
rooms, still being told by underlings
that the matter was receiving attention
attention and that he would be
informed and advised, and all the rest
Of it. in due course. In one stride
Carmichael had passed that stage. lie
! had met General IIcrvey, himself an
inventor, an idealist, soldier, Il man
Of letters and business man, staying
Mt the Meurice where the Carmichaels
we're putting in their spool honey :.
moon. Hcrycy and he had talked
while young Mrs Carmichael had gone
TO fitting; Hervey had heard all
about the mast. had questioned him
earchngly, as to Its differences not
only from the provisional pattern now