Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1924-08-29
CHAPTER ii

All the way up in the train she was
busy identifying the various groups
about her, as either being bound for
the Rose house party, or being unwor-
thy of that classification. Ellen was so
excited by this time that she could not
breathe naturally; her cheeks were
blazing, and her heart beat fast. With
her little new suitcase she got down
from the train in sort of joyous panic
Of expectation. The Roses chauffeur
made himself known and Ellen, gray
haired, elderly man and an exception
aaly handsome and self-possessed
young woman all got into the limou-
sine. Ellen imagined the pair to be ia
ther and daughter, and thought it would
bs romantic to be rich and travel
aAroad with an adoring father.
che lady looked at her amiably
enough, but did not speak. Presently
they turned in at a Snow-powdered
gate and could see splendid stone
mension, lying along hillside draped
in bare vines, but with heartening
smoke arising from a dozen chimneys.
They all went up the stone steps,
aud were admitted to an enormous
warm hall, where fires and tables and
rich rugs and great bowls of flowers
all were jumbled together before her
confused senses. Here was Mrs. Rose,
magnificent and distract, murmuring
that the children were about some
where perhaps they had gone out, CIV
ing maid directions in an aside, and
looking a little blankly at Ellen until
the girl reminded her brightly: ITS
Ellen Latimer %
"Yell of course it is, you dear
child" she said then, with warming
kiss, "and you came up in the car with
Mr.. and Mrs. Josselyn. Tom, this is
little friend of mine, Miss Latimer;
and this is Mr. and Mrs. Josselyn, Ellen.
/ hope you all talked to each other?"
Ellen was just going to say, 1--WE
weren't introduced" but the young
and beautiful Mrs. Josselyn spoke first,
with sort of pretty languor, II al
ways talk, on all occasions !" and then
they all laughed. Ellen knew, sudden
~, that the two women did not know
each other very well. and that the man
was quite at home in this house.
"Where'd you, put us, Abby?" he
asked. Don't come up; know my
way about"
Tive got to go up" Mrs, Rose said,
interrupting a low-toned conversation
she was having with an elderly maid.
II declare" she went on, mounting a
dark, carved stairway that was spread
with rugs, ornamented with potted
palms, and lighted with stained-glass
window, Il declare, l get perfectly
frantic sometimes, when. the children
have these affairs. Arthur brought
down four boys from Harvard on
Wednesday, and Lucia--presumably
not out yet. If you please-all l can
say is, that / don't expect to live
through it until she is out-and it's
rush to this, and rush to that-I don't
know what they're doing now
Ellen perceived that the matron was
really deeply enjoying the responsible
aty and confusion, and the strain on
meals and beds. They went upstairs
now, and had left the Josselyns at the
door of delightful room.
(Which explains" said Mrs Rose,
'.why I've tucked you in here, on
couch e my sewing room, my dear.
You needn't hesitate to come in and
out, for Mr.. Rose is up at Great Bar
rington, for the golf"
TITS lovely" Ellen smiled. TITS
perfectly worderful house." she added
hashfully.
Its comfortable Mrs. Rose said
carelessly. "Josselyn did it," And
with sudden twinkle she added:
slow did you like the bride and
groom?'
81 thought they were father and
daughterl"
Every one does. I've known Tom
Josselyn all my life; we knew his first
wife well. She only died year ago,
and ten months later he married this
lillian Keller. Nobody knows any
thing about her. Doris Potter-you'll
meet her tonight--says that she was
model for Madame Yvonne, but don't
believe it. Young Gibbs Josselyn. the
son-one of the dearest fellows that
ever lived-has never gotten over it.
Tom Josselyn is sixty-five, you know,
and she's twenty-eight. He broke with
his father the day he heard the news,
hasn't seen him since. He was in the
firm, too. / guess the old man felt it
pretty much. Now / hear that Giggs
is going to study painting-he's a
gifted fellow. Welt now I'll leave
you. Brush up little, and then come
down and have tea"
1t was just like an English house
party in a novel. Ellen smoothed her
hair, and put on the gray velvet dress
with the fresh frills, and went down
20 the library in tremor Of happiness.
She was early, and had time to enjoy
a book Of photographs and fire be-