The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-09-26

Like II r Gibbs merely echoed. Ant
Ellen said honestly: 81 think It's tn,
loveliest house I ever saw 70
1t was Italian In type, the plaste
walls stained a warm cream, the win
dows and doors placed irregularly
some large. some narrow. wide stone
stairway rose from the pebbled path tc
the second floor. climbing against the
side of the house, at its base stood
great jars Of potted hydrangeas. I'm
der the stairway water poured from a
lions mouth into a shallow basin. and
above 1t, In the smooth facade Of the
house. a blue plaque was embedded
in vine-wreathed arch, a Della Rob
bia bambino spreading his little hands
In untiring blessing over the doorway.
There was the perfection of exquisite
simplicity in the whole. the perfection
Of absolute order and appropriateness.
The three years that the house had
been standing here might have been
three hundred so kindly did the trees
enclose 1t. so readily had the bare
vines made themselves at home Even
while the newcomers stood gazing at
1t, nesting bird. with a thread hang
Ing from his bill, disappeared into the
chimney Ivy. and a maid, opening an
arched door In the house wall. showed
behind her trim little figure sun
flooded vista of stone arches and tiled
fioorsl that tempted Ellen to an lmme-
date investigation. and made her ex-
claim again.
They went up the wide outside stair,
and through the dark carven wooden
door at the top. and were In a quaint,
long room marvelously paneled in rich
wood, with a glorious view through
enormous windows that were curtained
only by II I widths of some dark
siken stuff The room Yves devoid of
merely ornamental things. one'splendid
rug crossed the floor, logs blazed under
the carved acanthus leaves of the great
marble fireplace. There was a black
oak table that might have come from
monastery. the chairs were large and !
comfortable despite their severity of |
line. The effect was of space, silence. |
and shadow.
Lillian, enchanted by her visitors
admiration. led them to other rooms. |
Here was piano. with a harp beside
II. in a small room lighted by three
narrow gothic windows Here was the |
breakfast room. bright and square.
with Quimper plates ranged on an old
dresser, and Perugian blue cottons at
the windows. Sometimes they stepper
up and sometimes down. through ex-
quisite doorways deeply arched. every
vista had been studied, and made per-
feet. Sometimes Ellen looked down at
the formal garden, with its moondiai
and its trimmed expresses close TO the
woods, sometimes she laughed in sur
prise at finding herself unexpectedly |
above the tiled courtyard where maids
we're chatting in the sun, or crossed a
'tope balcony presumably leading into
he library to find herself in one of the
ong, bare corridors again. Every
where was the same effect of space.
md restraint. and emptiness.
Gibbs presently went to his step I
mother, and took both her hands.
II congratulate you. my dear I've I
lot seen anything better in my life" {
She looked up at him with unsmiling {
agerness. b
NO, but truly? You know I'VE T
een waiting for your verdict Gibbs"
ITS fairytalel" Ellen said.
'Of course ! had big architect to '
clip me do IT," Lillian said. with I
fettily deferential glance at her hus- Il
and d
And we had that d--n Pepper In
ne house for three months" the old Il
ian said mildly. n
who's that d-n Pepper?" Ellen h
sked with her gay laugh Lindsay il
epper. the man we metz" a
Hes a very nice fellow" Lillian cor
ected, with an lndulgent smile ale 9,
and picks out things for you n
nd so on-it's his business. Most peo- r,
e are afraid Of him. hut am one OF m
Ie very few who boss him about. and h,
: likes 1t. He and had great fights
,out everything and | always got my 7.
vn way. So. If you like it. won't a,
i've Lindsay Pepper gei the credit p n,
HE got more than the credit. he got n,
. cash :" said Josselyn. Senior. In an h,
lderione. and with mischievous look
Ellen.
Don lSscu 10 MN. SAID MS Wife | -.
he took Ellen and Gibbs to their own hs
oms and before she even LIFT them =,
G stood for a moment. with ooe hand -
Ellen's shoulder. and the other hold 80
: Gibbs hand. as they stood before ~,
r.
Il hope you're going 10 be comfort
le," she told them. with a wistful ~
Tile. 1T means so much 10 your 81
Their. and TO me, We" There was :"
hint of feeling in her voice and as If -
e had not meant TO show II. she
lghed little shakily. I'VE want you
ars 10 like US =" she said. And i'm 10
,diately she was all practical. "rve ~
I you both in here. Ellen. it's not -,
; largest room. but 1t has the pref -,
st view, and the fireplace. And in 49,,
MINER, you can move If you like. 49,.
d Thomas is right next door. across n
. bath. Lizzie can either sleep there 10,
have a room upstairs with the other