Beverly banner., 1924-10-03

loveliest house l ever sawl'
1t was Italian in type, the plaster
walls stained warm cream, the win
dows and doors placed .irregularly |;
some large, some narrow. A wide stone
stairway rose from the pebbled path to
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 it, in the smooth facade of the
house, a blue plaque was embedded
In vine-wreathed arch, 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 it, 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 maid. opening an
arched door in the house wall, showed
behind her trim little figure sun
flooded vista of stone arches and tiled
floors that tempted Ellen to an imme
diate 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 quaint,
long room marvelously paneled in rich
wood. with a glorious view through
enormous windows that were curtained
only by TIN widths of some dark
silken stuff The room was 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 a piano, with a harp beside
1t, in 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 steppec
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 moondial
and its trimmed expresses close to the
woods, sometimes she laughed In sur
prise at finding herself unexpectedly
above the tiled courtyard where maids
were chatting in the sun. or crossed a
stone balcony presumably leading into
the library, to find herself in one of the
long, bare corridors again. Every
where was the same effect of space,
and restraint, and emptiness.
Gibbs presently went to his STEP
mother, and took both her hands.
Il congratulate you, my dearl I've
not seen anything better In my life 7"
She looked up at him with unsmiling
eagerness.
mo, but truly? You know I've
been waiting for your verdict, Gibbs"
'Its a fairytalel' Ellen said.
'Of course / had a big architect to
help me do it," Lillian said, with
prettily deferential glance at her hus-
band.
"And we had that d-n Pepper In
the house for three months" the old
man said mildly.
who's that d-n Pepper?" Ellen
asked, with her gay laugh. Lindsay
Pepper, the man we metz"
He's very nice fellow" Lillian cor
rected, with an indulgent smile. 'He
decorates, and picks out things for you,
and so on-it's his business. Most peo-
pie are afraid of him, but am one of
the very few who boss him about, and
he likes 1t. He and had great fights
about everything, and always got my
own way. So, If you like it, won't
have Lindsay Pepper get the credit |"
"He got more than the credit, he got
the cash!" said Josselyn, Senior, in an
undertone, and with a mischievous look
at Ellen.
"Don't listen to him." said his wife.
She took Ellen and Gibbs to their own
rooms. and before she even left them
she stood for moment, with one hand
on Ellen's shoulder, and the other hold
ing Gibbs hand, as they stood before
her.
Il hope you're going to be comfort
able" she told them, with wistful
smile. "It means so much to your
father, and to me, We" There was
a hint of feeling in her voice and as If
she had not meant to show 1t, she
laughed little shakily. I'VE want you
dears to like usl" she said. And Inn
mediately she was all practical. "I've
put you both in here. Ellen, it's not
the largest room, but 1t has the pret-
fest view and fhe firpnlapp And in