Milford chronicle., 1925-05-29

might have lifted a hairs breadth at
sight of the Pealze mansion which Amer
leans in Paris had described as the finest
in its town. Stately and proud it
stood upon its well-kept lawn, the dingy
colOring Of its stone-Work giving it
patina of age. So far so good, ac-
cording to the European standard.
But what of the intrusive sign "St.
Agnes Home for Working Girls under
the cornice of a balcOnied mansion
across the street, Or of a4arger house,
two doors beyond, being scientifically
wrecked by an army of sweating
negroes? Or of an ugly square-tOpped
sky-scraper, cutting off the light to the
South? Or of the sprawling jerry-built
structure where sign-painters were
busily outlining the word "Garage?"
If all these things were confusing to
San Pillars conventional mind, once
inside the old Peake house he was quite
at ease. The height of the rooms, the
abundance of polished wood and glass
gave him assurances of that princely
Opulence which he associated with
America. The flagrant black walnut,
the funereal mantles, the majolica UNI
brella stands offended his taste-but
what would you have in a land of
amusing savages2 This Flora Lee was
adorable in her home where she ruled
an innumerable retinue of blacks-a
snow queen among attendant gnomes
The coming of San Pillar provok~c
much argument pro and con. Among
those pleasantly affected by the news
the second Mrs. Garnett Peake stood
at the fore. Garnett had married her
in 1906 when he had found her, pretty
divorce living somewhere on the outer
edge Of Satsuma. Slightly inferior, ac-
cOrding to the Peake standards, she
had never taken complete command OF
the big house in Inness Street. BY
1918 she had grown quite fat and Gar
nett's constant nagging had reduced hev
to a jelly-like state of pacifism. She
was all a-futter at the thought of en-
so noble lord, and the night
before his arrival she had the temerity
to suggest-in the presence of Garnett |
and the whitening Judge-that Flora |
Lees alliance with noble house would, |
in way, have its social advantages.
There are five of us already in the
Almanac de GOtha," quoth Garnett, |
standing stiff1y before cold fireplace |
N his fathers library.
"Six," creaked the Judge, looking
'ourly up from the chessmen which he
was arranging for his evening game.
six. That is, if you count Cousin
Laura who married that italian scoun-
lrel and starved to death at Nice"
Which closed the argument as to
lINuo oofc dacfcrr1c on q fnraioVa /
The old gentleman had been showing
igns Of irritability ever since the Taft
and Of late he had
his ill temper upon the modern
young lady. No purist himself, he was
Inable to see her smoke or hear her
wear without shaking his wattles like
n ancient turkey gobbler. And cock
ails. More than once he had seen his
wn grandchild standing in an open
rawing room, cigarette in one hand,
glass in the other. Her voice was
ecoming harsh. These motor-cars
7ere playing the very devil with young
7omen. And the way they danced.
uch dances and such music as he
youId not have permitted out in the
egro quarter. With Margaret
Ow, it was different. He wasn't sure
@ liked her way any better. Flora Lee
ad been engaged q dozen times and
rol1en it off and been all the liveIier
)r it. But that Carter boy; he'd been
angling around Margaret now for
even or eight years. Who were the
arters, pray, to expect the Peakes to
ait on them? Tt was affecting Mar
aret's health. He'd have to speak to
er about that Carter fellow.
So he mused over his white and red
setting them out fussiIy
ith his shaking hands. The room had
own unpleasantly quiet. What were
sople scheming against him now? He
ared around to see his daughter-in.
w-the new one with the iDsipiG
ugh--reading quietly by the lamp
landing stiff and dull under the
,irited portrait of General HoratiL
cake on his coal black charger, Gar
TT looked bored as he always did the
-enings when he stayed at home
ather a small Peake, thought the
ldge in rare moment of disloyalty t.
% Institution. Then, sharply, gal
ntly,
"Well, Garnyl Are we playing to-
ght2"
nO BE CONTINUED)