Rash Romance

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 3263, 5 February 1931, Page 6

Rash Romance

; Jzj By LAURA LOU BROOKMAN. ! n nnnnnnnnnnnnndnnnnnuc

j n A FASCINATING SERIAL. g n g

BEGIN HERE TO-DAY. After a whirlwind courtship Judith Cameron, typist in a New York publishing office, is married to Arthur Knight, executive of the Arm. Knight is a widower, father of two children. Tony, his 18-year-old daughter, is in Europe, and Junior, 16, is attending school.

(Copyright.) p n □nnnnnnnnnn

Knight explained. “Been here for years.” As they came up the steps Knight spoke heartily: “Good morning, Mrs Wheeler. Fine to be home again! Judith, this is Mrs Wheeler, who can tell you everything there is to know about the house. Mrs Wheeler, Mrs Knight." Judith took the housekeeper’s hand and smiled. She saw a large middleaged woman with an aid of capability. Mrs Wheeler was florid-faced and wore glasses. Her dark hair was piled into a neat knob on the top of her head. She seemed aggressively alert. “Good morning, Mrs Knight,” the woman said. “I hope you had a good voyage Ma’am?” “Oh, yes, a fine voyage, thank you.”

Judith has no intimate friends, though on several occasions she keeps mysterious appointments with a young man known as Dan. The first week of their honeymoon in Bermuda is a paradise of sunny days and moonlit nights. Then comes a cablegram, forwarded from New York, in which Tony Knight announces she is sailing for home. Knight says he and Judith must return to meet Tony’s boat. They depart two days later. Since neither of Knight’s children has been told about the marriage, Judith is sceptical of her welcome. Knight has no such worries and begins making eager plans for Christmas which is only one week distant. Immediately after landing they drive to Knight’s Long Island home. Judith steps from the car, sways and is about to fall when Knight catches her. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY.

They had stepped into a broad hallway which seemed to be the centre of the house. A winding stairway arose in the background. Doors at each side led into larger rooms. Judith caught a' quick impression of dull, unobtrusive furnishings. Nothing stood out interestingly but there was a huge bouquet of red roses in a hideous vase upon a table. Everything glistened and shone with polish. It must all have been put in readiness hurriedly and the girl felt she should be appreciative. “How nice everything looks I” Judith said, turning to Mrs Wheeler. “Oh, I shall have to ask you a great many questions and have a long talk this afternoon, Mrs Wheeler. I know you can tell me so much.”

CHAPTER X. Judith put one hand to her head. “But it’s nothing,” she insisted, smiling shakily. “Just dizziness, I guess, from the car. Hard to realise I’m on iand again.” Arthur regarded her anxiously. “Sure you feel better?" “Of course. I’m all right now." They went up the walk to the house. A woman in grey morning dress stood waiting in the doorway. “Mrs Wheeler, the housekeeper,”

A younger girl in a maid’s uniform stepped forward to take Judith’s and Arthur’s wraps. “This is Harriet,” Mrs Wheeler introduced the maid.

“How do you do, Harriet,” Judith answered, offering the girl her hand. Knight murmured a greeting, half of which was not heard.

Mrs Wheeler followed Judith and Arthur into the living room where logs were crackling in the fireplace. It was a long room with windows on the east and north. Morning sunlight came streaming through the ornate curtains. Heavy over-stuffed furniture and several chairs of mahogany stood about. There were innumerable footstools, small tables and occasional pieces. Two Chinese rugs covered the floor, very good ones. Nothing was radically wrong with the room, Judith told herself. Everything in it was in good taste. The whole simply failed to fit together. Its atmosphere (if there could be said to be a trace of such a quality) was stolid, unintelligent wealth.

More red roses bloomed on the man tie and large reading table.

Judith was determined to be cheer ful.

“The flowers are lovely,” she told the waiting Mrs Wheeler, “How thoughtful to have ordered them.” “We always have flowers when the house is open, Ma’am,” the housekeeper said primly, but Judith was certain the praise had pleased her. “When would you like luncheon, Ma’am?” the housekeeper continued. Knight had drawn a cigar from a humidor and was lighting it. “Have it any time you want, dear,” he told Judith. “You won’t mind if I don’t wait, do you? Thought I’d like to run in and get hold of R.G. (R. G. Hunter) before he gets off to the club. I’ll be back quite early but I’d rather not take time for lunch. Sure you do ’t mind?” “Not in the least 1" Judith assured him, smiling. What else could she say to a husband so- eager to be off?

“You can serve me in about an hour and a half,” she told Mrs Wheeler. “I’m going to want to rest a bit.” “Would you like to go upstairs now, Ma’am?”

“Why—l—” Judith hesitated. “Yes, I suppose I would. You’re going to leave right away, aren’t you, Arthur?” He had already summoned Harriet and was puLting on his top coat. “Be back by four o’clock sure,” he told Judith. “Re6t up. Mrs Wheeler’ll attend to anything you want. Goodby dear.”

They kissed. Then Knight pulled the front door open and was gone. Judith felt lost in the big house.

“Let’s look about down stairs a little before we go to my room,” she said to Mrs Wheeler. She was going to add that it seemed to be a very large house, then changed her mind, remembering that servants must be properly impressed.

The Knight residence was a large one. Architecturally it was attractive, but furnishings and draperies throughout lacked brightness and modernity. On the first floor there were the living room, dining room, library, a smaller room where Knight kept a desk which was known as “the study,'’ and on the west side of the house, half-enclosed in glass, a “sun room.” * * * Upstairs Judith found another central hallway corresponding to the one below, and six bedrooms. Somewhere at the back of the house there were quarters for the servants. Harriet, the new maid, had been hir-. ed only a week ago, Mrs Wheeler said. Then there was Cora, who had been the cook two years ago and dismissed after the house was closed. Mrs Wheeler felt that she had been extremely fortunate in obtaining Cora’s services again. Bert, the chauffeur, also took care of the walks and lawn and did the odd jobs that needed a man’s hands.

“And here’s your room, Ma’am.” The housekeeper drew back the door and Judith entered a bedroom. It was not the largest of the six. Ithad three windows and an air of freshness and sunlight. The furniture was old-fashioned walnut and the girl loved ii, instantly. A quaint, sedate charm pervaded the room which had a doorway leading into another chamber. “Mr Knight’s,” the housekeeper volunteered demurely.

Judith looked into the room beyond. It was much like all the others which she had seen.

“I think it’s beautiful,” said Judith. The triumph of the big house was yet to come. Judith supposed she had seen all of it, but no —1 “You’ll want to see Miss Tony’s room,” the housekeeper urged. “Here —down the hall.”

Wondering, Judith walked after her. Mrs Wheeler threw the door open and stepped back. Judith looked into a lavish French boudoir.

The room was very girlish—that is, it was exactly what the taste of a 17-year-old school girl would be likely to dictate if she had been told to instruct a decorator exactly how to furnish a bedroom, sparing no expense.

“Her father gave it to Miss Tony on her last birthday,” the older woman explained. “My—ain’t it elegant though?”

“She’s coming, you know, to-mor-row morning,” Judith said. “Yes. So Mr Knight’s message said. Well, we’ll have plenty going on all right with Tony here! Judith scarcely heard. She was still marvelling at the lavish rose and blue taffeta curtains, the rose velour chaise longue with its innumerable lace pillows, the bed dressing table and other pieces of Louis XIV fui’niture. Genuine woods delicately constructed and prodigiously expensive 1 There was a lace coverlet thrown over rose satin upon the bed. A whole family of French pierrot and pierette dolls languishing together upon the coverlet. Souvenirs of a dozen parties were cluttered about.

“Tony never would let me change any of those things,” Mrs Wheeler was quick to defend herself. “She said she liked things sort of careless. My—all this cost a loti But Mr Knight’s such a good man. And he never has the heart to deny Tony anything. She could have the moon if she asked him for it.”

Tony—Tony—Tony. “Do you want to see Arthur Junior’s room?” the housekeeper asked. “Thank you,” Judith spoke up quickly. Ido want to rest and freshen up so I think that can wait. I want a very simple luncheon, Mrs Wheeler. Just soup and an omelet or something quite light.” “It’ll be ready in half an hour, Ma-am,” Mrs Wheeler assured her. Judith returned to the room which was to be hers and shut the door. She looked about. The charming old walnut was beautiful but it would have to go. She felt like an interloper. She slipped off her garments, picked up a silk robe and stepped into the severe white-tiled bathroom. The adjoining bath was the only touch of luxury the bedroom afforded.

She splashed in warm water and soapsuds and the steamy moisture crept up from the tub and curled her wavy locks tighter. Then she slipped on her frivolous little leather mules, pulled her robe about her and returned to the bedroom to dress. The afternoon was to be devoted to household duties. Judith pulled the beige crepe frock over her head again, paused before the dressing table mirror to lake an inventory of her appearance and then went down stairs.

She found Mrs Wheeler in the reception hall. “Luncheon’s ready, Ma’am. I was just going to call you.” Judith followed into the big, square dining room. It was rather dark, and mahogany furniture added to this impression. The table linen was exquisite and snowy and there was a low bowl of roses. At the head of the table a chair was placed. In front of it was service laid for one. Judith sat down. A moment later Harriet appeared bearing a tray with a bowl of steaming broth. It was chicken soup with rice, rich and well seasoned. Judith ate it slowly.

She was here in Arthur Knight’s home, a bride, and she was having her first meal alone.

CHAPTER XI. True to his word, by a quarter of four o’clock that afternoon Arthur Knight reached home. He came into the living room in high spirits, rubbing his hands together to warm them, cheeks glowing from exposure to the cold wind, and strode over to the fireplace. “Whew I —it’s getting cold outside,” he told Judith. He said it as a man who is acclimatised to long, cold winters and enjoys them. “Hope there isn’t going to be a storm to tie up Tony’s boat to-morrow morning. December’s an awful time to cross the Atlantic,” he added. Judith dropped the notebook in which she had been scribbling and came over to her husband. Carelessly he slipped an arm about her, dropped a kiss on the radiant, glossy head and held her close in one of the silent little moments of tenderness she had learned to love. “Everything all right at the office?” she asked. “Oh, yes 1 I caught Hunter just as I hoped to. Wants to have us out to dinner next week. His wife will be getting in touch with you, I guess. Yes, everything’s going splendidly. That new elementary science series is going too. It’s catching on like wildfire, they say. That’s one time, my dear, your husband knew what he was talking about.” He went ahead, talking of oontraots and re-orders and new shipments.

“And what have you been doing all this long afternoon?” he finally paused to inquire.

“Oh, I’ve been so busy! I’ve seen the whole house, Arthur —every room. And I talked to Cora and went over all sorts of things with Mrs Wheeler. My, but she’s an efficient person!” “Yes, she stayed right here and took care of the place all the time I had it closed. She’s a good housekeeper. Listen, Judith, remember you’re to change anything you want about the house. Get an interior decorator, have it all done over if you wish, plan it any way you like—” The girl smiled. “There are a few things I want different,” she said, “but not right away, Arthur. Remember, Christmas is coming! Wouldn’t that be a fine time to have paper-hangers around and half of the furniture in boxes? No thanks, we’ll wait a while for that!”

They talked then about Judith’s allowance for the house. It was a liberal sum but the young wife was determined to be quite business-like. Every bill and every household expense was to be paid from her own budget. It was this about which she had been scribbling in her notebook before Knight’s arrival.

At seven o’clock that evening Judith Knight presided over dinner in her own homo for the first time. She had made such eager plans for that dinner and entered the dining room with high colour and a rapidly beating heart.

She took her seat at the head of the table and Knight drew out his chair opposite. “Looking very pretty to-night, Judith.”

The girl blushed. “Thank you, kind husband,” she said mischievously. She had hoped he would say thatl Judith wore a frock of marine blue flat crepe, the simplest of dinner gowns, with, a crystal bow on the left shoulder and knots of velvet ribbon for its only additional trimming. The colour was flattering and darkened the shade of her deep blue eyes. Through misted lashes she glanced happily across at Knight. The mist signified happiness. Very different that table looked from its appearance at noon. A low flaring bowl of silver stood in the centre and from it arose a mound of tiny pink rosebuds, clusters of forget-me-nots and airy maidenhair fern. Close to the bowl were four low candlesticks, each bearing a lofty white taper. Their flames lit the room, casting into shadow the sombre background but adding glints of fire to crystal glassware and shedding mellow warmth across the table. Harriet began serving the meal. Judith Knight was proud of the menu, hoping Cora had made no mistakes. She had planned the meal with regard for Arthur’s taste. She knew he liked to start dinner with an oyster cocktail and the blue points were properly iced. Then there was consomme, roast beef not over-done but quite lender, vegetables, a salad / and cheese served with Bar-le-Duc jelly and wafers. They had coffee in the living room before the fireplace. Both of them sat on the big divan and watched the dancing firelight. They sat there a long while after Harriet had taken away the coffee tray. Arthur Knight praised his bride for the housewifely knack she was already demonstrating. He looked what he was, a happy, wellfed, contented man. “Ought to turn in early to-night,” he said before long. “Tony’s ship is supposed to dock at nine o’clock. We’ll want to get there before that time.” (To be Continued.)