The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-07-01
MRS. FLOWERS FURS.

A comfortable sitting-room large,
old-fashioned open fire; before it a
round table on which stood a generous
pitcher of cider, plate of rosy checked
apples, and a basket of nuts. Two
persons were seated within the ruddy
glow of the frelights; one a hale,
hearty man of sixty-indly, vigorous
sixty and the other dame, ten years
younger. Time had touched her light
ly; her bright blue eyes shone as
clearly as they did twenty years before,
and, though her round cheeks were
slightly wrinkled, pretty color iinger-
ed on them yet, and her smiling lips
gave good warrant of loving heart
"Got all your clothes ready for your
trip, mother?" questioned Mr. Flow
ers, in a tone of interest.
why no, father, replied she ::
I've just begun to think about making
them"
The pair were childless, but years
ago a little darling had been theirs ::
and the fond habit of styling each 9TH
er father and mother which
they had acquired during its short
life, had never been stopped
: Mean to make q pretty good show,
don't you pursued Mr.. Flowers,
peeling an apple and handing it to his
spouse
. Yes, l do, returned she, decided
ly. Laura shan't feel ashamed of
her country aunt if | can help it and
fine clothes count everywhere. I'm
going to write tomorrow, to see if [
can't get that dressmaker from Mason
vile. They say she always has city
patterns, SO | guess she can make me
look as near like city folks as any one
can. But it will take deal of money.
father" And shade passed over her
tace as she turned it toward him.
f." You say you want me to go and have
good time. 1t won't be a good time
II L don't have the things [ want. and
they'll take deal of money"
The farmer was Just in the act of
raising mug of cidar to his lips He
put it down untasted, and, gravely
surveying his wife, asked earnestly:
:" DO | ever begrudge you anything,
Mary"
Law, no, bless you dear " said
she, heartily. "That wasn't my mean
ing at all. There isn't a man in the
country SO ready to give to his wife as
you. | was just thinking it might
seem kind of wasteful"
''Pooh! poohl" said he /" Why
shouldn't you have your pleasure?
Spend all you want, and more too
there's no waste about it. We've nei-
ther chick nor child to save for-sur-
pressing sigh-E'our niece was brought
up with full and plenty at her fathers
house, and now she's married a rich
man; So there's no need to care for her
And why shouldn't you enjoy your
self? | want my old woman to turn
out as well as the best of EN-.
Well, father" she returned she.
yielding the point with the air of one
quite willing to be convinced, elf it is
your will and wish, and nay will and
wish, [ don't see but what you're right
IN what you say about my having my
pleasure along with other folks. " And
she quatfed her cider with satisfaction
and content
Her husband regarded her with a
twinkle in his eye. ''Now confess.
Mary, from a girl you have had fond
ness for fine clothes, haven't YOU? You
didn't often give way to it, but there if
is
She blushed httle-albeit her fifty
wlnters-and moved uneasily on her
chair. He laughed and continued:
There's handsome furs, now, for
one thing. You've been laundering for
a real out-and out set for years.
She started. "Why father how in
she wide world did you ever guess
that?" And she stared at him in open
eyed wonder.
He chuckled Il was in the next
room the other day when you and your
old cTony, Nancy Jones, were talking
about the furs her cousin from town
had on. 1t beats me y Tin tone of con-
Tempt chow Nancy does so on about
that woman. There amt a thing about
her but her clothes, and to hear Nancy
talk, You would think nobody could
come nigh her. I heard what my little
woman said, plain enough-I've wish
Ell for such a set all my days, but I ex-
pect to take it out in wishing There's
the exact words for YOU, and they were
said in a dreadful longing way, too y
gazing at his wife with laughing ewes
She fdgeted and looked away. ut
was foolish speech, Reuben. OF
COuiSS l. never really tuouSnU OF having
such things. People often wish for
things, you know, that they never
expect to have
''And why shouldn't you have them2''
he asked, cody.
Law, father have 'eml Why, did
you hear what Nancy said such furs
cost ~
''Yes, replied he, beginning on a
plate of nuts; ''she said they cost four
hundred dollars. -
''Well!' said she, impatiently,n that
settles it, should think"
Mr. Flowers put his nuts back on
table, poured out mug of cider for
his wife and another for himself,
watched her calzny while she drank
hers, which she did rather reluctantly,
and then, after taking his own with an
air of thorough enjoyment, slowly
produced from the depths of his pocket
a mysterious roll.
When [ went to Masonville to-day"
said he, 81 drew this out of the bank
for an especial purpose, and forthwith
he counted on her knee four hundred
dollars in crisp, new notes; then slap
ping her on the shoulder, and bestow-
ing an affectionate kiss on her cheek,