The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-06-02
A House-Hunting Experience

would say, with a Smile. 1t was not
smile OF derision, but very satisfied
for he was busy man, and this ele'
ment of activity in his partner was 8
source OF intense satisfaction.
As result Of Mrs. Maclane's activity,
she had great deal to do, for society
learned long ago that, as a rule, if il
wants anything done, it is safest to &c
to a busy person to get it done. Drones
never learn executive ability. As q
natural sequence, Mrs. Maclane was
president OF associations, secretary OF
societies, visitor at institutions, chair.
man of committees, on whom most OF
the work fell, and a power in society as
well as her own home.
To such busy people there come days
when executive ability is taxed to the
utmost. The varied duties do no:
spread themselves neatly over o given
space, but come, like "troubles, in
battalions."
One of these days, and one of these
hours in the day, had come to Mrs.
Joshua Maclane. She was sewing,
watching her children. and entertaining
a ne1gnbor, when the tide set in. A
note came, begging her, rs president OF
relief association, to examine the Gre
dentials of suffering applicant i'm
mcdia,ely. Another came, begging her
to visit family in extreme destitution
ut once. A servant entered, saying
that the seamstress could not proceed
further without orders; and directly
behind the servant came Harry Mac
ane, with a note from his teacher
statin e that he was sent home because
he complained of sore throat, and was
feverish. With a mothers instinct,
the minor duties waited while Mrs.
Maclane examined the child's throat
She was thus engaged when her hus'
bands brother entered with teleqram
at is from Joshua" he explained
"He says there is house for sale
uptown that lie wa It's you to look at
Immediately. Drop everything be
telegraphs, and look after it."
Mrs. Joshua Maclane knitted her
brow, and the neighbor smiled, but she
said, kindly: IF there is any way I
can assist you, I hope you will allow
me-"
Instead of dropping everything.
don't see how anything can be dropped, :
said Mrs. Maclane, meditatively. She
took a medicine case, and as she pre-
pared some medicine for her sick child,
said to the waiting servant: "Teu the
seamstress TO sew OH the sheets in the
closet until I am at liberty. keep
such plain work for emergencies" she
explained to her neighbor. "Now
must put Harry in room by himself
until know whether his illness is con.
tagious, and cannot leave him. Twill
attend to the case downstairs as soon as
Harry is comfortable"
"Can I visit the poor family2" vol.
unteered her neighbor.
II shall be very grateful" replied
Mrs. Maclane. Then she turned to heI
brother-in-law.
HAL, can't look after the house. II
would be great favor if you could dc
it."
"But-" began the brother-in-law.
Mrs. Maclane interrupted him. "Yor
know our needs and taSres, too, almost
as we'll as we do ourselves. You know
we want a house similar to this, but
larger. Observe the paper, the paint
and the walls. Be sure to fird out i
there are plenty of closets. and, above
all things. notice if there are any signs
of sewer gas"
"The lack OF wisdom in sending q
boy to do 2 mans work has passed into
a proverb," answered Henry Maclane
II fear you will find it equally un,
wise to send a man to do woman's
work"
"a little practice in house-hunting
may be of service to you in the future,
suggested the neighbor, pleasantly.
Bachelor halls are very dreary
places in my way of thinking" replied
Henry Maclane, gravely. "a home
that is home needs wife,"
Precisely" said the neighbor.
"Wife and home were in my thoughts
when I suggested the acquisition OF
knowledge for future use."
Henry Maclane shrugged his shoul-
ders, and gave his head a negative
shake. "You wouldn't advise man
who had civil engineering before him
to learn to be a jeweler, suppose?"
mo; but would advise man who
had civil engineering or anything else
before him not to cast away a jewel il
he should stumble across one. Dia.
monds always repay for the setting
The neighbor said it with intent, evi-
IDENTIFY. giving expressive little mods as
she talked.
Henry Maclane smiled. clam afraid
your diamond is a manufactured one
Put to the test, it would turn out like
the Scotch chemist's-a crystallized sill.
cate, and not pure carbon"
AS he passed out, the neighbor said
with a pout: "Your brother-in-law il
incorrigible. There is that good Mis-:
Anderson would make him such gooc
wife, and I know she worships tbt
ground be walks on. Is there any ole
love that fills his mind and heart to tn
exclusion Of all the interesting ladies o
our set?"
1--WE never knew of any love affair,
eplied Mrs. Maclane, in a confidentia
tone, "but have my suspicious, HI
was q young man at the time OF ou
civil war, and, as a colonel, did goo'
service. Attached to his sword is a cur
of light flaxen hair tied with blue rib
bon. I once begged him to tell me tn
story of the golden lock, but he an
swered, quietly, that there was nothin!
10 tell.
1T looks like cbild's,' I venture'
to suggest.
To which he replied: The head Of
which it grew must have known a
many summers and winters as you
own
..sJ hona obo Ia not doad' T vonturo,