Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-07-21
MRS. NEwTON'S MISTAKE.

The NcwtOns lived In the handsOm-
est residence I'm BrOmptOn. Strangers
In the village were sure TO observe il
and remark on It's stately proportions
and Tine finish, which distinguished IL
from the plebeian rows Of brick and
mortar ON either side. The whole viii
lage had taken vivid interest in the
house from the laying Of the fOunda-
tiOn 10 the completion of the tower
that graced one side Of the building.
knowing 10 dot the location of every
closet cupboard and shelf in t.
"Mrs. Newton Is happy woman 10
own such n home" was the comment
Of the Brompton ladies. "It IL the
most convenient house built I'm this
town" And the Newton shildren
were equally the envy OF their play
mates. who felt sure that life could Of
fer nothing better than TO live i'm the
pretty, new, stone house. The most
intimate friends OF the Juvenile New
tons built many fine plans, too, for
their own pleasure when the family
should be installed; Lily and Mary
would be sure TO have one Of the rooms
for play room. where they could have
their toys and dolls, and the long back
balcony was the very place 10 put up a
swing: besides, the double DarlOrs were
large enough to hold three sets, and
they thought IL would be easy 20 coax
Mrs. Newton 10 let them have qua
drille party, and with the eagerness of
children they could scarcely wait till
the house was finished.
But Mt last 1t really was completed.
The carpenters and painters and plumb
ers had taken away themselves, their
tools and fixtures, and the final scrub
bing up and cleaning were done. Mr..
and Mrs Newton made n trip 10 a
neighbOring city tO purchase carpets
and furniture for the front part of the
house, purposing 10 take what had
hitherto been their best for furnishing
the remainder. The carpets were
tackled down, the curtains hung, the
furniture suitably arranged. and then
the rooms were-shut up; that is
shut and closed 10 the family. Visit
ors were allowed 10 inspect and admir-,
them. but were not invited 10 sit dowr
on the velvet sofas or raw silk easy
chairs. Mrs. Newton acted as IL sh,
had been the guide of an explOrinI
party. or cicerOne who points out 4
strangers the oddities or beauties of {
gallery Of curiosities. When the toul
Of the rooms had been made. beginninS
with the guest chambers. beautiful II
their immaculate linen and lace pillow
shams, thence through the handsome
apartment fitted up as n library, darl
and gloomy, though elegant, then de
scending the broad staircase tO Gle int,
the richly furnished parlors, 20 dascan
few minutes on the beauty OF On,
carpets OF the lovely pictures tha
adorned the walls, 20 tell the cost o.
the brOnzes ON the mantle-piece or IN,
price Of the carved cabinet dor Mrs
Newton belonged 10 the class VIII,
Judge of the merits Of thing entirel,
by the amount Of money paid for it)-
then the shutters would lie closed. IN,
curtains dropped 10 exclude every YES
tige OF sunlight, and all the grandeur
of the Newton home was shut i'm upor
itself, not 10 be opened again. unless q
be cleaned. until the advent Of anoth
er caller.
The sitting r0Om-Or rather IN,
apartment thus hctitiOusly STYLED. fol
ms family never sat there-continuet
The well preserved. ancient, hair-clotl
sofa and set OF chairs. together witt
tno old-fashiOned, sprawling-hruere,
brussels carpet and square cent?
table that had adorned the best room
oI the Newtons In their old home
There was a pretty bay window al ON
end, ahordlng pleasant outlook upo,
q lawn. and beyond, a vista OF viIlar
street with It's rows Of Lombardv nor
lars This sunny recess would hay
oecn a choice place for flowerH bn
they made dirt and litter, Mra New
ton said, and required 50 much sun
light and sunlight was hard ON eaI
pets 90 the bay window, with an h
bright possibilities OF cheer and beaut,
and warm radience was draped I
heavy damask. In the brightness Of m
outer world included. II seemed NOR
place 70 hold funeral service ira
ne sitting room Of family Of chIll