Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-06-16
THE STORY OF A SCREEN.

Tho level beams of the mellow May
sunset were revealing every flaw and
crack in the cheap papering which COW
cred the walls of the little garret-room
where Mabel More sat busily at her
sewing machine, and a single pot of
blue, velvet pansies in the high, mar
row window made a spot of color for
poor Mrs. More's weary eyes to rest
upon, as she toiled at the foss-silk EN-.
broidery which was her whole occupa-
tion. The room was small and scantily
furnished, but there was within its walls
one relic of evanished days-a black
satin screen, mounted on a standard of
gilded bamboo, and painted in deep
rich oil-colors, with 4 scarlet famingo
floating upward against a background
of reeds and grasses, while in the dis.
tance famed a stormy sunset sky.
"Mamma did it herself, when she
was girl at boarding ng-school," said
Mabel More, to those who sometimes
asked the history OF this one remaining
token of luxury. 1--WE have kept it
through everything. would not part
with it for its weight in gold"
And then she would laughingly tell
the tale of how half dozen collectors
of antiquities and esthetic furniture
had, at different times, endeavored to
purchase the old satin screen.
Zone man wanted to buy it with a
pair Of tongs and brass coal-scuttle, :"
said she; "another one offered broken
set of Thackeray's novels and fender;
and third bargained with tete-a.tete
set OF china, and broken-nosed alabas-
ter statue Of Psyche"
For Mabel was a bright-eyed, sweet
faced girl, who had a very keen sense of
the ridiculous, and livel through the
hard realities Of her life with the quiet
fortitude of an Unborn heroine.
But after all the second hand dealers
were nothing in reso luton and persist
ence as compared with Miss Ann Azalea
Harper, the daughter of the landlord
from whose leaky and badly-drained
premises they had removed few weeks
previously. Miss Ann Azalea had a
very fair idea of bric-a-brac treasures,
and she had cast her fine eyes upon
this very screen.
Its worth q deal of money" said
Ann Azalea to herself. "And it was
only this morning that Aunt Hepsy was
wishing for just such an old-fashioned
screen"
Now Aunt Hepsy was a rich old maid
shrewd, crusty, elderly, and full of dis
trust of all the smooth-tongued rela-
tives whose professions of love and re-
spect we're so extreme.
ga screen? said Aunt Hepsy. "Yes,
want screen"
"Fll paint you one, dear aunt" said
Ann Azalea.
Much Of n screen you could paint r
said the old lady, disdainfully.
"I improved a good deal at board
ing-school," said Ann Azalea, meekly.
"And I'll stretch it upon an antique
bamboo rack; and really think it will
please you"
81 don't r. said Aunt Hepsy.
"May I try, dear aunt9"
EYES," said the old lady, grudgingly;
"you may try"
And Ann Azalea, who had already in
her mind appropriated poor Mrs. More's
antique screen, set diligently about the
work of getting possession of the same.
you owe my pa ten dollars of rent,
said Ann Azalea, spitefully, as she SAT
painting for breath in the little garrett.
room, after having toiled up the three
long and narrow flights Of stairs. "Yor
can't deny It,"
"It is quite true" acknowledged
meek Mrs. More, who, in her daugh
ter's absence, was absolutely defense
less; "but-p
"You ought to be ashamed to owe 50
much money as that" said Ann AzaIea
"We have been very unfortunate oI
late" said Mrs. More. "But We fully
intend TO repay all our indebtedness a
soon as my daughter"
"Oh, that's all nonsense r. brusquely
interrupted Ann Azalea. "Pa ough
to have put an execution--that's wha
no ought 10 have done |"
Poor Mrs. More shudderod.
"And IL amt too late now" added