Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-05-17
POTTER'S PLEASANT SURPRISE,

y
CARTS always safest-and don't forget
to take your lozenges. You're sure OF
being home again ia two weeksP"
20 This inquiry was made with such evil
dent anxiety as TO elicit an indulgcnt
smile from the comfortablo-looking,
rosy-faced gentleman to whom it was
addressed.
"Oh, yes, Louisa, I'll be back in q
fortnight, or less. Don't be uneasy.
I'm too fond Of home to stay away a
day longer than is absolutely necessary,
and my business can be finished in two
weeks"
Then there were affectionate adeus,
and Mrs. Potter stood at the door and
watched her liege lord as he hurried
down the street, anxious to catch the
train in time. The moment he had dis
appeared, she closed the door and turned
briskly around.
"Now, Martha, we havon'ta moment
to lose. Only two weeks allowed for all
my arrangements, and if he SRouM hap
pen to return before that time it would
be dreadful. We must begin at once
and, having so little time, must be sat-
isfed at present with the dining-room
and my bedroom What q surprise il
will afford him, and how pleased he
will bel"
Martha staid domestic-lookelr q
little doubtful at this last proposition,
but discreetly said nothing.
All that day Mrs. Potter and Martha,
with the cook pressed into service, were
very busy, and the house in general as
sumed topsy-turvy aspect.
Carpets were taken up, and the furni-
ture moved into the halls up and down
stairs. At first glance it might have
appeared rs though the family were
about to remove. But when, on the fol-
lowing day, workmen arrived and COM
menced tearing up hearths and taking
down mantle-pieces, it became evident
that the house itself, or at least the two
particular apartments specified by Mrs.
Potter, were undergoing transforma-
ton.
"When he sees these rooms all ar
ranged and furnished according to
aesthetic principles and the rules of
art" observed Mrs. Potter, with an air
of dignity, she will, of course, desire to
have the rest of the house similarly ar
ranged. At present, | merely desire TO
afford him an agreeable surprise
For about ten days following, the GU
riosity of the opposite neighbors was
much exercised over the unwonted pro-
ceedings of Mrs. David Potter and her
servant Martha.
Accompanied by this discreet hand
maiden, Mrs. Potter would set forth
from her home carly in the day, some
times on foot, sometimes in hired hack,
and returning about dusk, accompanied
or followed by innumerable parcels and
packages, large and small.
She was seen in extraordinary places,
and recognized in various remote and
out-of.the-way localities.
1t was ascertained, by comparison
of notes between Mrs. Green and Mrs
Hicks, that she had visited q jewelers.,
a pawnbroker's and junk-shop, all in
one morning.
Those two ladies marvclcd much as
TO what it could mean; but they being
ordinary, commonplace characters, who
had never studied the new books on
high art furnishing, or even attended
the series of exquisite lectures recently
given by the learned Professor Recocco
and his accomplished lady upon aesthetic
tastes and principles, could not be sup
posed to comprehend what Mrs. Potter
was really so much interested in and
busted about.
She had always been rather senti-
mental and romantic little woman, with
aspirations, as she declared, above the
commonplace of daily life, and yearn-
ing for the beautiful in all its aspects in
nature and in art. Hitherto these in
stincts had been exercised in embroi-
dering piano-covors, knitting tides and
stitching bed-quilts of curious and intri-
crate pattern; but since her mind had
become enlightened by the reading and
lectures above mentioned, her eyes were
opened to the righteousness of these
things, as well as to the whole system OF
modern hving-including house ar
rangements and furnishing. AS for
Potter, he, easy soul, never troubled
himself to oppose his wife's s'little harm.
less notions," and made q point of as
senting to all she said in praise Of ART
and aesthetics; hence her brilliant idea
of giving him an agreeable surprise up
on his return from his business trip.
On certain particularly wet and dis
NAL day, with an easterly wind blowing,
Mr.. David Potter stepped briskly from
the train, and with overcoat tightly but
toned, and umbrella overhead, hurried
eagerly to his own abode. He was very
glad that the two weeks of his enforced
absence were over and that he was
about to return to the comforts and lux.
uries of his own home. He thought OF
the clear, glowing grate-fre which
awaited him; of the round table, with
its bright cover, and piles of books and
papers; of the plethoric sideboard, glis-
tening with china and silver; and he
fastened his steps, eager to be again in
midst of these comforts, and enjoying
the soothing influence of his home and
his little wife's society.
His impatient ring was answered by
Mrs. Potter herself, smiling and radi.
ant. Dutifully helping him off with his
coat, she conducted him to the pleasan,
apartment which, when there was nc
company, served alike as dining and
sittiting-room, and with an expectani
light in her eyes triumphantly threw
open the door.
Had Potter been alone he would in.
stantly, at the view thus presented, have
beaten precipitate retreat, under the
impression of having intruded upon
some one else's premises. But as II was
he only stood still and stared bewilder,
edly about.
81 knew you'd be surprised" OK
claimed Mrs. p, in delight. "Now just
see how clever I've been to do all this In
two weeks time, and with no help blu,
Martha and cook. Only stand here O
moment, dear, just inside the door, and
take in the whole effect. Isn't IL beau.
tifulPn
"Ehp" calculated Potter, vacantly,
"Wh-what Is itPr
"Why, aesthetic arrangement art,
effectl Don't you recognize itp"
Potter didn't appear to recognize any.
thing In particular. He stared at the
room and af tho sfra nno furnituro ,uhilo