The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-25

ny! Upon returning to my Office,
found there, as IL seemed to me, th
reflection of my friends luck in my FIR
client. The case promised to be prof
able one. When ! had settled the pr
hminariea, accepted the retaining fet
and bowed my client out, felt ike
new man. Immediately wrote \ sever
letter TO my tailor, ordered q new suit
paid him something on account, dis
missed the insolent ofice-boy, hghtel
q hre In the crate, put my feet on tn
fender. filed my pipe, and began to b
glad was alive.
Suddenly shadow loomed in the door
way, and turning, / beheld my FRIEND
Jack. But his demeanor was changed
He was no longer the gay, triumphant
mercurial gallant of the morning. HC
was subdued and sober, and there was
something of the conquered, so to speak
IN his whole aspect.
! "Why, Jack" said, handing him q
chair, and paused, for / felt that it was
better to avoid any expression of curl
esity.
He sighed az he seated himself, and
looked into the now glowing Goals with
a pensiYe abstraction.
Bob" he said at length, "since / saw
you last have had painful experience.
My engagement with Gertrude was with
in an ace Of being broken off A little
more and should have parted with her
forever, and tonight would have found
me desolate and desperate maj"
"Why, what in the world" began,
] and paused again, for the subject was
fdelicate one.
at was the feather-bed that my grand
mother gave me-" said Jack, solemnly,
"YOu know how II felt about that bed Bob; /;
and knowing as well as Gertrude does
all that / owe to my grandmother, it is
yet difficult for me to conceive how she
could have treated her wedding gift to
US with an. almost open contempt.
When l told her about it fancied
look of disappointment shadowed her
face, and at length she said, coldly, 1t
would do for the spare rOom; that as for
her own bed-chamber her mother had
given her a fine French bedstead of
solid mahogany, with rolled headpiece,
springs, and hair mattress complete.
was hurt, Bob-I was grieyed; but /
mastered my chagrin as best could,
and said that fine foreign article like
that would be best reserved fer her
mother when she came to visit US; that
for my part / preferred a feather-bed.
And /, said she, looking at me with a
sturdy defiance that l never thought to
see in her beautiful eyes-'and prefer
a hair mattressp It's pity rejOined,
that we can not agree upon so simple q
matter feeling heat gather within me,
l.. L II Loku4AlnI hov
ever, but resolving she never should put
her pretty foot upon my neck in such
fashion. But she got upon her feet,
Bob, and uow confronted me with
glowing eyes and cheeks that burned to
a fame. IF, sir, she said, we can not
agree upon so simple matter, it is not
likely that we shall upon those more
serious and profound Stung to mad
ness, also got upon my feet. That is
unfortunately too true, madam | said,
and strobe to the door As my hand
touched the knob, something like sob
reached me, and turning, beheld her
with outstretched hands, all pale and
trembling. My heart melted within me.
I flung myself at her feet, and besOught
her to do as she pleased with me and my
grandmother's bed.
esYes, Bob, / made full surrender;
but she has taken no unfair advantage
of it. With delicate ingenuity she has
contriyed one of the happiest of COM
promises. Not to slight her mothers
gift or that of my grandmother, to pay
Difference to my desires and yet further
her own, she has resolved that the
feather-bed shall be placed beneath the
hair mattress, and both of them care
fully adjusted to the springs of the fine
French bedstead. A happier combina-
tion could not be desired. But / can
not forget the shock of our controversy,
Bob: never before have We had dis
agreement upon any subject"
Nonsense, Jack" Iexclaimed; these
little tiffs between lovers only serve to
bring them closer together. Why,
Sophy and l." But what / told Jack
about Sophy and myself has nothing to
do with my story.
Jack was married at the appointed
time. / wore my new suit, and was best
man. Sophy came to the wedding, and
our own followed shortly after. My
affairs improved from the day secured
nv filst client, but Jacks business was
far more prosperous than mine. His
grandmother died, and left him some
money. He added paper-hanging to
his other pursuits, and engendered so
lively an ambition among the matrons
of the town to OutdO each other in fur
nishing up their houses that they had
no time for more serious strife, and the
lawyers trade was dull. The years fed
along, and Jacks monetary affairs Hour
ished apaee. He built big house next
to his shop, and the next news We heard
was that Mrs. Henderson was going to
the metropolis for her new furniture.
One night, at my own modest supper,
noticed more than usual of my favor
ite dishes, and my little wife began coax
ing me to give my consent to purchase
she had in hand.
eff We can spare the money, my deal"
| said-"and you know best whether we
can or not-get whatever pleases your
fancy"
1T isn't the matter of the money"
she replied, "for it's a mere song; and
such q wonderful bargainl Gertrude
said she wouldn't let anybody else have
it for twice the sum, because Jack was
90 queer and foolish about it; but she
don't want it now that she's going to
furnish over her house, and she says she
hates featheF-bed anyway
felt q Geld chill creep down my YER
tebra. "Oh, the iconeclastic proelivities
of womenr groaned.
SITS as good as new" coaxed Sophy,
land viii be 50 nice and warm for the
children, now that the winter is coming
on. Can't / buy it p
"Buy itP' shouted. "Certainly not
would as soon traffic for soul. And
YOU had better tell Mrs. Henderson that
whatever barters she makes or mars, she
will do well not to NEEDLE with the
feather-bed Of Jacks grandmother.
Whether Sophy gave Jacks wife this
friendly bit Of warning know not, but
we heard nothing more about the feather
bed, though the town was ringing with
the fine new appointments Of Mrs. Hem
derson's new mansion on the hill.
They gave grand entertainment for
house warming, and though room after
room was thrown open 70 the guests,
there was no sign of q bedstead of any
kind. let alone bed. Toward the close
of the festiVity my little SophY put her
hand in nv arm and led me of with her
r
ito see some china ornaments that were
set ont in fine array upon q big black
article of furniture in the back parlor.
There was swinging mirror upon the
top of It that reflected al the shepherd
esses and dragons and queer contortions
IN porcelain, 50 that it seemed as if their
number was legion, and while ! was gaz-
ing upon them in heWilderment, Sophy
Epressed my arm and whispered:
sIt's bed, B0b--a foldingbed. It
opens with spring, and there's mat
tFess inside. Isn't it perfectly lovely !
Ink it c0mplete
When she told me the cost Of il, !
aeafn grOaned oyer the imbeeile extraF-
l aRauce Of women.
EAnd the fine French bedstead her
mother gave herr asked.
fsf1h that's al ont az fashion long