Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-03-07
SELECT STORY.
A DECIDED BARGAIN.

"My child" said the widow, with
quiyering lip, "do you think that l
have not learned that lesson long
ago."
"Well, mother, it's too bad for me
to add to your troubles by complain
ing" confessed Bessy. "But it always
seems worse when Mrs. Fanting
comes to see us
"She means well, my DEAR" said
Mrs. Jewett.
''Then | wish she'd mean ill., said
Bessy tsmpestuously. "Just for a
change, mother. What business has
she to lecture you, I'd like to know,
about using white sugar in your tea,
and wearing lace around your neck
instead of linen? Why can't she say
pleasant things instead Of unpleasant
ones? declare, | could almost have
boxed her ears when she asked you
how much rent you paid, and e1-
pressed her opinion that you had no
business to live in such a house as
this"
"She did not know that Mr.. Par
dee gave US the use Of the house for
taking care of it until it was sold,"
apologized Mrs. Jewett.
"And | was sorry you told her."
said Bessy. "What business was it of
hers, | should like to know
"My dear, my DEAR" soothed the
gentle widow.
"Hush said Bessy, lifting her fin
ger, "there she is now. Twice in
in one day. | declare this is too
overpowering" "
Mrs, JcNett and Bessy were sit
ting together in the little back room.
Although it was early twilight no
lamps were yet lighted, a feeble fire of
carefully husbanded Goals glimmered
family in the CRATE, and shone upon
the antique furniture which was ali
that remained Mrs. Jewett Of the old
abundance. Into this nutshell of a
room Mrs. Fantins rustled with a
strong smell of patchouli and an over
whelming amount of brange-colored
feathers and sealskin furs.
81 hope | don't ntrude," said she.
("Ies, you do" whispered Bessy
that only her mother could hear herr
"Not at ALL" said Mrs. Jewett,
family.
"But it just occurred to me-" OBJ
served Mrs. Fanting, unbuttonins
her seal jacket and tanning herself
vehemently, "that / should like that
old family clock of yours"
Bessy glanced apprehensively at
the old brass faced clock whose carved
top nearly touched the ceiling, and
whose monotonus ''tick, tick" meas
ed the seconds like an unseen finger
in the dusk.
"Of course you would be glad of a
chance to sell it," went on Mrs.
Fanting. GLOW very warm you do
keep the room. Can't you open a
window -
"You forget" interposed Bessy,
"that you a-e sitting with all your
wraps on and that mother has cold.
No, we can not open window"
Mrs. Fanting cast a vicious glance
toward Bessy. She and that young
person never did agree. There was
always tacit antagonism between
them. She turned brusquely to Mrs.
Jewett.
"About the clock" she resumed.
"Fantlng has taken a motion to have
an 'Old Clock on the Stairs There
is a landing half way up where it
would show beautifully from the
hall. And he says it must be a
genuine old-fashioned one, too.
What will you take for that one -
pointing her finger to the brass-faced
clock.
Mrs. Jewett started almost as if she
had been struck.
"I-I did not think of selling it, +"
said she. at belonged to Grandpa
Jewett, and"
THAT is all nonsence," said Mrs.
Fanting. "You can't expect to keep
all these old traps. Why the very
storage of them would cost you too
much. And, besides, Fanting wants
the clock. He will give you twenty
dollars for it,"
81 could not sell it for that" said
Mrs. Jewett. ''Dr. Sibley would
have given me fifty for 1t before we
left Oldvale."