The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1890-08-12
THAT CUPBOARD.

II When Aunt Mehitable died she left
her niece Bessie curious cabinet so
ugly, Bessie thought. that few days
before she married Victor Harper she
packed h OF TO . storage warehouse
When the storehouse man failed she
received q letter from his widow In
forming her that the old cupboard had
been loaned Co q genteel boarding
house keeper where Il would receive
the best Of care
The lady who kept boarders un-
fortunately found IL impossiblc TO
make financial ends meet and at the
end Of year gave up her clientele.
and the next tenant put the old cup
board up into an unused room.
Its queer thing said he. ''but
suppose sonebody'll call for IL some
day or other And N Ii don't eat or
drink. there II may stay"
Y There. accordingly, IL remained un-
till one day long-bearded msthete
penetrated into the deserted room
where II stood against the wall. aud.
much edited by its decorations and
age-mellowed tinis strasghtway
brought other critics TO soc IL
! Bless. said Mr.. Harper. a. he
smoked his cigar BY the 1reside one
evening. I've seen treasure to-
day--a perieetart treasure.
'.Indeedp'
Bess was changed now. Not less
beautiful. but less provincial. She
wore long elinging gowns OF dull sage
color. and sat on q madonna blue
sofa. with her hair knotted low at the
back OF her head. while the carpet
was OF one shade OF gray green and
the curtains OF another. There were
no brilliant colors move 10 battle with
each other. no gaudy tints. no start
ling effects: hut only tender blending
hues and soft shadows surrounding
her like mn aureole.
"A genuine Antwerp cabinet. said
the artist I'd give thousand dol
lars for IT, |"
Then why don't you buy ite'' MUIR
INJURED Bess. who I'm this refined at
inosphere was changed in voice and
manner as well as In dress.
That's the worst Of &" said Mr.
Harper 1T can't be bought
Not for q thousand doilarsPn with
appraised eyebrows.
Not for any money!
What ~ an Antwerp cabinet, any
wayw vaguely questioned Bess.
Its a thing OF beauty her hus-
band answered enthusiastically "A
JOY forever. A poem done In dark
weodl A dream Of medieval art I'll
Irs lii the old room above varley's
studio All the fellows are raving
over f. don't think there's anything
finer on this side Of the water. unless
it's that one In the Middlesohn collec-
tion In Philadelphia.
and then he relapsed into silence.
staring at the fire and smoking harder
than ever.
Bessie went with him the next day
20 ssold room above Varley's studio
to look at the poem done in dark
wood" /" She clasped her hands with
little cry.
oh. Victor. - she cried. .it's miner
Yours
Young Harper stared at her with
eyes Of wide-opened amazement-
THAT old Aunt Mehitable Barlow
left rms. said Bessie sin her will
And Ill didn't understand the value
OF such things as I do now. And sent
ID to Mrs. Malyinia Perkins to be
stored In her husbands warerooms.
and she left Il with Mrs. Duckworthy,
who used ~so1Ne here and keep boarders
1t Lead. this Is the number--and
when Mrs Duckworthy failed she
must have gone OF and forgotten all
about IL So this is an Antwerp cab
fusk II ftp Wen, I DO remember
that Aunt Mehitaple told ms over and
over again how Uncle Job bought Il
from q merchant In Antwerp the last
time but one that he ever sailed there.
h was sea captain. Uncle Job was.
and the house was full Off,
But Bessle's explanation was cut
short BY Yictor's shout OF triumph,
IS he waved his velvet cap In the
air
Blessed DO Aunt Mehitable's men,
orym said he. II wouldn't sell this
cabinet for 1000 golden guineasF'
Tho artists gathered around con
gratulatory, envious. loudly applaud
ln9 by turns. Bessie looked In sweet
eyed surprise from one to the other.
After oil. what was there In an old
Antwerp cabinet 20 kindle such fame
of enthuslasmg
'Harper's wife is very handsome y
whispered the brotherhood of artists
ore 10 another. but her mind
must run In very narrow groove.
The idea OF her not knowing the value
~ , treasure like thafpH
spalssinw nurrlsans.