Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-08-31
. MY WIFE'S LEGACY.
Why We Didn't Got New House
and Furniture.


fashioned set of silver that belonged to
my great-Rrandparents."
Out of consideration for the printer,
will omit indications of the emphasis
with which she usually spoke. II the
reader will kindly consider every second
word printed in small caps or italics, he
will have some faint idea of her manner
of expressing herself.
at Is very handsome SET" re.
turned, glancing about our modest din
ing-room, land will hardly accord with
our furniture"
at wouldn't look at all well with
that sideboard," returned my wife,
promptly, 'it's so very shabby-oh, of
silver"
~ suppose, then, II such thing were
TO happen, you would want new side
board"
She nodded.
81 saw a lovely one down town to-
day; antique oak, beautifully carved. !
do admire oak so much"
"Ilut the rest of the furniture Is wal
nut" objected
"Walnut is altogether out of STYLE"
she said, with disdainful glance at the
chairs which wo had once admired;
land a sideboard Is so much the most
expensive piece of furniture in dining
room that it doesn't cost much more to
get n whole set than just that one
piece. And even walnut sideboard,
new, would not look well with these
chairs and this table"
said nothing and the tacit surrender
was accepted by my wife. Thenceforth
IL was understood that II Aunt Jane
should bequcath us the silver, we were
TO purchase a new set of dining-room
furniture.
The next evening, us we were again
at dinner, my wife remarked:
~ have been looking at carpets to-
day, and saw one that just suits me;
rich and subdued, you know"
Carpets" repeated, In some sur
prise. II didn't know that there was
one needed this season."
"Why, stupid" rejoined my wife,
petulantly 1.-THE emphasis was all upon
the pet name), did we not agree that
the dining-room must be refurnished?
And this carpet is so old and worn, Of
course IL would not do with all new
furniture.
Again I acquiesced silently, and she
proceeded TO make plans for meeting
me the next day, TO examine and choose
the carpet and furniture TO be pur-
chased later on. Well, II my wife's re-
lations left her handsome silver, must,
OF course, pro vide things In keeping
with it.
She met me according TO appoint
ment, and, having inspected the arti-
cles, gave me to understand that my
taste was so execrable as not TO merit
u moments consideration, and an
nouncing her own choice, suggested
coolly:
"And now let us go and look at the
wall papers"
"Wall papers," echoed.
"Of course the room must be re-
papered II II is refurnished. AS for the
woodwork, suppose there is no help
for that; it will just have to be re-
grained. Can they make that natural
wood finish on wood that has been
painted?"
stared aghast; that silver was going
TO cost me pretty sum. But l was
helpless, entirely SOL my wife had made
up her mind.
That evening she was much elated at
the prospect of being surrounded by
such things as she had that day Sc
lected. There was but one cloud on her
horizon.
"The dining-room will be nicer than
the parlors," she remarked, plaintiyely;
I'm afraid they will look shabby"
said nothing, hoping that II she
were not contradicted she would not
pursue the subject further. Vain hopel
She had fixed II in her own mind that
silence gave consent, and when came
home the next evening had assumed
that the parlors were TO be newly fitted
up
Don't you think" she said coaxing-
ly, that as long as the parlors and
dining-room are TO be torn up, and we
are TO have the painters and paper
hangers here, we might as well have
the whole house done? IL would be
very little more trouble, and then II
will all look nice together, you know.
at would be considerably more ex-
pensive," demonstrated
"You might draw the money out OF
the building association" she sug'
gested
'our savings in that institution are
doomed" said TO myself
Aunt Jane fingered long time. In
| justice TO my wife, must admit she
had become oblivious of the fact that
all these improvements depended upon
legacy which could only be possessed
after the death of her venerable rela-
| tive.
day or so after she had decided
that the house was TO be thoroughly
renovated my wife said 10 me:
81 have been examining the parloI
carpets, and find by using the best parts
Of both, and buying wide border,
can get quite a new carpet for our bed
| room"
Can you, indeedr' remarked with
| pleased surprise.
There was one thing that she would
not want, anyhow.
Eyes, and the carpet that is now on
It has in IL enough good TO cover the
children's room, II put the worn par
under the bed Oh maybe I'd better
put that on the children's room" she