Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-06-07
THE DAY AFTER.

riedly down the columns of the morn
Ing paper her eyes CHANGED to rest ulCn
! paragraph of great interest. Twice
she read the lines, then ran quickly up
stairs and into the room where the
delicate invalid mother sat.
Mamma, such a surprise! The fur,
niture ut Bridgevale is to be sold to-
Gay at private sale, and I'm going right
out there. do hope no one has bought
that lovely ebony desk! / am going
to the office for Ned, and Ill be backl
by lunch time Don't discourage mel
dearie, l must have that table"
My impulsive childv' quietly OK
claimed the mother, you are crazy
over antiques, and without doubt that
table has been sold or taken away.
Why do you want it, Bessie? I'm sure
you have plenty of pretty, dainty bits
OF furniture in your room now
III tell you everything about the
why when l get home, but l would
not have that recently discovered
nephew have that table for the world"
With that impulsiveness that made
Miss Ransom charming and entertain
ing friend, she had also the most low
ing disposition. Like many Am 'rican
girls she had hobby, and this, while
an expensive one, was so held in check
by her brother, eXtravagances were
rarely INDUCED in. This brother, DR..
Edward Ransom, was bachelor, with
such uncultivated tastes for society
that he preferred his profession to par
ties, and Il surgical case to theater-
going. But he still had the good sense
fo III, ,s.,%4
to believe her the brightest, bonniest
girl in the whole world. Perhaps Bes-
sic would have gained her point any
way. but when she stepped into the
| reception room at the office she found
her brother in conversation with his
partner, DR.. Valentine Pervne.
Ned, want you to go out to Bridge
| vale with ME. All that lovely old fur
niture is to be sold, and am deter
mined to have that little ebony table
if it takes my allowance for a year.
1t is such little beauty, DR.. Pervne.
1t has little claw feet, brass knobs on
the drawers, a folding top and such
cunning little pigeon holes for letters.
| Come, Ned, the sleigh is waiting"
DR.. Pervne looked admiringly ut the
| girl beside him. Should he dare pro-
pose going with her? Would she con-
sent? Her brothers seeming lack of
interest grieved her, and when the
young physician asked as a special IA
vor that he be allowed to drive to the
grand old-fashioned, but now deserted
so gracefully that her brother gave a
low whistle as he saw them drive away
and remarked to himself, Val is a
| T a
half decently. But she will settle down
some day; girls always do"
The day was perfect, the sleighing
excellent, and they were young.
why do you want that particular
table, Miss Bessie:"
Ill tell you, doctor, but l suppose
you'll think me childish. You know
Mrs. Ethridge was very dear friend
of mammals and when mamma first
became ill had me with her for days at
a time at Bridgevale. loved the dear,
lonely old lady, and when we would sit
by the freight after dinner, she told
me of her childhood, her lovers, and the
happy times she had when at school or
entertaining friends at the old home.
One evening" about a year ago. was
with her and we sat in the little library
| .llC1u uSI CSC1 y dOOuC LILY
merry, careless life, a kind of mother
confessor she was to me. Then she
asked mellow Pm rafting on to you
about trifles!-but anyway, she drew
the little ebony table toward her, and
opening it with the little key that hung
on her watch chain. she showed me all
the conveniences of the table made so
many years ago. Then taking hold of
oh. ~ nf
hidden lock and from the recess took
out old letters tied with blue ribbons;
they were quite faded. and she showed
me valentine sent her when she was
just my age 1t was such quaint af-
fair, but written in such exquisite Eng
lish and betraying such affection and
devotion! She fairly blushed, the dear,
sweet old lady as she read it to me.
Such gallantry does not exist nova
days, doctOr?"
ut is no doubt rare, but who sent
the valentine?"
"Why, l asked, half afraid, l was
stepping into the holy of holes. did
you ever find out who sent it," And
she only answered. 'Yes-child. He af
terward married my sister, And now
want that table for my very own,
| anu WlEtI tllil newly ulSCOfcieU Ic1d-
tive wants to come into prominence
for--and will change the quaint old
fashioned place for, I cannot see"
1.-THE nephew may be quite a decent
sort of fellow, Miss Bessie. and not at
all to blame for coming into these pos
sessions
"Well, here we are. and know Just
where to look for the table. 1t seems
really like vandalism, this tramping
about this beautiful old home. wish
it was mine"
"And what would you do with it,
See. there goes a load of Anticipated
chairs. tables and sofas. They are any
thing but artistic nOw.'
Or. Peryne. please come here"
| Bessie had walked quietly on before
the doctor. leading him through the
great reception room. now nearly be-
reft Of it's once handsome furnishings.
into the coy little library. Interested
relic hunters had not vet found this
little treasure house For moment
Bessie stood in silence, then turning
her face toward the doctor who had
| come at her call. said: "It seems cruel