Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-04-14
THE MAHOGANY SETTLE.
NY HELEN FOREST GRAVES.

heart!-was not of jealoul
nature. It does not behoove ;
minister's wife to be jealous; bu
the dinner was already on the ia
ble-a well Drowned roast chicken
with bread sauce, and baked In
dian pudding to follow-and it wa
undoubtedly relief when hel
husband came out of the study
and seated himself.
WAS that Miss Penriff 2 said she
'Yes,' Mr.. Oakley answered, Il
was Miss Penriff. She wants tc
sell her old Mahogany SETTLE
What cried Mrs. Oakley, 'Gha
delightful old settle, with the grit
sfns' bumpy heads at the top anC
the claw feet at the bottom?
didn't know that anything would
induce her to part with that
And then Mr.. Oakley pronounc
ed the blessing.
Il wish l could afford to buy it!
added Mrs. Oakley, tucking a bib
apron under the youngest Oakley'i
plump chin. what did you tel
her, Simeong
why, told her l would write
to that big antique buying firm In
New York, said Oakley. They're
the only people who can deal with
her to any advantage. A big hall
settle like that is only appropriate
for big houses, with wide entrances
such as, according to all reports
that poor, desolaue old maid once
lived in. And big houses are most
ly found in big cities
Poor thingp said Mrs. Oakley.
And she helped her husband tt
apple sauce.
While Keziah Penriff went slow
ly home to the old red house under
the hill, where Dolly was making
tomato catsup in the kitchen.
Well, Dorothy she said, '1've
done it,
Done what, Aunt Kizzy 2
'I've sold the old hall SETTLE
Dolly looked up from the scarle
steam of the tomatoes to the COO
hall opposite, where the griffin's
wooden eye seemed to leer at hel
1ut of the shadows and one curved
and shining claw was poised OF
the floor, as if about to take a for
ward step.
oh, Aunt Kizzy!' said she.
Yes. | know sighed the elder
woman. But there's got to be an
end to everything, Dolly. Pm {
poor woman now, and | can't af
ford to hold on to luxurles that are
nothing but luxuries.'
Butt gasped Dolly, stirring
away with spasmodic vigor at the
tomatoes, 'Grandfather Penrlf
brought that settle from Holland
himself, and it's two hundred years
old! And it's the last relic of the
old house ON the hillp
STILL reasoned Miss Penriff
looking away over the blue Indian
summer haze toward the yellow
ing forests, I've no right to KEEP
it, Dolly. It's been almost a mat.
ter of idolatry with me, and per
haps I'd better let it go. We are
poor, Dolly-very poorp
Dolly lifted the kettle off the
stove.
It's no disgrace she said, with
a comical grimace. But it's most
uncommonly inconvenient.
If you feel that way, Dorothy,
said Miss Penriff. i don't see why
you refused Orlando Daily last
week.
Why said Dolly, opening hel
blue eyes very wide, because
didn't love him!'
He's very rich, Dorothy
He's welcome to his money
Aunt Kizzy.'
My goodness me, said Miss Pen.
riff, putting on her spectacles (alas
what trial to her pride that first
pair OF steel trimmed spectacles
had been y, who's that driving
down the road in covered cart p
Dolly stepped back into the
shadow.
i don't know said she, but i
think it's Johnny Barton
'Ohr said Miss Penriff. Has
that young man gone into the ex-
press business g
Not exactly said Dolly, busy
ing herself among the tomato Jars.
But | think he drives around
picking up old china and brass
fire dogs, and all such things for
some big collector in New York.
ooh ? again uttered Miss Penriff.
And there was a whole volume
of meaning in the one little word.
He's a very nice young man,
said Dolly, timidly.
i don't doubt it, said Miss Pen
riff. But | wonder what he wants
heleg'
The little discussion was termi-
mated by the sudden tapping of
Johnny Barton's whip handle
against the side of the open door.
Yes, he was very nice young
man-blue- eyed and frank-faced
with yellow hair curling away
from his temples, and white teeth
which shone every time he smil-
ed.
He had only been in Rodendale
a few weeks. Miss Penrif had
seen him now and then, but she
hardly remembered him.
How do you do, Miss Penriff 2
SAID he, with stupendous self-pos-
session.
Mr.. Barton, aunt said Dolly,
in hurried sort of way. This is
my aunt. Miss Penriff. Johnny