The Van Buren press., 1894-10-13
A BIT OF SEvRES.
\ Foolish Fancy That Brought
About q Wedding.

1t was cosy room. suggestive both OF
comfort and elegance; but Van Tookcr
mere, recalling It's former glories and
keenly conscious of each worn thread
In the carpet, the frayed satin in the
furniture covering and darns In the
lace curtains. shook her head and
sighed plaintively.
Speculation, panic and grief from
the consequent failure had carried
away Van Tooker pere. His thought
fulness left them the old homo and q
slight income upon which his widow
and her daughters, Elinor and Con-
tent, contrived to live presentably, NO
ono knew how.
That IL, no ono except Elinor, for
Elinor had the Van Tooker nose and
had inherited along with II those
qualities which not only comma nd
success but deserve 1t. No one but
Elinor knew how the shabby old
gowns were rejuvenated, the hats
made good ss new and the CASTOR
hnery of her mother and aunts trans
formed into bcwitching party gowns.
Just - they are In stories, exclaimed
Content, In ecstasies after each new
achievement of Elinor's
Ordinarily when given to meditation
Miss Van Tooker sat In tho library.
For II was aristocratic even In its de-
cline, and together with her Van
Tooker nose Miss Elinor had inherited
aristocratic tastes. Her great-great-
grandfather--a Copley-hung ON the
wall; the old books were handsomely
bound; and, thank Heaven, the floor
was Of polished wood and could never
show such unmistakable signs of shah
biness - the erstwhile beautiful car
pets were doing. Then Miss Van
T0oker was intellectual, and medita-
tion In the library was therefore more
appropriate.
When she at there Saturday night
summing up her weeks occupations
the account ran something like this:
Monday night. acting Lady Teaxle be-
fore the Comedy club, acting It well.
too, and thereby consuming the i'm
mense amount Of nervous energy re-
Quired to act Sheridan; Tuesday after
noon, leading conversation on social
ism 1t the Once-a-Week club; Wednes-
day, giving little talk before tho
missionary society ON practical ways
Of raising fund; between times read
ing up for her paper for the Every Fri
day club. Added to this were the vari-
GUS social functions In which she had
taken part; the teas at which she had
''poured;" the receptions at which she
had helped to receive; the German she
had led and the calls she had managed
TO pay and receive between times II
was long list, but 1t was Saturday
and she had Sunday to rest In when
the memory Of the weeks occupations
made her weary. This was Monday,
however. She had been busting, for
their one maid was busy in the laun-
dry, and moreover Minor did not dare
trust her among the bric-a-brac.
That bric-a-brac! This was the rea-
son she sat down, duster In hand, to
mediate.
Van Tooker nero had adorned her
parlor, ~ was the fashion at the time
Of its adorning, with stately bronxes,
Bohemian glass and slAbaster, and
had allied her china closet with the
wares Of Worchester, Dresden and
Sevres. Therefore whom Elinor cover
ed . tiny table with . linen cloth
whose original design was lost In the
embroidery and drawn work with
which II was ornamental, set IL In the
corner between the window and the
CRATE and placed thereon six Of her
Sevres cups aud saucers, Mrs. Van
Tocker was properly incensed. Her
indignation increased when she dis
covered Content balancing . bread
plate of rare design upon . wire easel
to ornament the mantel, stripped of
her bronses. The etagere, too, bore
traces OF the dining room robbery.
Only the fact that indignation a. we'll
~ sorrow rendered Van Tooker mere
speechless saved the girls from a
severe reprimand.
my dears, have always found our
china closet sufficiently roomy," she
said with dignity when she again re-
covered voice.
But, mamma, everybody else has
teacups and things In their parlors
now, ready to pour tea and chocolate,
you know"
"when do you expect to pour tea and
chocolate. Elinor?'
Mamma, dear. you know it is q
shame TO have this beautiful china hid
den away, and nobody ever sees our
dining-room.
"What will you do when we have
company"
Mamma, darling. you are too ridicu-
louA Won know very well we are per