Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-10-13

for here in my room was carved and
fluted bedstead, sporting a canopy; a
grandfather's clock in the hall scared
me almost into a conniptfon when it
began to grind out a wheezy melody as
a preface to striking, and the andirons
in the fireplace were marvels of twisted
brass.
Dear me, Mrs. Dayton, you must
have a little fortune in old furniture, if
its all like this bedstead and that
clock" l said, enthusiastically. But
Mrs. Dayton looked at me in surprise,
which presently became resentment.
1T does very well for us" she said
coldly. IF it doesn't suit you, I'm
afraid you'll have to go elsewhere.
Indeed, you misunderstood me-" I
said, earnestly. Don't you know that
old furniture-very old furniture-is
much sought after nowadays? Why,
I've friends in Boston who would be
willing to pay a handsome price for
that clock in the hall, and this bed
is quite valuable. Perhaps you have
other old pieces, or old china?"
She saw now that I was sincere, and
her enthusiasm presently equalled
mine.
Come, and I'll show you what I
have" she said and she took me
through the house.
Our quest led to but little, however,
There were tall boys. and reed chairs
and some pieces of Wedgwood ware,
but these may be found in most New
England houses A flddle-back chair
was found in the kitchen, but that was
all of Importance, so l suggested trip
to the attic.
I'm afraid there's nothing there but
old trash" said Mrs. Dayton, "but you
can see for yourself. A good deal of 1t
was there when we bought the place,
and it amt never been disturbed. l
didn't even cal'late to have it brought
down for the vendue, for the neighbors
are pretty we'll to do and they would not
buy old stuff like that"
"Old stuff, indeed" The very first
thing my eyes fell upon was a Dutch
porcelain stove, while in a far corner,
grOaning under weight of comfort
ableS, was a frail, spindle-legged spin
net.
l could have wept for Joy at the sight
of such treasures and the almost limit
less promise Of that great garnet, albeit
a moments reflection would have shown
me that l. bread winning spinister,
whose home was a boarding house, had
no use for furniture, ancient or mod
ern.
But some of my friends were rioh
in the goods Of this world; running
them over in my mind, l remembed two
whose chief end in life appeared to be
ute collection Of things antique.
Here, then, was chance for me to
kilftwo birds with one philosophic
stone, and resolved to have the Gill
dersleeyes and the Schuylers come to
the sale
With tie aid Of a candle we brought
to light hptastlcally shaped cabinet,
with handles and hinges and bands of
solid brass; a really beautiful mirror
frame autedating anything l had seen
OF it's kind, and, finally, a mahogany
sideboard, that was the capsheaf of
all Small articleS such as chatting
dishes, candlesticks, &C., were CLEANED
from the rubbish, but these scarcely
counted among the more stately pieces,
which had once, wtthoH doubt, be-
longed to a gentleman's family.
Isn't there any way you could have
the sale postponed?" asked Mrs. Day
ton. IF these things could be sent to
one of the big Boston houses, an con-
fldent they would bring almost en9ugh
10 pay off the mortgage, without sasri-
ticing the house at all"
II guess there's no hope Of that" she
replied sadly; 'the bills are out and all
arrangements made, and banks don't
care, you know, whether it's all you've
got or not"
did not wish to raise false hopes
that might not be realized, so I said lit
tie about the chance Of any of my
friends coming TO the sale, but after tea
went out and sent two kilograms,
which 1 felt sure would bring rec
sponses.
AS 1 walked back to my boarding
house in the quiet evening, l began,
half unconscfously, to make memo
randum of the things l should like to
have placed in a home OF my own. For
moment left myself dream over the
might have been" and the maybe s."
then oOnsOled myself for the ruling of
fate with the thought that Bohemian
like myself could never be happy tied
down to the cares Of house anyway
On the following day l banished from
my mind all thoughts of other peoples
miseries- criers, humane pro-
1ects and everything else except that
for which had come to Round Corners
my own amusement
took my fishing outfit, of which, as
well as of my skill as a fisher, l am
rather proud, and, accompanied by the
Dayton dog-an unlovely bull, which
had taken a great fancy to me-set out
through the woods for an ideal day.
And so it proved, or as near as our
ideals ever come to realization in this
world.
With a goodly string of fish, and, per-
haps, the least little desire to astonish
the natives, l came around by the post
office In the evening, and there encoun-
tered familiar face, which beamed up
on me right graciously.
l was really slad 10 see MT walter
Schuyler, whom l had not seen before
for quite while.
We'll, WELL" he said as he took my
hand and looked me over with a little
Quizzical grimace. what new freak
is this, Miss Georgian"
New freak?" l repeated; "be more
explicit if you please: l don't know
whether you used the word as a verb
or az a noun"
Then We'll call it within instead. !
refer to your burying yourself in the
solitudes without letting anybody know
where you'd disappeared to. l beg
your pardon; can't carry your fish and
tackle?"