The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1895-12-27
Three Too many.

looking that for the moment ! stood ga zing
could just see my Jacks handsome blonde
head against the broad, high back, and
that settled it. The order was placed,
the chair TO be delivered December "a.
My own people are the good. old-fash-
Toned kind, strictly churcl-going, and who
seem to care for nothing further in the
way of breaks in the mOnotony OF their
country lives. We as small chiIden were
rigidly made to ''toe the mark" sahl mark
being invariably a straight one. Perhaps
this is why when we did not come to the
point of marrying we somehow were
chosen by the gayest, hveliest, and best
Batured fellows of all the college set.
However this may be, Jack and l had
been one year in our own little fiat, not
SO far from Broadway but that he could
easily reach the store by a. m, a nj that is
more, having gotten along fannously to-
gether. His father and mother were COM
ing for over Christmas, and, of course, L
was in whiri OF anxious preparation long
before the thoroughly experienced house
wife would have given her dinner a thought.
But, to return TO the willow chair. When
wes-moved into our five rooms there was
very little to move. We were quite salts
fled with the idea OF adding to our stock
as went along, and in this way our
parlor was not nearly crowded, though,
ranging, it was not so forlorn, after all.
The clerks al the store Jack just now has
the mana cement. the head of the firm be-
ing in Cuba, and the men like him. We're
evidently plotting some dire evil. which
we hoped would not take the form of
pickle casters 1--WE only received eight as
wedding gifts) and Il really fine picture
would SO help out between the fireplace
and the front window. The Birds, Jacks
people, would be sure to remember us, and
In arranging and changing, in anticipa-
tion. we did spend a most delightful week.
week.
The willow chair was ordered for the
afternoon before Christmas, to make sure
of no mistake. and that l might have
ample time to decide upon the shade of
ribbon and to make the stunning bows.
1t arrived just as was getting my pillows
into their best hem-stitched cases. ready
for the folding bed 1.-THE best We could do
in our snug quarters in the way of ac-
commodation), and doing the little things
that always come with amateur enter
tanning.
Jack came home earlier than usual at
4.39 o'clock for dinner. The rush was
SO great at the store that he had only time
for bite from one of the fresh Christmas
pies. Tell father 10 walk down to the
store when he comes; can't leave to meet
them at the station. and the dear old chap
evening cooped up with you women. Good
by. Beth: don't get prostration, please. until
after the presents are paid for There will
be nothing left for DR.. Strong-and. oh,
yes. thought there was something want
ed to say. The fellows were out this
noon in n body and my only hope is that
they haven't cramped their own Christmas
purses. We must invite them some even
ing for a rarebii and n racket" And
with this my iXfooter turns up his coat
collar high enough to impede all further
conversation. settles his hat by pulling
the back and front at the saine time and
strides away. leaving me with pleasant
thoughts of how little he really expects
anything of me and of how much we shall
both enjoy the pretty chair.
The electric bell tiDkles in upon my mus
fDgs, and, upon answering the summons,
stumble over in the narrow hallway. Ny
chair by some strange freak moved out
here and stripped of its gay ribbons. 1t is
not for some moments that make out the
pasteboard attached: For Mr.. and Mrs.
John L. Bird, from the boys, with Merry
Christmas"
II is not, therefore, my chair at all, yet
how strange it seems that these clerks
should, with all the styles displa yed, have
selected the exact duplicate; but l have
only time to place it with my own in the
parlor and to greet my guests. who arrive
soon after, tired and chilled from their ride
In half-heated cars.
When / have them settled at the table,
over their hot coffee, Father Bird says:
Eliza beth, l don't want to spoil the fun,
but think we had better tell you that our
present is on the way. chad quite a time
trying to make out just what would please
both of you best. Mother said they never
can have too many chairs, and this one il
as comfortable tthey don't make 'cm all
that way nowadays as 1T is good TO look
at. There! / declare, if that isn't the ex-
pressman now; surprised himself for once
by being on time"
j respond to the doorbell, but the man is
halfway down the steps, and the chair
which confronts me, as ] turn from the
front door, is as like the other two chairs
as ii is possible to be. Not scroll ar rod
differs, and, were it not for the dear old
people inside, ] could drop into it and
cry heartily. But this won't do at all,
SO place it line with the other two and
go back to the table, where hope to be for
given the wholesale rihS ieh IN acknowi-
edgmeDt of their kindness, etc.
give Jacks message 10 his father. and
hc,- taking q cigar to smoke on the way
starts out, impatient to meet that boy OF
his. leaving mother and me to settle down |
for a nice visit. 1t is very near 10 O'Clock
and l am beginning to listen for well
known footstep, when again the bell
Has anything gone wrong at the store!
i really expect when open the door, uem-
bling. to lind an ambulance outs de, G
some horrible message, so much there is
to happen in our crowded city streets.
Instead of either calamity l find
large furniture van has stopped outside.
and. as the man shoves in willow chair.
with the remark that "all charges are
paid" | pass my hand across my eyes to
sec if | am really awake, and stand EaZ-
ing, for the chair is 50 nearly a twin to the
others that am quite ut a loss to distinguish |
them m ysc.f when Ig et themintherow, which |
more than fills my little parlor. The cac;i |
reads Merry Christmas, from Jack" A. |
the two men follow closely, have Just time |
to think 10 myself, Must / make bows |
for all |
When Jack and are in our own room, he |
in the midst of his wrigglings to get ut that |
shirt collar button, placed, as he remarks, |
''where the India rubber contor,ionst |
couldn't reach it," Jack says: Say, Beth, |
what made you look SO hysteriCal tonight |
as We came in? Did, forget TO send up any
thing? Remember l tried to get you TO |
make out a list. Did you egt tie chair? 1 |
have been out quite a little lately collecting.
and have seen none like it, Stearns, who |
sold 1t TO me, says it's unique pattern, i'm |
ported, and that the manufacture of this |
particular style has been stopped, even an the |
other side. So You can be sure, dear, |
that when Mrs. De Long calls next time and |
sizes you up through her lorgnette, shat she |
won't ind duplicate of this chair not even |
on Fifth avenue.
have not the heart on Christmas eve To |
dampen the dear boys enthusiasm. and, for |
once, 1t must be allowed, a woman can hold |
her tongue, but next morning we used the |
open fire III the parlor, and Jack being home
=