Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-30
THREE TOO MANY.

~ ltA4A4 wv --AA-h
II was in one Of the large stores up
town that / saw the willow chair; moth
ing az all remarkable, as chairs so, but
50 drowsy looking that fer the mcmen,
| stood gazing could just see my Jacks
handsome blond head against il. The
order was placed The chair 10 be del.y-
cred December a.
nv own people are the good, old-fash-
toned kind. strictly church-going, and
who seem to care for nothing further in
the way Of breaks in the mOnOtOny OF
their country lives We as small chill
dren were r.g.dly made to toe the
mark" said mark being invariably a
stra.shc one. Perhaps this IS why when
we did come 20 the point Of marrying
we somehow were chosen by the gay
est. Evel.est and best-natured fellows Of
all the college SCI.
However this may be. Jack and 1 had
been one year IN our own little fiat, not
50 Far from Broadway but that he could
easily reach the store by 9 a. M and,
wha. IS more, having gotten along ia
mOusly together. HIS father and moth
er were coming for over Christmas. and
Of course I was in a wh,rl Of anxious
prepare ION long before the thoroughly
experienced housewife would have
given her dinner q thought.
But. 20 return TO the willow chair.
When we moved into cur five rooms
there was very little TO move. We were
quite satisfied Win the idea Of adding
TO our stock as We Went along. and n
THIS way cur p2rl0r was net nearly
crowded. though with a fair share OF
artistic taste IN arranging. il was not
so fcrl0rn. after all.
The clerks of the store Jack JUS now
has the management. the head Of the
firm being in Cuba. and the men Ike
h.m0 were evidently plc-ting some dire
evil. which ne hoped would not take the
form of pickle casters 1--WE only received
eight as wedding g;fts). and a really
fine picture would 50 help out between
the fireplace and the front window. The
Birds. Jacks people, would be sure 70
remember us. and in arranging and
changing. in anticipation. we did spend
a most delightful week.
The willow chair was ordered for The
afternoon before Christmas, TO make
sure of no mistake. and that I might
have ample time 10 decide upon the
shade CT ribbon and 70 make the stun
mig bows. Itarr.ved jus, as was get
ing nv pillows into -heir best hem
stitched cases. ready for the folding bed
Che bes- we could do in cur snug quar-
tiers IN the way Of accOmm0datiOn). and
doing the little things that always come
with amateur entertaining.
Jack came home earlier than usual
at 1870 o'clock. for dinner The rus1
was SO greet az the store that he had
only time for a bite from one Of the
fresh Clr,s-mas pes. Tell father 20
walk down 20 the sore when ne comes;
I can't leave to inset them at the sta
ton. and the dear old chap will ge- the
fdgets if ne sits all The evening cOoped
M with you women. Good by, Beth;
d9n't get prostrati0D. please, until after
the presents are paid for. There VII be
nothing left for DR.. S.rOng-and, on.
YES. I thought tbsre was something l
wanted 10 saw The fellows were ont
this noon IN a body AMI my only hope
IS rba. they haven't cramped their own
Christmas purses. We mus invite CA2m
some evening for q rarebit and racket.
And with this my six-fOoter turns up
MS coat collar high enough 10 impede
an further converse ton. settles his hat
by pulling the back and front az the
same time and strides away. leaving me
with pleasant thoughts CT how little he
really expects anything of me and OF
how much we shall both enjoy the pref
" chair.
The electric bell t:nkles in upon my
musings. and, upon answering the
summons. I stumble over the narrow
hallway nv chair. by some strange
freak moved out here and stripped Of
SIS gay ribbons. It is not for some mo
ments that I make cut the pasJebO2rd
For Mr.. and Mrs. John L.
Bird from the boys, with Merry Christ
mas
II IS not. therefore, my chair at all,
vet how strange It seems that these
clerks should. with all the styles DIS
PLAYED. have selected the exact dUpli
cate: but 1 have only tine 20 place it
with my own in the par,0r and TO greet
my guests. who arrive soon after, tired
and chilled from their ride in haH-heat-
ed ears.
When have them settled al the table.
ever Their hot coffee. Father Bird says:
Elizabeth. / don't want to spoil the
fun. but I think we had better tell you
that cur present is on the way. We
had quite a time trying to make out just
what would please both Of you best.
MC.her said they never can have too
many chairs. and this one IS as COM
Portable they don't make EN- all that
way nowadays as il IS good 10 look at.
Ths-ei I declare. if that isn't the ex-
preSsman now; surprised himseE for
once by being on time"
I responded to the dOorbeu, but The
man is halfway down me steps. and the
chair which cOntronts me. as / turn from
the front door. IS as IKE the other two
chairs as IL is possible 70 be. Not a
scroll or rod differs, and, were Il no. for