The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-04-04
A MUTUAL SURPRISE.

Who entered his study.
"No, sir"
I'll was his excellency, the former
minister, Baron p"
"Indeed. But how am to know all
.xcellencies!" she exclaimed, shrug-
zinc her shoulders. almost every
Svelling in our street is occupied by an
sx.mnister. But tell me, though, what
chair was his excellcncy seated upon ?"
"Seated on? Why, right here, on the
one next to which you are now stand
ing Why do you ask?"
"Well, well. just as l feared, and he
has sure enough sen all. the thread
hare sofa. the worn chairs Why will
con persist in receiving your callers in
this room. Is there no parlor?"
The good woman seemed put out.
always the same story. whenever l
have a caller" grumbled the professor.
"Pray, what is wrong with the furni-
ture?"
Wrong? Everything is wrong I tell
YOU" she retorted, hotly. Look at the
sofa, at the chairs"
The professor put on his glasses and
;nspected the seats and frames of the
pieces indicated.
81 think" he began in an earnest, de-
liberatc way, as though dissatisfied with
something, II really think the furniture
does show signs of wear.
1T is old and unfit for USE" his wife
decided, "and a disgrace to the room,
and that is the very reason why you
should receive all callers in the parlor."
impossible" he responded grufily.
~ would rather buy new furniture"
"Buy furniture"
The words seemed to make the little
woman speeches.. Approaching her tall
lord. she extended her hand to him,
looking up expectantly.
"All right" she said, ''hand me the
money / could not buy set like this
for less. than 500. You remember Ii
was part of my dowry. In those days,
some 90 years ago. it cost n trifie less.
because everything was cheaper. The
covering of the sofa is heavy gros grain
silk. and the frame walnut. Where, do
YOU suppose, could get such goods now
for SlO0?"
"Nowherc, my dear, / am ready to
take an oath. And for that reason j
think it is perfectly superfiuous 10
keep your hand extended so long. smil-
ingly retorted the professor. And he
meant it, Had his wife remained in the
same attitude for days and extended
her hands forever. he would never have
given her anything besides the house
hold money, because he was still moro
economical than herself. which means
good deal, considering that she had
gone to the length of learning how to
make mems wearing apparel, 10 not he
obliged to have trihes like trousers and
so forth made by tailors.
As matter of fact a single glance at
the professor suiliced 10 show how sue
cessfully she had practiced economy in
his garments.
Did you know" he asked after lit
tie, what the minister wanted?'
How should 2"
HE notified me to be prepared for
great distinction
What? perhaps an order or a
title"
Not improbable!"
And we are apt TO receive callers and
congratulations"
Possibly"
Whom you would receive in this
room?"
Certainly"
Not in the parlor?"
"No,"
Indeed! Well, then, now insist on
having a new set of furniture" the ex-
cited little woman exclaimed in her
most positive tone, which the professor
knew but too well, and which brooked
no gainsaying.
lie began to fear an assault upon his
pocketbook, for now his better half dis
covered additional need every moment.
She was liable to insist upon new wall
paper, new curtains and new paintings.
Almost every piece in the room had
been part Of her dowry and done serv
Ice for 20 years, and had consequently
been long ago fit for the attic.
But he was for once mistaken. Moth
ing like that happened. His wife ut
tered not n word. Only her eyes sud-
denly shot a lightning flash at the
sofa, whereupon she suddenly left the
room.
An hour later, after the professor had
LETT the house, she once more stood be-
lore the sofa. Deity she ripped open
piece of the covering, and as soon as
she was able to take look Mt the wrong
SIDE, she assumed n challenging posi-
ton, saying to herself:
Triumph! 1 knew it! My husband
snail soon see what n practical and
economical wife he possesses.
"Jaconde, Euphrosine," calling her
grown daughters, "listen to me, both of
you! You are aware that your fathers
birthday is at hand. You have already
procured presents, and / am getting the
newspaper case he coveted, but / should
yearly love to show him another atten-
Ton. He limited to-day that his study
needs new set of furniture. But u
good serviceable set costs at least 500,
mo L.. NJ