Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1896-02-25
A CRUEL KINDNESS.

A CRUEL
The town had grown up to them and
almost crowded itself into their front
door, but they still lived on in the same
old fashioned methods Of the past half
century, olinging to the chairs and Ia
bles they had when they were married,
even retaining the little squeaky piano
that had been Ann Maria's before she
married a rich foreigner and changed to
Anita Marie The cradle she was rocked
in when a baby, manufactured out Of a
barrel by her adoripg father and covered
skiufully with rose colored ohintz had
been sent up to the attic, for it offended
her fine Of aesthetics when she
came home to visit. The rag carpet in
the living room was the work Of leisure
hours and had been in service twenty
odd years, and the old man himself used
TO say lovingly while he regarded it
with admiring eyes, You'll never make
another carpet like that, motberl" It
was like the last painting Of a great art
list to him.
And now the old people had taken an
outing that was to last a whole week,
the result Of a conspiracy in which Ann
Maria was chief mover, aided and abet-
ted by her sisters, who were married and
settled in the same town and whom she
was visiting.
While the old couple were gone, the
conspirators possessed themselves of the
key Of the homestead, entered IL stealth
lily and began what they considered a
work Of reform, which also was expect
ed to be a delightful surprise to those
most interested.
Wen get that dreary old piano out
Of the S~hrst, " said its former own
err, who had one now that cost a thou
sand dollars, land the old rag carpet
It gives me a chill to see it-and all
those dreadful framed photographs and
chromos-I have a few oil paintings
that l brought down with me ON pur-
IItose to replace them-and that red table,
loth-Sophie, do you remember when
re used to learn our lessons ON that
flaming thing? 1t looks as awfully red
as ever, doesn't it?'
Yes, +" answered Sophie, with a dis
tinct sigh. 81 wonder If we are as hap
py now as we were then, or if our con-
ditions depend so much ON surround
ings-lne furniture, for instance2"
"Pshaw !" said Ann Maria with m
phasis. eve must move with the world
or be run over. Here, take those old pea
cock feathers and stow them away some
where. Isuppose it wouldn't do TO burn
them? / once thought the eyes in those
feathers watched everything / did Wen
leave grandfather's clock because it's
genuine and a fad now in the best soci-
ETY., and the older the better.
So they tore up and tore down, and
in a few hours q really modern air per
vaded every nook and corner. A pretty
new carpet-not too gay, but with q
pleasing assortment Of colors-took the
place Of the despised rag carpet. New
chairs, a handsome rug, IN upholstered
easy chair for father and a modern
rocker for mother" ~supplanted the
long used furniture Of the past, and the
faded old photographs were removed tc
make Don for mart paintings in con.
sistent style with the new order Of
things. A white marseilles counterpart
replaced the old log cabin quilt, every
square of which had been as an open
book for mother" TO read. Other limo
vations were made throughout, and
then the o~onspirators paused to look on
their handiwork and take breath.
That's the first work I've done in
On 80 - mmFN 49, MFnMsm awfas.a -.
flushed face with a real lace handker
chief, ''but I'd just like to see the dear
old couple when they open the door"
I'm afraid they'll object to having
the piano out Of sight, " said one Of the
sisters, "but they're sure 10 like every.
thing else. Mother would never let me
touch q chair, even TO s~traighten II out,
so / knew the only way was to take hol
by surprise. Old folks get cranky about
things they have had a long time. II
isn't good for them to make idols OuI
Of old furniture"
II should say not, added Ann
Maria. Besides Il isn't the fashion
now. as il was a few years ago. 1 wa
really afraid people would think We
didn't appreciate our old folks TO le
them live ON among that old rubbish. ,
The last finishing touches being 40
complished, the sisters went 20 their re
spectiYe homes, and at nightfan tn
two old folks walked into tho domioil
that had sheltered them for 40 years
the dearest spot ON earth 20 them-home
Il had been planned by their knowing
children that they were to enter tn
house alone TO intensity the surprise Il
store for them and enjoy each other
lellght over the occasion without wit
nBsloa.
Bat they, not knowing this, felt
with the sensitiyeness Of age a little
burt and chung closer together 40 they
lntered the dark and silent dwelling,
very step Of which was like hallowed
ground 70 their tired feet,
II most wonder the girls amt lefi
light Albumin Tor ua First time theJ
lOrqot. said the old man a he STUN.
bled oveT q chair.
''You know, father, Ann Maria'l
riGitin them. Il makes a difference, .
aid the mother In gentle, apologies
lones that we're her won't when defend.
lug ftbe children"
seems right good q BE- home again