Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-04-09
The OLD BUREAU.

the dinner"
"Why, my dear, are you not rather hard
on Mrs. Archer? What has she done TO
deserve such severe censureY
"Well you see, John wanted her to take
in his old aunt, Elvira Brown. She is the
only one belonging to him now living and
has been like a mother to him. 1t seems
he had made all the arrangements neces-
sary, then her high mightiness kicked over
/ the whole plan and would not allow the
old lady to come there. l hope l am not
a tyrant, but if my wife's house was too
good for my folks it would be too good
! for me-" said Mr.. Dawson with decision,
and when his wife looked at him perhaps
/ she was relieved to know that her mother
in-law was sleeping the sleep of the just.
at certainly does seem hard, but there
are always two sides to story. Did John
tell you?"
"He tell met Not he. found it out by
accident.
Perhaps then, you have not heard the
whole of it.
Perhaps not" replied Mr. Dawson
tremendously, and let the matter drop
John Archer had been the friend of Rob
ert Dawson for years. He was IA simple,
quiet fellow, some years the senior of his
wife He was fond of domestic life, Of the
! DctNtI SlOt 'h MillCu liz utQ Sttl NtlF lb-
tie, as he was LETT an orphan at Il tender
age, his sole surviving relative being the
Elvira Brown in question.
John had not been looked upon as
marrying an, but from the first he had
been greatly taken with Miss Smith who
was new light in the armament of the
society OF W.tcrvine and had pushed his
suit with such y yor chat he had carried
off the prize from younger and Weather
men. Miss smith had not always moved
in the class of society which she at PRESENT
graccd. She had during her carly years
negotiated with the rest of her kindred up
on a farm, and not fertile farm either.
But the tide which is said to be in the
affairs of men had swept mineral oil be-
meath the stony bed of soil which her ia
Their and brothers had hitherto titled with
such scant returns, and with its discovery
wealth flowed into the family Golfer until
its members all forgot that they had ever
been poor
All Waterville considered the match be-
tween John Archer and Miss Smith very
suitable one. Mrs. Archcrs father had be
slowed a lovely little house ,charmingly fui"
nished, upon his daughter, and with health
and fair income they certainly ought to
have been happy.
Mrs Dawson was fully as fond of John
Archer as her husband was. and therefore
took an interest in his affairs She did
not like the thought of outside gossip get
ting about concerning the young wife, and
because of this made up her mind to in
vestigate the story for herself and to do
what she could to smooth down the rough
places.
1t was charming little drawing room
in which Mrs. Archer received her caller,
beautiful and costly things filing every
nook and corner There was not much in
common between the sedate Mrs Dawson,
who was old enough to be Mrs. Archer 8
mother, and that airy young matron, who
evidently had made up her mind TO carry
things with high hand.
Mrs. Dawson had too much good sense
to breach the subject herself, but Mrs
Archer was Il great talker, and soon came
around to the matter, which was evidently
uppermost in her mind.
John and have had our first quarrel, -
said Mrs. Dawson. "A week or two ago he
quite insisted upon the propricty of offer
ing his Aunt Elvira home with us. 1t
seems that the old people who have always
cared for her place are going out west to
their married children. John does not
want to put the old lady into the care of
strangers.
Il gave only a reluctant consent, for l
cannot abide elderly people. They are so
fussy But John coaxed and pleaded I'M
til gave in. We agreed upon the large
front chamber for her, and went with the
best grace l could muster to invite her in
person. Then the fuss began. found she
had a van load of personal property, a cat
and a parrot l agreed to the live stock,
but drew the line at the old furniture.
Then 10 II went to see her and she con-
sented to come with only her trunks but
at the Last moment she stuck to a most
disreputabe old bureau, and | would not
allow it to come into my house. l told
her | did not have single article of old
furniture in my house and | could not
think of allowing that old bureau to come.
That made her mad, and she said More
shame for you. That old bureau is worth
} a dozen new tangled ones. " Anyway She
wouldn't give in. Neither would l, and
so the whole thing is off John is very
} angry, l am afraid; but l don't care"
"Oh, yes, you do. l am sorry, my dear
Mrs. Archer. 1t is evident that the craze
} for the antique has not struck YOU or you
would be wild to have that old bureau"
mo, indeed. l never could abide old
traps. l like new, bright, expensive fur
niture. | was going TO get the old lady a
beautiful new chitfonier. But it is all of
now
well, l must say think it is pity
You know, my dear Mrs. Archer, that
Mrs. Brown is all the mother your hus
band ever knew. But we must all grow
old in time. -
That's true, But she never did any
thing extra for John. Besides am under
no obligation to her. l would rather have
= her room than her company at any time
and why should give in when she won'tY
Why, indeed, thought Mrs Dawson
though she did not give expression to hel
thought Nevertheless she did say wha
she could to the young woman about for
}, bearance, and felt when she left as if hel
y visit had not been in vain and that i
:. John took the right way his wife would
j finally consent. 1t was evident, however
c that John Archer did not follow the leat
: that Mrs. Dawson had given him, for hi
c aunt did not become an inmate of Mrs
I Archer's pretty home, and about tire,
weeks afterward Mr.. Dawson brough