The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-07-30
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
How the DanfOrthS Moved
BY GLEN HATHAWAY.
THE Danforths were moving that

move i'll three years, very unuSuai Ioc
ord for family of any pretentions to
responsibility in the staid little town.
And the Danforth name had been one
Of the most aristocratic there for many
years.
First we lived n-our own dear old
home, where l was born" Frances had
enumerated the evening before, sitting
on the porch in the soft April'moon-
light, with her lover on the steps just
below her. "Thcn when Cousin Zebe-
dee and the mortgage took that, In
spite of all our pinching and planning
all the years was growing up, we had
that nice house OH River street. The
next year we had to give that up as too
expensive and move to this place, that L
might say something against, but
won't, because-well. because l won't,
Dick" she lucidly explained, with a
downward smile at the young man,
rho knew very we'll that she forgive
the house its many faults for the sake
of having found her romance within its
walls. "But there's nothing but the
lowncss of the rent in favor OF the
house we're going to-" she ended. Its
cramped and shabby and inconvenient
in every way. When think how far
below the old home we've got in only
three years, II really fear we shall
find ourselves moving out to the poor
farm one of these springs"
IF you would only move to my house
one of these springs-or sooner, began
Dick Stedman, reaching up to take one
Of his sweetheart's small brown hands,
that were pretty in spite of all the work
they had had to do.
But Frances pulled it impatiently
away.
You couldn't afford to marry my
whole family, Dick, even if we'd let
you, and they can't possibly spare me
rs maid-of-all-work and general man.
ager as long as the money comes in so
slowly and the children grow out of
their clothes 80 fast There! don't let
us waste any more time tonight talk
ing of disagreeables or of what can't
be-"
IF your grand-aunt only hadn't
made such a cruelty unjust will" Dick
began again; and again Miss Danforth
cut him short. =
IF wishes were horses, then beggars
would ride" she quoted, absurdly.
my grand-aunt did make her own will
tosuitherself, as probably shall if ever
am n wealthy old spinster and able to
afford dislikes; and what is the use of
ifs? Once more I suggest that you
start some pleasanter topic this last of
our evenings on this pleasant old
porch"
Apparently he obeyed; for their talk
grew low-toned. and her pretty dark
head and his comedy, fair one drew
quite unnecessarily close to each other
as it went on. When he left, which was
early, in consideration of her busy NOR
row, there was the brightest of smiles
on Miss Danforth's face as she went in
to the parlor.
But the smile faded az she looked
round the familiar room. The trail of
the mover was already upon it. The
tacks were out of the carpet, and the
bookcase was emptied and its contents
piled in o corner.
The handsome furniture-much too
handsome and aristocratic in it's state
~ old-fnshion for the cramped little
room with its cheap, glazing, gilt paper
and worn carpet-borc traces of rough
usuage. Frances stopped on her way
to bed to pityingly study the scratches
and dents on q secretary of inlaid ma
hogany.
The furniture had been the sole leg
acy left Mr.. Danforth by the will of his
Aunt Deborah, an eccentric old lady
who had practically adopted him as
boy. brought him up in idleness to
expect her money, and turned him out
without penny when he declined to
marry to please her and did marry to
please himself.
His wife was an orphan, with pleas
ant house of her own, which Frances
still regretted, and he had gone to
work gallantly to support himself and
his, and for time had prospered. But
having no profession and being without
much business faculty, Mr.. Danforth
had failed to attain more than a very
moderate salary in an office, while his
wife had early settled down as mild,
chronic invalid, whose constant worry
over the way her doctors bills and
ether needs ate into the family income
cd not improve her chances of re-
eovery.
When at length Miss Deborah died, it
hn$ 81, l. \ IL ~ L
able antique furniture to her nephew,
as the last OF the Danforths, coupled
with the provision that he should for
felt 1t if he ever attempted to sell q
Jingle piece, and had bequeathed her
very considerable fortune to a distant
and already well-to-do cousin, Zebedee
Smith by name.
Mr.. Danforth had philosophically &C.
cepted the situation and the furniture,
ceiling off the commoner things he al
ready had to settle some bills Of long.
standing with the proceeds, and crowd
ing his small rooms with the richest of
carved oak and mahogany, most of
which was presently still further dec
GRATED by the jackknives and bootheels
OF his irrepresGble boys.
Mr.. Smith had likewise used his
legacy to the best advantage, and made
considerable merit of soon after accom-
inodating his Danforth cousins with .
lOan on their homestead.
The next day was one of storm and
stress to Frances, ON whom the weight
of the household burdens always fell.
Mr.. Danforth, of course, had to go to
the office. and Mrs. Danforth retired to
friends house with her usual head
ache, before the moving had fairly be-