Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-03-25

49, : Y tial evidence, ne
80 has been firmly
convinced, for the
time being, of the guilt of some inno-
cent person. The melancholy expert
ence of Mrs. Crumpet is case IN point.
She was kindly, jolly. middle-aged
woman, happily married, plenty OF
money and plenty of friends. The most
intimate of these numerous friends
was Mrs. Brown. Mrs. Brown ana
Mrs. Crumpet had been school friends
together, and although Mrs. Crumpet
now lived in Baltimore while Mrs.
Brown lived In New York, the old In
timacy had never been allowed to cool.
Mrs. Brown was a stately, dignified
woman with a suggestion In her man
ner of the old school. At the time this
episode in their lives begins Mrs.
Brown had been in New Orleans and
was thinking of returning home when
she received letter from Mrs. Crum-
pet.
DO you know, dear Jane" it began,
1T is now over year since l have
seen you. Do manage to give me a
little time on your way home. We are
just beginning to get the house in or
der for thu summer, and preparing to
go to the country If we are at the
country place when you and John pass
through Baltimore come to us for as
long a visit as you can; we will make
you comfortable there; If we are still
in town, come to us, beg, and take us
as we are; If you do not come, shall
feel as if it is because you do not care
to make any exertion to see your old
friend. You always had such deter
mination, remember" etc, etc.
Which letter Mrs. Brown answered
by saying:
Dear Amelia-We will come to you
Thursday Of next week. We can stay
only the one night, as George is now
very anxious to complete the arrange
ments for the new house. I hope you
will be in town and allow me to study
the proportion and arrangement of the
mahogany room. l am quite deter
mined to have one in the new house
exactly like It," ETC., etc.
Thursday morning Mr. and Mrs.
Brown arrived in Baltimore and found
their friends still in the town house;
the carpets were up, the curtains were
down, the sofas and chairs done up in
covers, the chandeliers swathed in the
CHASTITY white bags that delight the
heart of the good southern housekeep-
er; fearful edor of tar, turpentine
and camphor pervaded the whole house.
After such a cordial greeting from
Mrs. Crumpet that Mr.. and Mrs. Brown
quite forgot the momentary feeling of
discomfort caused by the aspect of the
house, they were shown to the room,
called "the mahogany room," by Anne,
a maid who had been with Mrs. Crum-
pet long enough to feel that she owned
Mr.. and Mrs. Crumpet as we'll as the
whole establishment. This room was
the joy and pride of Mrs. Crumpet's
life. 1t was furnished with rare pieces
of rich old mahogany, which had been
in her family for generations. The
ceilings and walls were tinted soft mel
low shades of a lighter tone of ma
hogany color. The room was generally
hung with curtains, combination of
delicious shades of tawny yellow, rich
ly embroidered and heavily lined:
these were now put away in prepara-
lions for the move to the country,
which took place the next day.
That night the two old friends had
long talk, each feeling that as Mrs
Brown would be obliged to take an
early train the next morning they