The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-10-26
TALE OF AN HEIRLOOM
by REBEccA BARRETT.


the warming pan. / haven't got long
tor tins world-I'll he seventy five nv
next birthday and it does seem TO me
that | should have the bedstead while
l stay. I'm sure if Desire could sneak
tins minute she'd tell me to take if ("
Aunt Hester, where on earth could
you pat it in your little house. I'd
IKE to know?" spoke up Mrs. Red
fern, excltedly. "Such bedstead
with It's tester and valance needs n
very large room, and it seems to me
our mouse Is the one most fitting in
winch to show off Judge Boutwell's
bedstead."
Mrs. Redfern was the richest mem
Der OF the Coles family Her husband
had made fortune from fertilizer
lhey owned one of the most preten-
nous homes in Mount Otto. and were
slowly, by persistent efforts, working
thelr way into the aristocratic society
of the village.
why, it'll go nicely in the parlor
bedroom proceeded Aunt Hester.
not seeming to notice the slur on her
small house. eve got il all planned
LII shut up the closet, [ don't use it
Tor much, and then move the bureau
out into the parlor."
Well!' exclaimed Mrs. Redfern.
II should say 3d." echoed Abner's
wife SO loudly that Elder Cheesbro
leaned out of the buggy and looked
back to ascertain the cause ms the fun
eral procession turned into the ceme-
| terry.
The Boutwell, lot was the only one
IN the cemetery divided off by an iron
renee Even here the family showed
theif eXcluslveness, and the huge pad
lock hanging to the gate told plainly
that they wished no intruders.
On the way home hardly word was
spoken by these mourners in the first
carriage; each drew her veil over her
lace and wore n much abused air. One
remark, however, was ventured by
Abner's wife, which she designed to
be very cutting.
The Boutwell, family can fence
people out of their cemetery lot but
they can't fence out the mullen.
There was stalk half rs high as the
monument on Judge Boutwell's grave
No one condescended to reply to
tins observation, but very percepti-
BILE 'heh' came from Mrs. Redfern's
corner.
In the carriage just behind the csn
versation had been of n very different
nature. The harmony of the Coles
family had formed the principal topic
among the occupants as they rode ont
to the cemetery, and coming home
they had dropped into the same sub
/ lect again.
Ma was saying this morning" re-
marked Augusta Ganson, that our
famll y hadn't missed coming together
for Thanksgiving dinner in over TWEEN
| ty-iive years, and that's pretty good
record. She said, too, she didn't be-
leye we'd ever had what could be
termed family quarrel. Once. You
/ remember, Aunt Hester made some
| trouble for ma over that swarm of bees,
but ma let it all go. Then, you know.
| when Cousin Jane coaxed the side-sad-
| die away from Aunt Desire TO send to
| the missionary, Cousin Car'line got
/ awful tOuchy, aud was going TO make
a great ado about it, for she wanted
| the saddle herself for one of the girls.
| but somehow it all blew over and
nothing came oft / do hope there
won't he any trouble now when we
/ come to divide Aunt Desires things 8"
ION, there won't be- answered
/ Abher Coles, confidently, 'for there
/ isn't ono of the family but would
/ give up for the sake of peace. The
| only thing that am particularly apx-
/ ious to have is Uncle Abners tester
bedstend, but that would naturally
| come to- me anyway for my name. "
At this Augusta Ganson Strengthened
herself mp She had pale. ashen
I complexion, but it turned crimson
. whom her cousin made this announce.
mcut
"The tester bedsteadl Why. it
/ doesn't seem to- me rs if ma. If any
/ one. ought 60 have that Sho was
/ Uncle Abncr's fayorite niece, and then
she has 500 little 10 make her happy.
anyway, in comparison to what the
. other relatives have
That the other two occupants of the
/ carriage were not Indifferent ms 30 who
. should have the ownership Of the bed
/ stead appearances plainly indicated
The pink aud white faces Of Julia and
/ Carrie l}cdforn, which had remained
almost eypre-sionIess during the ride.
. now showed signs of great emotion.
Mamma has always supposed she
would be the ono 10 inherit Uncle Alb.
/ ner.s bcdstcad, spoke mp the oldest
/ OF the two girls, and whcn we had
+ our lovely spare room done over last
spring She sent 10 Buffalo and had
some old-fashioued wall paper made
to order that it would harmonic with
the beIeteod when it. came 10 be hers. ~
Yes, and then we entertain the
I Boutwell, girls continued the second
daughter, "and I'm sure they would
Wish TO see their grandfather bed
stead in our house.
M.