The Winslow mail., 1897-04-24
THE MAHOGANY
SETTLE.

Mrs. OakIey-bleSS her kind heart!-
was not of a jealous nature. 1t does
not behoOve minister's wife to be jeal-
GUS; but the dinner was already on
the table-a well-browned roast chick
en-, with bread sauce and baked In
dian pudding to follow-and it was un-
doubtedly relief when her husband
came out of the study and seated him
self.
"Was that Miss Penriff? Z" said she.
Eyes, Mr.. Oakley answered, sit was
Miss Penriff. She wants to sell her old
mahogany settle"
"Whate' cried Mrs. Oakley, chat de-
! lightful old settle, with the griffin's
bumpy heads at the top and the claw
feet al the bottom? l didn't know that
anything would induce her to part with
that"
And then Mr.. Oakley pronounced the
blessing.
Il wish | could afford to buy t!' add
ed Mrs. Oakley, tucking a bib-apron
under the youngest Oakley's plump
chin. "What did you tell her, Simeon ?'
why, l told her, I'd write to that
big antique-buying firm in New York, :"
said Oakley. They're the only people
who can deal with her to any advan-
tage. A big hall-settle like that is only
appropriate for big houses, with wide
| entrances, such as, according to all re-
ports, that poor desOlate old maid once
lived in. And big houses are mostly
found in big cities"
Poor thing!' said Mrs. Oakley. And
she helped her husband to some apple
sauce.
While Keziah Penriff went slowly
home to the old red house under the
hill, where Dolly was making tomato
catsup in the kitchen.
'Well, Dorothy" said she, 'I've done
it,"
Done what, Aunt Kizzy?"
'I've sold the old hall-settle.''
Dolly looked up from the scarlet
steam of the tomatoes to the cool hall
! opposite, where the griffin's wooden
eye seemed to leer at her out of the
shadows, and one carved and shining
claw was poised on the floor, as if about
to take forward step.
"Ch, Aunt Kizzy!' said she
Yes, know" sighed the elder wom-
an. But there's got to be an end TO
everything Dolly. I'm a poor woman
now, and can't afford to hold on to Ink
urious that are nothing but luxuries. ;"
But, gasped Dolly, stirring away
with spasmodic vigor at the tomatoes
'Grandfather Penriff brought that set
tie from Holland himself, and it's two
hundred years old! And it's the last
relic of the old house on the hillr'
"Still, reasoned Miss Penriff. look
ing away over the blue Indian summer
haze toward the yellowing forests. GIVE
no right to keep it, Dolly. It's been al
most a matter of idolatry with me. and
perhaps Id better let it 90. We are
poor, Dolly-very poorr'
Its no disgrace" said she. with a
cOmical grlmace. But it's most nm
commonly inconvenient."
"If you feel that way, Dorothy" said
Miss Penritf, Il don't see whv Won ra-
fused Orlando Daley last week"
"Why, said Dolly, opening her blue
/ eyes very wide, "becauce | didn't love
him.
Hes very rich, Dorothy"
Hes welcome to his money. Aunt
Kizzy"
MY goodness me-" said Miss Pen
riff.puttinS onher spectacles (alas! what
a trial to her pride that the first pair of
steel-rimmed spectacles had beenD
"who's that driving down the road in
| Il covered cart?'
Dolly stepped back into the shadow.
II don't know" said she, "but-I-
think it's Johnny Barton"
"OE! said Miss Penriff. Has that
ioun- man gone into the express busi-
less:"
Not exactly" said Dolly, busying
herself among the tomato jars. But
rhink he drives around picking up old
'hina and brass fire-dogs. and all such
hings for some big collector in New
! York"
81 don't doubt It," said Miss Penriff.
But wonder what he wants here?"
The little discussion was terminated
~ the sudden tapping of Johnny Bar
Gus whip-handle against the side of