The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-10-06
TALE OF AN HEIRLOOM
BY REBECCA BARRETT.

for this world-Pll be seventy-five my
next birthday--and it does seem to me
that should have the bedstead while
stay. I'm sure if Desire could speak
this minute she'd tell me to take it. 3"
Aunt Hester, where on earth could
you put it in your little house, I'd
like to know?" spoke up Mrs. Red
fern, excitedly. "Such q bedstead,
with its tester and valance needs a
very large room, and it seems to me
our house is the one most fitting in
which to show off Judge Boutwells
bedstead." +"
Mrs. Redfern was the richest men,
Der of the Coles family Her husband
had made a fortune from fertilizer
They owned one of the most preten-
tious homes in Mount Otto, and were
slowly, by persistent efforts, working
their 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. 'I've got it all planned.
I'll shut up the closet, 1 don't use it
for much, and then move the bureau
out into the parlor."
''Welll" exclaimed Mrs. Redfern.
81 should say so," echoed Abner's
wife so loudly that Elder Cheesbro
leaned out of the buggy and looked
back to ascertain the cause as the fun
eral procession turned into the ceme-
terry.
The Boutwell, lot was the only one
in the cemetery divided off by an iron
fence. Even here the family showed
their exclusiveness, 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
face and wore 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 as high as the
monument on Judge Boutwell's grave.
No one condescended to reply to
this observation, but very percepti-
BILE ''heh" came from Mrs. Redfern's g
corner.
In the carriage just behind the csn-
versation had been of a very different
nature. The harmony of the Coles
family had formed the principal topic
among the occupants as they rode out
to the cemetery, and coming home
they had dropped into the same sub
ject again.
INA was saying this morning." re-
marked Augusta Ganson, ''that our
family hadn't missed coming together
for thanksgiving dinner in over twen-
ty-five years, and that's pretty good
record. She said, too, she didn't be-
lieve 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, and 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. 1 do hope there
won't be any trouble now when we
come to divide Aunt Desires things. u
ooh, there won't be-" answered
Abner Coles, confidently, 'for there
isn't one of the family but would
give up for the sake of peace The
only thing that l am particularly anx-
ious to have is Uncle Abner's tester
bedstead, but that would naturally
come to me anyway for my name"
At this Augusta Ganson Strengthened
herself up. She had q pale, ashep
complexion, but it turned crimson
when her cousin made this announce
ment.
"The tester bedstead! Why, il
doesn't seem to me as if ma, if any
one, ought to have that. She was
Uncle Abner's fayorite niece, and then
she has so little to make her happy,
anyway, in comparison to what the
other relatives have"
That the other two occupants of the
carriage were not Indifferent as to who
should have the ownership of the bed
stead appearances plainly indicated
The pink and white faces of Julia and
Carrie Redfern, which had remained
almost expressionless during the ride,
nowIshowed signs of great emotion.
"Mamma has always supposed she
would be the one to inherit Uncle Alb.
ner's bedstead, " spoke up the oldest
of the two girls, "and when we had
our lovely spare room done over last
spring she sent to Buffalo and had
some old-fashioned wall paper made
to order, that it would barmonize with
the belstead when it came to be hers. .
Eyes, and then we entertain the
Boutwell, girls" continued the second
daughter, "and I'm sure they would
wish 10 see their grandfather's bed
stead in our house.
They had reached the village, ant
the carriage stopped before Mrs. Bout