The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-12
THE OLD BUREAU.

/ AA1 OA<D DOAUAz3A We
'fam AFRAID" Mid Robert Dawson ID
his wis o. he took biz plaos at the dainti-
i b spread dinner table, "that John Archer
b finding out that marriage 10 feast
where the graos Is sometimes better than
the dinner"
"Why, my dear, are you not rather hard
on Mrs. Archerf What has she done to
deserve such severe csnsuref"
well, you see, John wanted her to take
In his old aunt, Elyira Brown. She is the
only one belonging to him now living and
has been like q mother to him. 1t seems
| he had made all the arrangements neces-
sary, then her high mightiness kicked over
the whole plan and would not allow the
old lady to come there. / hope I am not
tyrant, but If my wife's house was too
| good for my folks 1t would be too good
for me, said Mr. Dawson, with decision,
and when his wife looked at him perhaps
in.law was sleeping the sleep Of the just.
1T certainly does seem hard, but there
are always two sides to story. Did John
tell your"
"He tell mef Not he. I found it out by
accident"
Perhaps, then, you have not heard the
whole of It,"
"Perhaps not" replied Mr.. Dawson
sententiously, and let the matter drop.
John Archer had been the friend of Rob
ert Dawson for years. He was a simple,
quiet fellow, some years the senior of his
wife. He was fond of domestic life, Of the
better side Of which no had seen very lit
tle as he was left an orphan at tender
age, his sole surviving relative being the
Elyira Brown In question.
John had not been locked upon as a
marrying man, but from the first he had
been greatly taken with Miss Smith, who
was new light In the armament of the
society Of Waterville, and bad pushed his
suit with such yigor that he had carried
on the prize from younger and Weather
men. Miss Smith had not always moved
In the GLASS Of society which she at present
graoed. She had during her early years
vegetated with the rest Of her kindred up
on farm, and not fertile farm either
But the tide which is said TO be In the
affairs of men had swept mineral oil be-
meath the stony bed of soil which her fa-
ther and brothers had hitherto titled with
such seant returns. and with its discovery
wealth flowed into the family Golfer until
its members all forgot that they had ever
been poor. .-1l.
All Wateryille considered the match be-
tween John Archer and Miss Smith very
suitable one. Mrs. Areher's father had be-
slowed lovely little house, charmingly fur
nished, upon his daughter, and with health
and a fair income they certainly ought to
have been happy.
Mrs. Dawson was fully as fond of John
Archer as her husband was, and therefore
took an interest In his affairs. She did
not like the thought Of outside gossip get
ting about concerning the young wife, and
because Of this made up her mind to in
vestigate the story for herself and to do
what she could to smooth down the rough
places,
1t was charming little drawing room
In which Mrs. Archer received her caller,
beautiful and costly things filing every
nook und corner. There was not much In
common between the sedate Mrs, Dawson,
who was old enough to be Mrs. Archer's
mother, and that airy young matron, who
evidently had made up her mind to carry
things with high hand.
Mrs. Dawson had too much good sense
to breach the subject herself, but Mrs.
Archer was great talker, and soon came
around to the matter, which was evidently
uppermost In her mind.
John and have had our first quarrel"
said Mrs. Dawson. "A week or two ago be
quite insisted upon the propriety of offer
ing his Aunt Elvira home with us. 1t |
seems that the old people who have always |
cared for her place are going out west to |
their married children. John does not
want to put the old lady into the care of |
strangers.
u gave only a reluctant consent, for /
cannot abide elderly people, They are so
fussy. But John ooaxed and pleaded I'M
til gave in. We agreed upon the large
front chamber for her, and went with the
best grace could muster to invite her in
person. Then the fuss began. found she
had van load Of personal property, cat
and parrot. I agreed to the live stock,
but drew the line at the old furniture.
Then Joan went to see her, and she con-
sented to come with only her trunks, but
at the last moment she stuck to a most
disreputable old bureau, and would not
allow 1t to como into my house. told
her did not have single article of old
furniture in my house. and could not
think of allowing that old bureau to come.
That made her mad, and she said More
shame for you. That old bureau Is worth
q dozen new tangled Ones" Anyway she
give In. Neither would l, and
SO the whole thing Is off John is very
angry, am afraid; but don't care.'
"Oh, yes, you do. l am sorry, my dear
Mrs. Archer. 1t Is evident that the craze
Tor the antique has not struck you, or you
would be wild to have that old bureau"
"No, indeed. never could abide old
iraps. I like new, bright, expensive fur
niture. was going to get the old lady
beautiful new chifonier But 1t is all off
now"
swell, must say think it Is pity.
You know, my dear Mrs Archer, that
Mrs, Brown is all the mother your hus-
'and ever knew. But we must all grow
I'D In time"
THAT'S true. But she never did any
hing extra for John. Besides am under
10 obligation to her. would rather have
,er room than her company at any time,
md why should give In when she won't2'
Why, indeed, thought Mrs. Dawson.
hough she did not give expression to her
bought Nevertheless she did say what
he Oouiu W VIC young woman ABOUT I0r-
earance and felt when she left as if her
isit had not been in vain and that II
Ohm took the right way his wife would
lnally consent 1t was evident, however,
hat John Archer did not follow the lead
hat Mrs. Dawson had given him, for his
unit did not become an inmate of Mrs. s
Ircher's pretty home, and about three !
'eeks afterward Mr.. Dawson brought
ONE word that the old lady was dead
And the funny part of it all is," said
lr. Dawson, with a ohuckle of amuse- I
,ent THAT she left that bone of conten. !
on, the old bureau, to Mrs. Archer, her |
eloved niece, by will. Hor real estate I
oes to John, She made provision for her /
cts and her old servants, but the bureau, Y
thout scrap else, goes to Mrs. John r
he old woman had a strong sense of the
wonder what my fine lady
i'll do with 1t nowf"
II wonder too, +" said his wife. F
1t was therefore with some natural curl. ]
ity that Mrs. Dawson called once more a
frin NH Oh |