The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-02-25
THE MAHOGANY
SETTLE.

Mrs. 0akley-bless her kind heart
was not of Il jealous nature. 1t does
not behoove a 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 I'M
doubtedly a relief when her husband
came out of the study and seated him
self.
WAS that Miss Penriff?" said she.
Eyes" Mr.. Oakley answered, lit was
Miss Penriff She wants to sell her old
mahogany settle"
"What" cried Mrs. Oakley, "that de-
lightful old settle, with the gritfip's
bumpy heads at the top and the claw
feet at 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 lt.'' add
ed Mrs. Oakley tucking bib-apron
under the youngest Oakley's plump
why, 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 thingn' 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.
We'll, Dorothy" said she, ''I've done
It."
Done what, Aunt Kizzy?"
I've sold the old hall-settle."
Dolly looked up from the scarle
steam of the tomatoes to the cool hal
opposite, where the grittin's woodel
eye seemed to leer at her OUT of tn
SAiodo"'s thNi OllC 1dINCu anu
claw was poised on the floor, as If abou
to take forward step.
"Gh, Aunt KizZy!' said she.
Yes, know" sighed the elder won
an. But there's got to be an end t
everything, Dolly. I'm poor woma
now, and can't afford to hold on to lu,
urious that are nothing but luxuries.
"But," gasped Dolly, stirring ava
with spasmodie vigor at the tomatoe,
Grandfather Penriff brought that Sc
tie from Holland himself, and it's tw
, hundred years old! And it's the la.
relic of the old house on the hillr'
"Still," reasoned Miss Penriff. lool
, ing away over the blue Indian summt
haze toward the following forests, NV
/ no right to keep it, Dolly. It's been a
most matter of idolatry with me, an
| perhaps Id better let it go. We al
poor, Dolly-very poor!'
ITS no disgrace" said she, with
. comical grlmace. but It's most u
commonly inconvenient'
] "If you feel that way, Dorothy" sa
Miss Penriff, Il don't see why you r
fused Orlando Daley last week"
"Why," said Dolly, opening her bl,
: eyes very wide, "becauce didn't To-
him.
: Hes very rich, Dorothy"
= Hes welcome to his money, Au
" Kizzy'
d My goodness me-" said Miss Pc
+ riff,puttingo her spectacles (alas! VIII
= trial to her pride that the first pair
. steel-rimmed spectacles had beef
N ''who's that driving down the road
e, a covered eartT"
= Dolly stepped back into the shadow
n Il don't know" said she. but
5 think it's Johnny Barton"
"OE!" sai6 Miss Penriff. HAS tt
younl man gone into the express bu
ness{'
II. Not exactly" said Dolly, busyi
herself among the tomato Jars. "Bu
10 think he drives around picking up I
china and brass fire-dogs, and all 81
things for some big collector In N
Al. York"
- Il don't doubt it," said Miss Penr
3. "But wonder what he wants here?
the little discussion was termina
y by the sudden tapping of Johnny b
,ss tons whlp-handle against the side
rtot u. .l.Anr