The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1897-04-03

ertions she went to bed and slept the
sleep of the just.
The next morning all was hurry and
confusion to be in time for the early
train. The trunk firmly declined to
shut, and only finally yielded to the
united efforts of Anne, the maid, and
Mr.. Brown, when Mrs. Brown majecti-
cally sat herself upon it until the key
was turned in the lock.
AS the parlor ear was nearing New
York Mrs. Brown, who was indulging
awoke with a start.
George she said, we omitted to
remove the quilts from between the
mattresses"
That afternoon Mrs. Crumpet was
putting on her bonnet, preparing to
drive to the country place, when Anne
dashed into the room with little cere-
mony. She was in a state of great ex-
element. The curtains had vanished
from the guest room!
Nonsense, Anne" said Mrs. Crum-
pet. Look again."
ct is no use it will be to look again,
ma'am," said Anne, smoothing her
apron nervously. yesterday, with me
own hands, ma'am, l folded thin
blessed curtains in an old quilt and put
thin in the lowest drawer of what you
call the %'chiffonear.' With two big
pins l pinned thin. Yesterday with me
own ears, ma'am, I heard Mrs. Brown
a-saying as she meant to have a room
the very likeness of ours. When was
a-tidying the room just now 1 sees the
two big pins on the dresser. What's
that? sez I, and l turns to the chiffon
ear drawer. The curtains clean gone!
It's a warrant l would be sending,
ma'am."
This was poured out without a
breath, while Mrs. Crumpet stood
aghast.
"A warrant after what, Anne?"
After Mrs. Brown, ma'am, as has
our curtains, ma'am," answered Anne,
undauntedly.
Leave the room, Anne" said Mrs,
Crumpet, in an unusually sharp voice
for that amiable woman.
Leave the room it may be-" Anne
went out muttering; cts Mrs. Brown
has thin curtains, and she a sitting on
top O. the trunk so grand like to shut
it over our c%urtains!"
Mrs. Crumpet pinned her bonnet
with trembling hands, and mechanic
ally tied the ribbons in a jaunty bow
under her left ear. What could it
mean? Anne had been with her over
twenty years; in that time nothing of
which she had charge had been mis-
laid. The woman was faithfulness and
honesty %personified; but the idea that
Jane could take her curtains was, of
course, not to be entertained, for one
minute. Jane was most determined;
if she wanted a thing she had it, but in
no such way as that.
Every servant in the house was
summoned and, superintendent by Mrs.
Crumpet, carefully searched the room.
The curtains were certainly not there.
Mrs. Crumpet drove to her country
place in a subdued and melancholy
frame of mind.
In the little sitting room opening out
u lSl UCNl oolll, IL lhS SooASA "a
was a photograph frame in which was
a collection of photographs Of Mrs.
Brown. The first was taken with Mrs.
Crumpet when she and Mrs. Brown
were at Nine. Chicare's school together,
two simpering school girls hand in
hand. The last was very recent. Mrs.
Brown was taken in a black velvet and
,-o, ,-~,4 ;~,,,0o;rr' or1 1iorifo6 Ac
Mrs. Crumpe. looked at this n she
seemed to hear Anne's voice saying:
"And she a-sitting on top O. the
trunk so grand like to shut it over our
curtains!"
She turned away from the photo
graphs with a puzzled, worried look.
but the next morning found her study
ing Mrs. Browns face again.
During the summer Mrs. Brown
wrote to Mrs. Crumpet as usual, and
was surprised at receiving no answer.
In the autumn. however, a long let
ter from Mrs. Crumpet arrived. This
letter distressed Mrs. Brown. She
feared her old friend, who was really
getting on in life now (Mrs. Crumpet
was TWO years Oluei lHdu Mis-. DlO"A),
must be breaking up! NJ n could
have denied that the letter was inco-
herent. 1t began with a burst of at
lection for her old friend; it spoke of
Anne; it dashed off from Anne to men
ton that they had only come in from
the country the day before-only, how
ever to return to Anne, to say that she
feared Anne was not as careful in turn
ing the mattresses as she should be!
It ended with more expressions of un-
dying affection-but the postscript
(Which is the moral of this episode)
was what Mrs. Brown found the most
puzzling. What rhyme Or reason could
there be in Mrs. Crumpet writing:
Up. s.-Remembcr, Jane, remember,
never allow yourself to forget the truth
of the old saying: believe nothing you
hear, and only half you see."